My haul from my trip to Bottle Revolution out in Raleigh yesterday:
Sierra Nevada's Narwhal Imperial Stout:Drinking this as I type this post. It weighs in at a pleasant 10.2% abv and wears it well since it's miles away from entering that harsh chemical "alcohol first" taste that many less-well-made beers start veering into as soon as they enter 8.0+ territory. The carbonation is nearly nonexistent but in a good way since there's just that faint prickliness of carbonated pop to assure you it ain't flat. The body is great as it's as thick as "velvety" can get without venturing into "syrupy" country and the flavor is very rich with notes of vanilla, coffee, and oak.
I've respected Sierra Nevada's ability to deliver rock solid beer for many years now but this is the first one that's truly blown me away. They've really stepped their game up with this one
Great Divide's Espresso Oak Aged Yeti Imperial Stout:Nothin new here. I had this once before a year ago and it fingerfucked my liver into a frantic, gasping orgasm without even stopping to say "Fine day me lady!" I've lived in North Carolina in two separate stints. Once for 5 months a few years ago and currently for the last year and a half and I've always been impressed with the selection of beers in the emporiums out this way. That said, this beer in particular has been head and shoulders above all others I've tried out this way (about 80-90 in total.) It weighs in at 9.5% and has a lot in common with Sierra Nevada's Narwhal that I described above but is better in every regard.
Bottom line: this is one beer that needs to be on the bucket list of anyone who doesn't hate dark beers.
Dogfish Head Burton Baton Imperial IPAHaven't tried this one yet but it weighs in at 10.0% and given my love for IPAs coupled with DFH's splendid track record with me, I'm fairly stoked for it. I'll try to remember to come back and edit my impressions of it into this post.