Score
6.99
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Kaapse’s standard imperial stout aged on Speyside whisky barrels (which one remains unspecified), from tap at Dok. Pale yellowish beige, moussy, opening head leaving a firm ring and a thin veil behind, jet black robe. Aroma of bitter chocolate, toffee, whisky indeed and clearly so, cigar ashes, dried thyme, pipe tobacco, coffee grounds, dried dates, vanilla-scenting oak wood, old tea. Sweet onset, candied dates, dried blackberries and old raisins, quite stingy carbonation for style but still full, oily mouthfeel; layers of ‘fondant’-chocolatey, walnutty and caramelly malts, developing a firm coffeeish roastedness without becoming overly bitter – and working very well with the tannic, vanilla-ish oak wood and warming, boozy whisky. Ashy, leathery and herbally-hoppy notes appear too, but the black chocolate, coffee and whisky effects dominate. Powerful, well-constructed, old school ‘impy’ – I love this.