Hi guys.  For today’s craft beer review I’m going to be trying the 72 Imperial produced by the Breckenridge Brewery located in Denver, Colorado.

If I’m not mistaken, I think this is a fairly new brew to their lineup.  If that’s the case let’s get to the website, breckbrew.com, and see what we can find out about it.

Just sit back and enjoy the ride.

Hmm.  Not much to go on there.

This beer comes in a 12 oz. bottle and it has an ABV of 7.2%.

The 72 Imperial poured black with only the most faint outline of ruby at the bottom of the glass when held toward a light source.  The head was very small, tan in color, smooth and creamy.  The retention time was not very good and the lacing was sub-par.

The bouquet had quite a bit of roasted coffee/espresso notes.  I was definitely getting some creamy milk aromas too.  The chocolate was there, but it seemed a touch relaxed at first, yet it slowly became more evident as it warmed.  I also discovered a hint of hickory nuts and yeast along with a light woody aroma.  Not bad at all.

Within the taste, the chocolate was a little more forthcoming.  Again, a nice creamy milk characteristic combined with some cocoa powder flavors.  The roasted coffee notes were a touch more hidden, but still easily noticed.  The bitterness was light and the nuttiness seemed to be of medium strength.  Overall, it was balanced rather well and only a smidgen sweet.

The mouthfeel was medium bodied.  It was smooth, dry and a bit chalky at the very back end.  The carbonation was good and a decent dose of flavor was left behind on the palate after each sip.

Well, this beer wasn’t bad at all.  Solid and sturdy for the most part.  The only real “beef” I have is the appearance.  I don’t know what it is, but it seems as if every Breckenridge Brewing beer I’ve had comes up a tad short in regards to the aesthetic appeal.  The foam is never very large nor do they ever have great retention or lacing.  I realize that’s not a “make or break” factor, however, it’s still an important aspect of the beer for me.  Other than that, I found the beverage to be nice and flavorful while maintaining a relative ease of drinkability.  It’s worth a try for sure.  If you guys happen across a bottle of the Breckenridge 72 Imperial, pick it up, give it a go and let me know what you thought.

Thanks for everything guys.  I’m grateful.

Until next time.  Cheers.

Score:  3.7 out of 5
Grade:  B