Oshkosh Beer Sampler 009: Vader’s Imperial Stout

A slanted and endless survey of what’s pouring in Oshkosh... tallied one beer at a time.

What: Vader’s Imperial Stout from Fox River Brewing Company.

Where: Fratellos in Oshkosh on tap, in bottles and for sale in growlers.

Why: Because a good imperial stout is just the thing to make you feel better in the midst of this bleak season. Vader’s has been going on tap at Fratellos each winter for years now and this edition is excellent. It pours pitch black with a frothy brown head. The aroma is close to that of chocolate liqueur. Chocolate also dominates the flavor. I don’t recall the beer being this chocolaty in the past, but the creamy richness of it works beautifully with the underpinning of roasted malt that anchors the beer. It finishes with a surprising amount of bitterness, keeping the beer’s richness in check. Full bodied and warming, Vader’s is a terrific strong ale for February.