I have always said that most beer is intended to be enjoyed as fresh as possible. Most of the time, this is true. Every rule has its exception, however, and tonight I'm drinking an exception. I have just popped the top on a bottle of Smuttynose Imperial Stout that is a little over two years old. Imperial Stout is big beer if ever a big beer style there was. In fact, it is part of the Smuttynose Big Beer series, packaged only in 22 ounce bottles, and distributed in a limited area. Hard to find beer this is indeed!

The preferred container of choice for beer is the 12-ounce six-pack for most consumers. The 22 ounce bottle just doesn't sell as well, at least for the most part, and they have become rather few and far between out here in New England. A few breweries still succeed with them, and Smuttynose is one of them. Big beers in big bottles has worked well, thought they needn't survive on them as they have a regular line of beers that they sell in the more conventional six-packs.

Smuttynose Imperial Stout pours to a jet black color and a thick, crude-oil like consistency. A formidable tan head forms atop my glass as I pour, and the beer has a rich licorice nose. The palate is huge: full of subtle chocolate, loads of licorice, a rich roastiness, a 7.1% by volume alcoholic warmth and a gentle bitterness in the finish (more aggressive when this beer was young, the bitterness mellows with age). A wonderful warming beer for a cool October evening, a perfect nightcap, or perhaps a beer to be shared by two over a rich dessert.