Reviews

Karbach Three Legged Lab Imperial Stout

After its debut last year, Three Legged Lab is Karbach’s newest entrant into their specialty seasonal line-up. As the winter seasonal, it can be found on tap or in 4-packs of 12 oz cans during the first part of the year. The brew is named after the owner’s black lab, Molly, who lost her leg early in life (per Karbach’s website). But enough with the storyline: let’s get down to actually drinking the beer.

I chose to whip out my fancy snifter glass for this one; however, with the low hop aroma you don’t miss much out of the can. It’s a very rich beer, as any imperial stout should be, but the flavors meld together well. Chocolate is by far the largest player, with a smooth boozy finish. I found myself craving more as I drank it, which is always a good sign.

When I poured it into my glass, the first thing I noticed was the color. It pours black — almost jet black — and I didn’t get much foamy head out of it either. There’s not much fruit or bitterness, and the licorice-like taste that hits you at the end is a very pleasant surprise. It also makes you very aware of the high alcohol level (9.3% ABV), and the booze content will warm your belly. Lastly, this is a thicker beer, even for a stout, so prepare to chew on it.

Speaking of chewing, it’s always nice to add a food pairing into the mix that will enhance your beer experience. I say you go with a big old slice of pie, preferably pecan. The strong malt profile of the beer stands up well to the sugary goodness of the pie. Also, since pecan pie can be so sticky having a beer with higher alcohol keeps your palate more clear. Never mind the New Year Resolutions with this one.

Overall, I think Three Legged Lab is an excellent beer and a great representation of the imperial stout style. All beer snobbish commentary aside, it’s awesome and I’m proud to say it is made here in Houston. Go find a 4-pack while you can — you don’t have much longer this year to find it! Cheers