Four Seasons – Summer ’18

Four Seasons – Summer ’18 by Mother Earth Brew Co. was judged as a Fruit Beer (29A). The base beer style is an Imperial Stout (20C). Raspberries, roasted grains suggesting chocolate and coffee, a touch of vanilla, and fruity-alcohol esters leap out of the glass and into the nose. One can imagine a raspberry-flavored extra dark chocolate confection and have a good idea of how this smells. The color is inky black with ruby highlights when direct light glints along the edges of the glass. A tan, thin layer of fine foam lingers mostly along the edges of the glass, but with wisps of Rorschach test formations all atop the surface. The flavor is much like the aroma with a rich, dark-chocolate quality accented with a raspberry syrup drizzle. Alcohol-ester nuttiness is evident along with not-too-harsh bourbon-barrel flavor that also delivers some vanilla. The mouthfeel is medium-full with a touch of alcohol heat and no astringency or other notable features or detractors. Overall, this is a bold and rich raspberry-enhanced Imperial Stout that deserves to be sipped on a cold evening next to the hearth to match the inner warmth of this beer with the outer warmth of a great fire.