When I first tasted Samuel Adams Imperial Stout , I thought I had not lived. That was until I tried it with bleu cheese. Then I knew. Part of the brewery’s new Imperial Series, the stout is not for the meek.

Dark as a Himalayan night sky and just as dense, this beer is prodigious in character and taste. Just pour it and see. A caramel-tinted foam atop the beers diesel opaqueness brings to mind an espresso, suitably, as coffee forms one of the layers of flavor. Chocolate is another, licorice a third. Try tasting each one independent of one another.

A good dose of hops lends earthy character and aroma, with a silky caramel maltiness rounding out the flavors. But for all its intensity, it goes down smooth and easy. But be careful; at 9.2 percent alcohol, it could possibly be too smooth and easy.

OK, that’s the beer. Here’s the beer with a good Danish bleu cheese. There’s salty sharpness, there’s subtle smokiness, there’s creamy smoothness from beer and cheese. If there’s more of both, there’s heaven.

Fortunately the area’s well stocked with the dark stuff. Market Basket and Hannaford have it, and so do Jasper’s on Temple Street in downtown Nashua and The Liquor Shop on Middlesex Road in Tyngsborough, Mass. Prepare to pay $10 or a little higher for four 12-ounce bottles.

Samuel Adams Imperial White should come with a warning.

Not because it’s bad but because it packs a punch.

The fruity and refreshing taste would never lead you to believe that the beer comes in at a whopping 10.3 percent alcohol.

I think Sam Adams puts it best saying, “This is not just a more intense version of our spring seasonal Samuel Adams White Ale.  Imperial White is a new recipe that stands on it own merits.  In fact, it is more of a wine substitute than just another refreshing witbier.  This is a beer that should be sipped and savored and you’ll be amazed at the flavors you’ll discover as the beer warms and opens up.”

As I said, it’s fruity but it doesn’t taste like your typical white beer. Yes, it’s fruity but it’s much more bitter and full bodied than most other white beers.

The spicy notes mean the beer could easily stand in for your favorite glass of wine when eating a hearty steak or a spicy meal. Yet the fruity finish also means it is an excellent pairing for desserts and cheeses or you can just drink it on it’s own for refreshment during the hot summer months.

Other beers in the Imperial series are the Double Bock and Imperial Stout. 

The Imperial series can be found at Jasper’s at 4 Temple St. in Nashua.