UPDATED: JUL 19, 2021 275ml bottle from the cellar (date on neck 2026 which I assume is a BB date, so a youngster). Pours black with a hint of brown at the edge with almost zero tan head. Aroma makes it though my hay-fever, deep roasted malt, raisins, treacle. Beer is medium bodied with an upfront sweetness but a good depth of raisin, boozy fruit cake & just alcohol. A great sipper in the winter & a nice sized bottle given the 10% ABV.

UPDATED: APR 25, 2020 Bottle @ home, cellared since 2012. Pours black with a small beige head. Vinous aroma with raisins, plums,dark chocolate licorice, hints of vanilla, nuts. Taste is sweet and by now, due to the aging smoothly roasted. Flavors of licorice, vanilla, alcohol, chocolate, raisins, plums, some toffee. Medium to big body.

UPDATED: MAR 23, 2020 2013 bottle pour opaque black with minimal tan head. Nose molasses, prune, candied grape. Taste roasted malt, light smoke, molasses, prune, bitter dark baskets chocolate.

UPDATED: OCT 28, 2019 Bottle (2011) from my cellar. Pours black with a medium sized tan head, good lacing. Dark malts, licorice, dark fruit, leather and mild hot alcohols. Smooth, very good.

UPDATED: SEP 7, 2019 275ml bottle at home, 2012 vintage. Black pour with minimal tan head. Dark roasted malt, cocoa powder, light coffee, charcoal, molasses, smoke, soy, licorice. Low carb, thick, full body, alcohol present but well integrated. Lingering, warming roasty finish. Been drinking so many adjuncted stouts its nice to have an old school beauty like this every now and again to reset. Delicious.

UPDATED: JUN 8, 2019 8th June 2019
One of those 'how the hell have I not rated this beers'. I've certainly had it before. A 2012 bottle. No 122989 of 200000 to be precise. Ffs! Almost fully opaque dark brown beer, small pale tan head. Smooth and airy palate, fairly dry, decent fine carbonation. Tangy dark malts, touches of cream, dark chocolate and some oxidisation induced caramel at the bottom of the taste pile. Ripe dark fruits, little ripe cherry in there. Alcohol spice doesn't seem diminished by age. Touches of brandy and sherry. A mild bitterness develops toward the end. Aged well and I think it will keep going for a few years yet. But that is no surprise given how well previous editions of this classic are drinking from decades and decades ago. And this has matured well from 2012 when my recollection is of a sweetish and tangy Impy, much more complex now.

UPDATED: MAY 1, 2019 Imperial stout de cor muito negra, impenetrável visualmente. Colarinho creme. Aroma de caramelo, chocolate, café, muito intenso. Sabor muito presente de malte, amargor perfeito, permanência de sabor prolongado. Uma jóia.

UPDATED: APR 27, 2019 Molasses, chocolate malt, and hay aroma. Black with small brown head. Moderately sweet coffee, molasses, licorice, chocolate malt, and moderately bitter hay flavor. Good body. A classic that is still better than most of the imitators.

UPDATED: APR 22, 2019 Amazing chocolate bouquet. Pours deep brown and tan head. Pretty good balance between a sultana sweetness and burnt charcoal bitterness. Chocolate and espresso coffee are naturally also along for the ride. Medium mouth feel. Long finish brings some vanilla to an almost cranberry hit of fruit and smoke. Alcohol warmth is ever present and rounds out that finish.

UPDATED: MAR 23, 2019 Pours a dark brown to black with a khaki head. Aromas of chocolate and malt. Taste the same with a little bitterness from the hops. Light lacing in the glass. A little thin for a 10% beer. Not bad overall.