Beer Review: Apple Brandy Hunahpu's Imperial Stout (2012)

Reviewing the Apple Brandy-Aged Hunahpu's Imperial Stout from Cigar City Brewing out of Florida. Hunahpu's is Cigar City's most famous stout and it is released at an event that is essentially similar to Dark Lord Day. We cracked this one, in addition to several other big name goodies, to celebrate the end of the Illinois bar exam, my birthday, and Robbie Moy's birthday.
Score: 97

Counter-pressurized growler is from the summer 2012 release. Served in a wine chalice, shared with friends and enjoyed on 07/28/12. Review is from notes.

Appearance: Pours a pitch black color with a nice layer of cappuccino-colored head that settles to a ring around the glass. Very oily, coating lacing with a solid cling factor. 4/5

Smell: What a delicious medley. Fudge and sweet dark chocolate impart a bittersweetness. Then brown sugar, a little dark fruit and vanilla, and a sweet rum-like aroma that must come from the apple brandy aging then tips the balance of the nose towards sweet. The oak, peppers and a hint of cinnamon then give the beer a nice spiced anchor to the sweetness. There's a touch of booziness as the beer warms up, but nothing powerful or off-putting or overwhelming in the least. This is a really excellent nose! 4.75/5

Taste: Chocolatey fudge, smooth vanilla and a sweet apple-and-watermelon-like rum flavor (almost like a smooth and less sugary Bacardi grand melon flavor that is nothing like the off-flavors being reported in some bottles of the 2012 vintage of Dark Lord) are my first impressions. There is a faint oakiness and chili pepper flavor at first on the sides of the tongue that modestly grows as the beer warms and layers on the tongue. The apple brandy aging seems to have mellowed out the pepper heat substantially in comparison to the base beer, but there's still a little bit of life left in the peppers and the smooth, subtle heat they give off on the sides of the tongue and the roof of the mouth give the beer a nice bold complexity that makes the bitterness from the chocolate/fudge flavors pop on the tongue. The chocolate and rum sweetness really soak the tongue in flavor and linger with the faint pepper heat. There's some mild dark fruit flavor and a hint of molasses as well, though the aroma has more of each present. 4.75/5

Mouthfeel: Rich, thick and viscous. Full bodied and very low carbonation. There's a faint pepper heat on the tongue. Slightly sweet, but not a "sweet" beer. 4.5/5

Overall: The balanced pepper kick is what made me really love Hunahpu's, but even though it is largely missing here the apple brandy aging imparts more than enough additional complexity and flavor to make up for it. I need to get some more.

Recommendation: Seek this beer out; even those who are not good at handling spiciness (I am looking at you, Scott) should be able to enjoy this one thoroughly.

Pairings: Fresh strawberries.

Cost: $25 for a 32 oz (counter-pressured) growler.