Stone Brewing Company, Escondido, CA
http://www.stonebrew.com/
Stone Imperial Russian Stout at a Glance
Style: Imperial Russian Stout
Appearance: Black-hole dark
Aroma: Chocolate, coffee, alcohol, and licorice
Taste: Chocolate and alcohol
Verdict: My favorite stout ever, it's a huge imperial stout for stout lovers.
Stone claims that this beer pours "like Siberian Crude and tastes even heavier!" I am not sure that over-the-top statement even does this beer justice. Imperial Russian Stout poured so dark that you have to find it by smell at night. The head was also brown, though not nearly as dark of course. A pint glass could not contain the aromas of this mighty stout. I did not have to put my nose in the head to smell this beer. Chocolate and coffee greeted my nose from about two feet away. A little closer sniffing revealed a more subtle presence of black licorice.
On to the taste! The flavor of this beer was all chocolate at the beginning but morphed into an alcohol burn at the end. Stone packs 90 IBUs worth of bitterness into its Imperial Russian Stout, but the bitterness was nearly overwhelmed by the chocolate early and the warming alcohol at the end. A gradual bitterness eventually developed after the swallow. The mouthfeel was amazingly creamy and one of the thickest I have ever experienced in a beer.
This 2011 version of Stone Imperial Russian Stout was released way back in May, but if you can find one, don't shy away. it still packs a delicious punch.
-Ryan
Style: Imperial Russian Stout
ABV: 10.5%
IBU: 90
Availability: Stone has national distribution, but its Imperial Russian Stout is a limited edition release.
