Omnipollo - "Agamemnon" stout

We got in flat of these at the store a while back, and since I am a sucker for cool packaging, I had to grab one. Made by Omnipollo, this beer is called "Agamemnon" and is a 12.50% ABV imperial stout brewed with maple syrup. Perfect for the season! And check out that striking can art.

I've discussed maple syrup numerous times on this blog, including references to The Bruery' exemplary "Autumn Maple" as well as a sampling of Lawson Finest Liquids' "Fayston Maple Imperial Stout" at SAVOR in 2018 - so it's not unusual. Heck, one of my first posts ever back in 2012 was about Peak Organic's maple beer. Maple syrup is finding its way into other alcohols, too - they're even making whiskey now in barrels that once held maple syrup. It's an interesting ingredient with the potential to sweeten up whatever it comes in contact with.

After cracking the can, I let this sit out longer than usual - about ten minutes - and agitated it occasionally. Beers like these simply need to warm up for their flavors to fully open up...swishing the glass is preferred (much like volatizing wine esters) but I sometimes agitate with a toothpick to mix the beer up. I have also heard of people actually microwaving the beer for 3 or 4 seconds to warm it up; I have never heard of this and believe these individuals should be investigated for crimes against humanity.

OK, beer's been sitting out for a bit, pouring now into a glass. It generates a khaki-colored head an emits deep roast coffee aroma notes. Not much maple syrup though, at least from what I can tell.  

Woof, OK, this is a doozy. Dark as the night is long, this beer is super heavy and oily. The dominant flavor here the alcohol here...lots of boozy sweetness with a touch of oil. There's vanilla, too, more evident as the beer warms up. Finally the maple shows up, towards the end, and delivers a loooong lingering maple sweetness on the aftertaste, like maple sugar, with another dose of alcohol.

While this isn't the heaviest beer I've ever had it definitely ranks up there. It's as oily and full as pretty much any in-class; in the industry, we call this a "palate wrecker" - big, overwhelming, and boozy. It's a big meal, but very tasty and worth a try. Although I would have preferred the maple to be throughout the beer, I felt this did a good job of delivering that flavor at the end.