Karl Strauss Wreck Alley Imperial Stout
Of the several Karl Strauss beers that I’ve received over the years, my least favorite (oddly enough, given my love of them) was a stout. The brewery’s 22nd Anniversary brew was an Imperial Stout that was formed from a blend that included barrel aging nonetheless. How could this not be my favorite of the bunch!?
Regardless of my opinion of that celebratory brew, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this latest beer from the company’s Imperial Collection. Wreck Alley, named for a stretch of sea off the coast of California littered with sunken vessels, is a 9.5% ABV Imperial stout that is brewed with cocoa nibs and Ethiopian coffee beans. And it’s tasty as hell.
Appearance
Wreck Alley pours black like the murky depths for which it’s named. A dark tan head fell relatively quickly, but left light lacing and a thin collar around the glass.
Aroma
Dark roast coffee, dark chocolate, a hint of anise and molasses come together for a fairly rich, yet earthy nose.
Taste
A pile of roast coffee and dark chocolates arrive first with a full bodied mouthfeel (the carbonation if light, yet active). There’s not sweetness to be found in this imperial stout, which works for its benefit allowing the earthy roast coffee to come forward. The dry finish has a lingering warmth a really late forming hop presence that teases the back of the tongue. The brew is rich and not overly robust which makes it surprisingly quafable.
Overall
Despite it’s foreboding name and dark appearance, Wreck Alley is a deceptively approachable imperial stout. Oh, don’t get me wrong. It’s a big beer to be sure — 9.5% ABV is nothing to scoff at, but it’s hidden well. The result is a beer that is smooth, full flavored and nicely balanced. Between this, Off the Rails and Tower 20, Karl Strauss Brewing have themselves one hell of an Imperial Collection.
Rating:4/5
This is a review of a promotional sample received from the brewery.