Cavalier Imperial stout

Rating:

imageYou can add these guys to the list of sensational micro-brewers that started from as little as a 100 litre tank a few years ago and are now available Australia wide.

This limted edition Imperial Stout was poured into a tulip glass with the appearance displaying an opaque black with an effervescent 2 cm brown head that retains well, leaving thick bubbly lacing strewn down the glass. The aroma isn’t as aggressive as we thought, rich and moreish wafts emanate dank characters of molasses, licorice, cocoa, alcohol, vanilla, coffee and ash. Body is about medium-full. Mildly carbonated with an oily mouth feel. The palate initially picks up a sharp alcoholic astringency along with rich notes of molasses, chocolate and coffee. A decent espresso bitterness shows up in the mid-palate and teams up well with the sweet, nutty finish. Pretty good length on the back end, a taste of sweet malt and roasted coffee lingers beautifully. At 8% ABV it only just scrapes in to qualify as an “Imperial” and a little peek on other sites show different levels of 9% and 10% respectively, so there must have been a few separate batches. Take no points away for it though, it is used wisely and it never overcompensates. It deserves it’s 8 stars, but only just. Good stout.