Bolshoi
Sixpoint Brewery

 

 

 

On tap at Bailey's tap house the other day during a low key sixpoint event. Was surprised to see this beer listed as retired on BA.

The beer pours a pretty dark brown color with good head retention and lacing. The nose is pretty attractive as well, with dark chocolate, light coffee, considerable vanilla, and definitely a pretty noticeable anise/licorice component. The flavor profile replicated then nose pretty closely, but thankfully the licorice flavor wasn't quite as overpowering or pronounced on the palate. In fact, the flavor profile was pretty complex, with all the flavors noted on the nose, but maybe also some cardamom and light clove. Pretty interesting really, and not the sort of thing I often encounter in a RIS. Mouth feel is fairly full and soft, and the finish was long and smooth. There really weren't any rough edges in this beer, and the alcohol was well integrated into the flavor profile.

These days, I rarely order a RIS that isn't barrel aged, but this was one of the better non-barrel aged impy stouts I've had in some time. Impressive effort from the folks at Sixpoint.

 

 

I don't think these guys know how to make good dark brews.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pitch black and opaque with a two finger frothy beige head that slowly settles into a thick, lasting ring. Very good retention, taking a while to settle and leaving large steaks of soapy lacing behind.

Sweet, slightly roasted dark malt aroma with a touch of piney, resinous hops countered by roast and sweeter dark malt notes. Grassy resins along with roasted coffee, burnt malt, toast and oatmeal. This is followed by sweeter desert-like malts with some lighter cocoa, caramel, toffee and licorice. Nose isn't unpleasant bad but nothing really stand out.

Medium body with a nice balance of earthy, piney bitterness and roasted dark malt countered by lighter malt sweetness. Dry and earthy with subtle pine needle, grass and oily resins complimenting the dark roast. Hints of coffee bean, burnt sugar, toast, oatmeal and bitter dark chocolate. Sweet, almost vinous, dark malts balance things out with hints of licorice, bakers chocolate, caramel, fudge and toffee. This is a very nice, well balanced stout with a complex flavor profile and well masked ABV. Very easy to drink at 10.2%. I'm excited that I finally got to try this one.

If you've never understood the "soy sauce" flavor some people ascribe to stouts, this will do it. Chocolate and raisins in the nose but dominated by soy sauce on the palate. Not a bad mouth feel but it's hard to o get past that flavor.