Shakedown

For a chocolate cherry imperial stout, this beer lacks the complexity and pizzazz one would expect it to have. Both cherry and chocolate are there, but only enough to slightly enhance the normal character of an imperial stout. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but I’m not sure it would be evident if not suggested prior to sampling. It pours jet black and nearly opaque with a thin tan head. The aroma is fruity with hints of black cherries and dates, but mostly consists of roasted coffee, bittersweet chocolate and some deep, toasty caramel as well. The flavor is more of the same (coffee, cocoa, toasted grain, light caramel) but with even less cherry. The body is a bit thin for the style and keeps the flavor from lingering and advancing as much as you’d like.