Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Magnolia – Smokestack Lightning Imperial Stout (seasonal)


Look: Light absorbing black with milk chocolate brown head

Taste: delicious smoky flavor with slight bite

Conclusion: I really liked this stout a lot. It delivered on taste, aroma, look, and strength. This is another Strong Beer Month offering from Magnolia that will not be soon forgotten. The smoky flavor combined with the thickness of the beer meant that your tongue got a nice thick coat of flavor that stays well after your drink is gone. It had a slight bite to it that eventually gave way to a slight sweetness. As you drink more of the beer, this sweetness becomes a sign that the alcohol is about to kick in. You can literally get buzzed on queue – queue sweet flavor… bam! alcohol takes effect.
This beer was crafted with care, and it shows. They do well to mask the high alcohol content with rich flavors, and textures, but not so much that they kill the flavor of the beer. This is a great example of the flavors complimenting the strength of the beer.

I give this Imperial Stout an 8 out of 10

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