Some beers announce themselves the moment they hit the glass, and this is one of them. Blacklist’s Dark Imperial Stout with Cocoa leans hard into roast, darkness, and unapologetic stout character. No pastry tricks, no barrel influence, just big dark malts and cocoa doing the heavy lifting.
Dark
It pours jet black with several fingers of dense brown foam stacked on top. The head hangs around longer than expected, slowly settling and leaving sticky lacing clinging to the glass.
The aroma is driven by big roasty malt, backed by sweet chocolate and cocoa, with a touch of coffee underneath. There is also a noticeable burnt malt acidity lurking in the background, adding a sharp edge that keeps the sweetness in check.
From the first sip, the dark malts are abundant. Super roasty up front, with light cocoa and a bit of coffee following close behind. A flash of sweetness shows up mid palate before giving way to bitter, burnt malt acidity that defines the finish.
Despite the intensity of the roast, this stout drinks smooth and easier than expected for 8%. The body is solid without being heavy, the alcohol stays mostly hidden, and the finish is clean enough to keep you coming back. A bold, straightforward imperial stout that favors roast and balance over indulgence.
Dark Days
In the end, this drinks smoother and easier than you might expect from an 8% imperial stout built on this much roast. The body is solid without being heavy, the alcohol stays mostly tucked away, and the finish leaves you ready for another sip. It is a no nonsense, roast forward stout that delivers exactly what it promises and does it well.