About a year and a half ago, good old Jeff Evans brought me a bottle of Biggie S’mores Imperial Stout from the Three Notch’d Brewing Company of Charlottesville, Virginia. I put it in my beer fridge, and it kind of sat there for a while. Obviously. I have a habit of buying more beer than I can drink, and I drink a lot of draft beer too. So, I wasn’t sure what to expect when I finally popped my bottle in late May of 2017.

I needn’t have worried. The beer held up fine and delivered all of the theme ingredients. I ran it through my Fizzics draft pour system, which really brought out the myriad flavors. In a “theme” beer like this, I want to taste the idea the brewer is going after, in this case, a S’More campfire treat.

From the website:

This rich, creamy, imperial stout is made with 80 boxes of Honey Maid Graham Crackers. The special roasted barley used, gives the beer a rich, chocolate-y backing and the lactose gives the beer a sweet, smooth finish.

The crowned S’more hath decreed that the third Thursday of November shall from here on be known as Biggie S’mores Day!

Three Notch’d Biggie S’mores Imperial Stout has an alcohol content of 8% by volume with 40 IBUs. I got my bottle from Jef, but Total Wine sells it in Virginia for $12.99 the 22 ounce bottle.

Three Notch’d Biggie S’mores Imperial Stout pours to a jet-black color with a thick creamy tan head and an outrageously inviting nose of chocolate and vanilla. Taking a sip, the body is full and rich with deep dark chocolate notes laced with cinnamon and cookieish graham cracker flavor and smooth creamy vanilla marshmallow suggestions. The beer finishes roasty bitter and grassy bitter, enough to attenuate but not so much as to detract from the wonderful smores impression. Oddly I get coconut, too.

Would some smoked malt have added a campfire impression? Perhaps, and I guess I’m just playing hard to please. Be that as it may, Three Notch’d Biggie S’mores Imperial Stout is perfect as it is. I loved it, and I think you will, too.

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