S’mores Imperial Pastry Stout

S’mores Imperial Pastry Stout by Gnarly Barley Brewing Co. is an Imperial Stout that falls under #20C of the 2015 BJCP Guidelines. The pour revealed a pitch black beer that had a very nice tan head. The carbonation was light and had a nice lacing to the side of the glass. The aroma of this beer had hints of cocoa nibs (chocolate), coffee and a nice malt sweetness. The flavor of this was complex, as well. Had a nice malt sweetness balanced with a moderate hop bittering. Again, I tasted flavors of coffee, chocolate and a “bread-like” component that utilized graham crackers in the mash. Yes, this is an Imperial Stout with a whopping 9.8% alcohol presence. Upon the taste the beer was big and powerful. With this much alcohol their was a alcohol burn in the finish that warmed the gullet. The beer was overtly sweet. In fact, too sweet for the palate. This can be a combination of factor(s) that may include stuck fermentation and/or not enough pitched yeast for this big beer (Imperial Stout). Another factor may include the vitality of the yeast, as well as not oxygen in the wort ? The mouthfeel of this beer was between medium and heavy with a nice light carbonation. A nice, smooth finish in the beer with an alcohol warmth. The overt sweetness is hard to overcome.