Happy Ending Imperial Stout brewed by SweetWater Brewing Company - Atlanta, Georgia

SweetWater's Happy Ending is an award-winning Imperial Stout that offers a robust blanket of roast, chocolate, coffee, plums and raisins that will sink into your taste buds. An explosive burst of citrus hops complement the warm rich flavors and will send you over the top. Happy Ending die-hards can find this hyped-up stout in six packs, 22oz bombers, 15.5 and 5.2 kegs. It's dry-hopped with Cascade and Williamette hops and finishes at an impressive 9 percent abv. As with all brews in the Catch and Release series, enjoy it while you can, because all good things come to an end and this Happy Ending will fade with the arrival of spring.
   

       
Beer Review by Beer Advocate
Appearance: Pours black and, I think, cloudy with just 1 cm of light brown head. Good head retention with plenty of lacing.

Aroma: Aromas of roasted malt, for sure, but this also has a substantial hop character of the weedy/herbal sort. Higher ABV is evident even while cold and contributes to floral notes and hints of dark fruits.
    

Taste: Semi-sweet mocha and malt flavors appear initially. The hop component remains partly herbal in tasting but is less pronounced on the tongue than in the nose, and turns more piney here. The hop contribution grows in power, and comes to the fore in the aftertaste, which is also nicely, if lightly, fruity and bitter. These hop characteristics seem well-matched to the malt profile, producing a stout that is relatively hoppy but still seems well-balanced. The fine and lingering aftertaste has good bit of mocha tint.

Mouthfeel: Creamy smooth and full bodied with a soft medium-light carbonation. The high ABV has exceptionally little negative impact on the feel.

Overall: Exceptionally hoppy yet drinkable imperial stout, with a high ABV that is well-hidden in the taste and feel, although fairly obvious to the nose.

  
   
SweetWater Brewing Company
SweetWater Brewing Company is an Atlanta-based craft brewery specializing in aggressive West Coast style beers. SweetWater's brews are unpasteurized and designed to be consumed fresh so distribution is limited to the Southeast. The award-winning lineup of year-round brews includes SweetWater 420, SchWheat, IPA, Blue and Georgia Brown. SweetWater also features a Catch and Release series of beers available on a limited basis throughout the year, and an experimental, one-time-only Dank Tank series. The SweetWater Brewery, open for tours every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at 5:30 p.m. and Saturday at 2:30 p.m., is located at 195 Ottley Dr NE, Atlanta GA 30324. For more information about SweetWater Brewing Company, please visit www.sweetwaterbrew.com.