Peter The Great Imperial Stout
Great Waters Brewing

On Cask: Served in a brandy goblet- Black, very black, were talking thick, stark opaque, matte black of deeper then deep, holy sh*t thats black! Nice fluffy tan head just over a finger high that takes for ever and a day to settle and at first there is a small amount of slow bubbling current about an inch below the head that creates a weird lavalamp-like motion for a good amount of time then finely just goes black like the rest of its girth. Loved looking at this thing. I could get lost in its blanktivity for hours. Smell is potently alcoholic, very whisky-like with some brandy hints, takes a bit to get through and reach some sweet molasses, maple syrup, cherry, and chocolate. Taste is quite smooth with the alcohol touching every corner in warming qualities giving mild flavors in some dark roastyness, lightly sweet chocolate and deep sweet cherry that lends some heavyness, touching in molasses and coffee. Not all that bold or rich as most Imp. Stouts that I've had. The feel is why it suffers some in the taste cuz its fluffy and airy with a medium body and not so hefty or thick as most. A fine drinker, but the alcohol makes its presense felt to much in alot of its character where it needs to be hidden more and sneaky. Quite the looker though.

A hand pulled Russian Imperial Stout served in a 10oz glass at 52 degrees. Cask tapped on Jan 21, 2003.

Strong chocolate and roasted flavors and aromas. Nice head that laces the edges of the glass as you drink. Nearly opaque, but a slight crimson tint appeared as I reached the end of the glass. Medium-Heavy body with strong malt characters and obvious alcohol presence. As it finishes I detected an enjoyable, slight sweetness... interesting, as normally sweetness is more apparent towards the beginning of tasting a beer.

Overall complexity not quite there, would do well if aged longer, maybe until next winter. Do to that reason, I do think it would be better served in a pint glass. Overall quite enjoyable and I look forward to many more glasses.

*EDIT* After several more "tastes" of this beer, still very good but the body just isn't as full as I would like. I still think that aging for another year may help some, but perhaps this beer just don't have the complexity to help it in age.

Cask conditioned and served in a goblet...

Appropriate midnight black color, the beer engine seems to suspend the fine carbonation in the glass. Absolutely locked solid 1/2 inch head of dark cream color. Dark coffee aroma, a slight sense of pear. Very dry sense, medium mouthfeel and heavy roasted malt bitterness that tunnels to black expresso at the end. Could frankly have used more of a pruney, raisiny, or fruity complexity -- this one is like a Guinness Export on steroids. Some definite alcohol sense. I DO like how the beer is billed -- "Kind of like Michelob Ultra, but not at all".