Well folks, I’ve just popped my second bottle of Samuel Adams Longshot Five Crown Imperial Stout, the last beer from the 2012 Longshot sampler I’m expounding upon. Along with A Dark Night in Munich and Derf’s Secret Alt, I think the 2012 Longshot edition was certainly one of the better ones, definitely preferred by me over the mediocre 2013 sampler that was to follow.
I drank the first bottle of Five Crown Imperial Stout shortly after purchasing the sampler, and since I feel a properly stored Imperial Stout can improve with time, I held onto my second bottle for a time (as you can tell). Samuel Adams already has an imperial stout in their regular lineup of beers, but it’s still fun to enjoy another (and quite different) one in the Longshot lineup.
Samuel Adams Longshot Five Crown Imperial Stout was a 2011 winning entry submitted by Joe Formanek of Illinois. The beer has an alcohol content of 8.9% by volume and the sampler will run you $9.99 these days.
From the neck label:
For the past 15 years, Joe has been brewing his Russian Imperial Stout. This malt-forward brew has a rich complexity, with roasty and chocolate notes, yet enough hop bitterness to balance out the sweetness. This satisfying winter brew is full-bodied with an enjoyable velvety smoothness.
Interesting that they call this a winter brew when featured in a spring sampler, but there you go. As I said, it ages well, and I’m enjoying mine in the depths of fall.
Samuel Adams Longshot Five Crown Imperial Stout pours to a jet black color with a very light creamy tan head formation and a heady chocolate and licorice nose. Taking a sip, the palate delivers the rich dark bittersweet chocolate that the nose promised, multiplied to the nth degree. Toss in some roasty espresso, spicy licorice, and chocolate pudding with the skins on top and you have this beer in a nutshell, with a thick oily mouthfeel thrown in for good measure. A sharp roasty bitterness and glowing alcohol warmth dry the beer out in the finish, maybe with the help of just a hint of hop bitterness.
Just a wonderful imperial, tasty with a year on it, perhaps more so actually. The espresso seems to ramp up as it warms, making this just the right beer for a cool fall evening, or a cold winter one. Well done, Joe!
And remember, try a new beer today, and drink outside the box.
*Pricing data accurate at time of review or latest update. For reference only, based on actual price paid by reviewer.
(B)=Bottled
(D)=Draft