Ghostfish Brewing Black Is Beautiful Imperial Stout

Gluten Free Black Is Beautiful Imperial Stout

Black Is Beautiful & Gluten Free 

The Black Is Beautiful Imperial Stout. This is an exciting release from Ghostfish Brewing Company in Seattle, Washington. It is part of the Black Is Beautiful series, a collaborative brew to bring awareness to the injustices faced by People of Color. For those curious, this movement is hosted by Weathered Souls Brewing Co., based in San Antonio, Texas.

The Black Is Beautiful mission:

“The Black is Beautiful initiative is a collaborative effort amongst the brewing community and its customers, in an attempt to bring awareness to the injustices that many people of color face daily. Our mission is to bridge the gap that’s been around for ages and provide a platform to show that the brewing community is an inclusive place for everyone of any color. We are asking for all breweries and brewers far and wide to raise a glass with us in unison and participate in this collaboration.”

https://blackisbeautiful.beer

In order to join this collaboration, breweries are asked to donate 100% of the beer’s proceeds to local foundations that support police brutality reform and legal defenses for those who have been wronged. Ghostfish Brewing Company chose to donate to Social Justice Fund Northwest. You can visit the Black Is Beautiful website to find more details about the brew’s mission or to download the beer recipe.

I have seen several dedicated gluten free breweries jump on this social justice movement, and I’m excited to taste Ghostfish’s adaption for you today. The Black Is Beautiful Imperial Stout has a hefty 10% ABV and was packaged in pint-size cans with a smooth satin matte label. Here is the pour…

The Taste Test

Gluten Free Black Is Beautiful Stout

The Black Is Beautiful Imperial Stout pours with a luscious head and a jet black color. Its head is dark and rocky. The beer is completely opaque, and lets no light through whatsoever. 
The head bubbles away in a minute or two and then the top of the beer is left relatively bare.

Its aroma is filled with coffee and spice, with wafts of chocolate as well. The flavor is bold AF, possibly the most flavorful stout I’ve ever had. It’s thick and big bodied, with a sharp first impression and a milky body.

When the stout first hits my lips, I experience dark roast malts and the 10% ABV, right off the bat. The flavor is fruity and nutty and filled with dark roast coffee. The body is thick and offers a milk chocolate texture which carries the beer over the palate. There’s a consistent bitterness left behind, like that of black coffee.

The beer has a sweetness to it that is matched by the sharp flavors and steady bitterness. The fruitiness lingers the least, but is strongest at the beginning of the taste as it splashes over the tongue. This is certainly not an easy-drinking stout. It is big and bold and loud, and has a lovely carbonation level, by the way. 

One thing’s for sure. This is a big beer! Lots of flavor, lots of texture, lots of alcohol. I haven’t had the opportunity to try any other gluten free Black Is Beautiful beers yet, so I can’t compare this one to others, but I can say that I appreciate every brewery who took part in this social cause.

FYI This gluten free imperial stout is still available on draft in the Ghostfish taproom. If you are nearby, head down there! If you had the opportunity to taste this big imperial stout, what were your thoughts? Did you get to try any from other breweries? Comment below!

P.S. Like what I do for the gluten free beer community? Consider buying me a beer for my efforts! ;)