Continuing on our coast to coast toast to Canada from my big screen facing Laz-boy. We have been to the sunny shores of PEI, the rain forests of BC, stampede (and Oiler) crazy Alberta, and good ol’ Ontar-ari-ario. Our next adventure takes us to la belle province. Vous etes correcte, c’est Quebec. And our quaffing adventure is getting even more adventurous with a high octane Imperial Coffee Stout. Good Lord, this brew is a mortal sin!* I wonder if impersonating a nun is a mortal sin? Whoopi, you better get your act together Sister.**
We have had a Hades stout, a Pitchfork porter, a 666 Devil’s pale ale and a Helles Bock. But the devil’s in the details and Dieu du Ciel has cranked up the coffee for this one. These high ABV stouts are risky business so we don’t know if this imperial stout will be royalty or just a royal pain. Time to dive in the deep end and down this dark one.
And dark it is, like midnight “all-nighter” coffee. Pours almost spoon standing thick, and strong enough to float a brick. Enough coffee on the nose to perk you up. It is a very strong, destined and designed for sipping. First few swigs are the acclimatization phase. Strong coffee bitters body and backend with some mild cocoa way back in the woods somewhere. The sweet is starting to catch up to those harsh finishing bitters. Sip slow to arrive alive. This imperial is a test of your tenacity, it shivered me timbers. There is a classic coffee stout flavour in there, but the harsh espresso finish will put off all but the most dedicated stout sippers. Chips and dip, nuts, cheese and crackers, a Big Mac, whatever your pairing of choice is, it is imperative that you pair this imperial.
Through Indulgence or endurance it was consumed and finally consummated. That is to say, I finished it, it would be a sin not to.
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