Dark Star Imperial Stout

First published in BEER January 2008 as part of a piece about imperial stouts. For more imperial stouts see previous post.

ABV:  10.5 per cent
Origin: Ansty, Sussex, England
Website www.darkstarbrewing.co.uk

Dark Star Imperial Stout

Dark Star originated at the Evening Star brewpub in Brighton in 1991. Ten years later the brewery, which now owns three pubs, moved to a dedicated plant near Haywards Heath. They don’t do much bottling, but this Imperial Stout is an exception. Brewed annually from Maris Otter pale and crystal malt, malted barley, Target and East Kent Goldings hops, it was originally intended only as a stock beer for blending but according to the brewery’s Nigel Hartley “word got out” and it’s now in its third year as a Real Ale in a Bottle.

A black beer with a thick yellowy fawn head, it yields an intoxicatingly fruity and estery aroma with raisins and petrol hints. A slick winey, cakey palate has dark roast malt and blackcurrant with tingling alcohol on the tongue. A coffeeish swallow leads to a warming malt finish with resiny, peppery hops and a late whiff of mature Camembert. Fruitier than some, this is a delightful beer that should mature well. 

For more imperial stouts, see next post.
Read more about this beer at ratebeer.com: http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/dark-star-imperial-stout/55061/