Moa Brewing Company, The
Imperial Stout (Stout Aged In Pinot Noir Barrels)
Russian Imperial Stout
New Zealand
10.2%
12.7oz, Single
$6.99
Yields two fingers of dark brown foam, dense on the whole but there’s larger bubbles interspersed here and there, retention is very nice, even surface, the lacing is more large splotches than streaks. Clean black liquid, buffed to a high shine, you can just make out a few steady streams of bubbles against the glass sides, no hint of orange nor yellow at rims, glass bottom. The nose is slightly muted, has a slight vinous quality but mainly it casually delivers milk chocolate, anise, vanilla bean and plum to black cherry fruit, no real hops presence, however, does not over depend on sweetness for effect, as it warms you get campfire smokiness. Medium-bodied, very smooth with velvety carbonation, zero prickle. Loads its weight and flavors upfront and glides from there. Here the oaky toast and smoke more pronounced, notes of grilled meats, earth and that same campfire thing. Restraint shown in the milk chocolate, vanilla, caramel and café au lait flavors. On the dry side, stays balanced and more clean than puckering. Any fruit is cherry, black raisin, fig, minimal lingering sweetness. Clay, iron and damp earth stick around most through the finish. Here the Pinot Noir influence not so much.
3 out of 5