Karl Strauss Brewing Company
San Diego, CA
Dark as the depths of its namesake, an Imperial Stout of uncharted complexity. Brewed with darkly kilned malts, cocoa nibs, and Ethiopian coffee beans, Wreck Alley has rich layers of dark chocolate, toffee, and espresso-like roast.
ABV: 9.5
ABW: 7.6
COLOR: 100
BITTERNESS: 50
ORIGINAL GRAVITY: N/A
Black as a night on the high seas, the head is lovely, bubbles of various sizes like the night sky. The nose knows— incredible blasts of roasted malt, coffee, chocolate and toffee. Round and rich, it coats the palate with beautifully balanced complexity of flavor. The sweet aftertaste goes on and on. We loved it with a dessert; a coffee ice cream sundae sprinkled with cocoa nibs.
There’s nothing wreckless about this brew. A deliberate and planned super stout in appearance with deep dark aromas emitted from a black hole. Take me take me. Nutty, cocoa and fruity flavors greet and follow with a hop balance that doesn’t exceed the fullness of malt character. Wonderfully balanced and it keeps returning to cocoa and roast memorabeerlia. High alcohol warmth and fruitiness whacks. Lingering hop bite tickles but doesn’t damage. Eloquent. Who to share this with?
Founder of Merchant du Vin and the Pike Brewing Co., Finkel is a pioneer in the marketing of craft beers in America.
Author of the New Complete Joy of Homebrewing, founder of the Great American Beer Festival and a Beer Examiner at www.examiner.com. Papazian is a leading voice in beer and brewing.
