85 / 100
The contrast is what gives this Imperial its character: an intensely malty start turns spicy, with vanilla and honey carrying through to a palate that grows quite austere with pencil shavings and tannic dryness. That dry, oak-forward finish makes for an appealingly restrained impression, while the faint lemon offers a small lift. Water brings some rounding, though the palate also becomes a bit bland.
Reviewed by shortwave_atlas
- Nose
- Intensely malty, then spicy, with vanilla and honey., With water, little changes apart from a slowly developing orange note.
- Palate
- Medium-bodied, spicy and warming, with vanilla and honey, followed by pencil shavings and tannic dryness; quite austere., With water, the palate becomes more rounded but also a bit bland.
- Finish
- Medium length and very dry, with prominent oak followed by faint lemon flavours.