Clown Shoes? Seemed a strange name for a brewery to me. Of course with Laughing Dog, Flying Dog, and even a Duck Rabbit out there, why not? Truth be told, Clown Shoes does not have a brewery of its own currently; instead they contract production to Mercury Brewing of Ipswich, Massachusetts. Lots of great beers come out of contract brewing, though, and Mercury is a great little brewery in its own right. So I had high hopes for Clown Shoes.

I wasn’t disappointed with my decision to select Clown Shoes Vampire Slayer Imperial American Stout as my first Clown Shoes beer. I am not exactly sure what an American stout is, but I do know a good imperial stout when one passes my lips. This one is one of the best I’ve had in recent memory. From the label:

In a world full of uncertainty, hardship, and people trying to hold us back, do we need vampires, too? Clown Shoes says “No! Die, monster, die!”

Our second anniversary ale incorporates signature dark malts, holy water, and malt smoked locally with hickory, ash, and vampire killing stakes.”

Imaginative, that. It must suck to be a vampire (pun intended); an eternity of nights without beer? Sounds like a horrible fate to me.

 I purchased a 22-ounce bottle for $7.99 at Total Wine. The label advertises an alcohol content of 10% by volume, and further states the bottling date as February 2012.

Clown Shoes Vampire Slayer Imperial American Stout pours to a jet black color with a thick creamy tan head formation and a potent chocolate and licorice nose laced with a hint of smoke. Taking a sip, this one has it all, everything I want in a great imperial stout: a thick, oily palate with rich texture and a full mouthfeel, bittersweet dark chocolate, dark luscious fruits of plum and raisin. Smooth, creamy maltiness is present throughout with subtle hickory smokiness just underneath everything else. The latter comes out a bit more in the finish, followed by some roasty bitterness and a big alcohol warmth.

I could drink this one forever. It’s just a fantastic beer and a great example of the style with just enough smokiness to make it a bit different. After this one, I’ll be looking for more Clown Shoes beers to try. I suggest you should, too.



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