Drake's Imperial Stout

Drakes has been a long-time favorite of mine -- they've never let me down, not once. And this Imp-Stout? In a flip-top 500mL bottle? Thumbs up yet again.

8.75%ABV, for those are keeping track -- though you wouldn't know it from the beer itself. One of the most stealthy Imperial Stouts I've had in quite a while -- nary a hint of heat in this one.

And that's a good thing in my book, since this means that this beer instead highlights what really matters with this sort of beer: the vinous (almost syrupy) mouthfeel, with the malty-as-hell Port Wine'ish aspects -- all nicely coupled nicely with the roasted/Ovaltine'esqe vibe.

Dangerously poundable -- I had to make it a point to "slow the hell down and enjoy the show!" with this one. And I can't even fathom what this would be like draught or cask-conditioned at the Toronado, for example.

But getting back to the here-and-now, this beer is a sure-fire winner. Very real competition to Stone Russian Imperial Stout for one of my favorites of the style. A rough-and-tumble competition, indeed!
//TB