Boneface Number of the Beast Coffee Vanilla Imperial Stout

Whoa. A big big big heavy stout with a massive freshly roasted coffee bean thing and a hint of vanilla. My wife was right on point saying it smelt like an espresso Martini, and tasted more like a spirit or a cocktail than a beer. There is a big stouty flavour, but fairly subdued bitterness (in contrast to a Guiness for example) and no other hoppy flavours. The vanilla in the name is fairly well hidden (but maybe present with a closed eye mediation and but of imagination), but the coffee is almost overwhelming; not like a fresh ristretto shot, but like a bag of freshly roasted coffee beans. I don't know how they got that flavour through, it's not like a cold brew either, it honestly has the flavour you get when you chew a fresh coffee bean. And the coffee flavour isn't a subtle undertone, it's the star of the dish, so to speak.

Overall I enjoyed it, sipping the 500mL bottle for well over an hour (3.9 standard drinks!), something kind of different, but I probably wouldn't get it again.



ABV: 9.9%
Brewery: Boneface Brewing
Region: Upper Hutt
Style: Imperial Stout
Wife check: "Oooh smells like an espresso Martini!... Tastes more like a spirit than a beer."

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