Siperia Imperial Stout
Panimoravintola Plevna Koskipanimo

 

Blind tasted, lable and prior reviews unread, I 'll check the lable later, I learn more this way....
L- Essentially completely black, just glints of deep ruby red when held right by a halogen bulb and then through the bottom corners of the glass. Impressive 1cm quite dark tan fine-bubble head that is holding well, hmmm nice! (ps +10mins in it is STILL holding, quite amazing, that really rare in high an ABV% beer (surface tension/ABV% vs foam on beer etc)
S- Unexpected, almost a stone-fruit scent. What is going on, my nose tonight? 'Seemingly mild' to me anyway.
T- Ok, bright and building (hops) into roasted, heavily roasted, they then both also build further. Good balance. No sense of ABV% seems to penetrate the whole - it's pungent and notably hoppy-drier than one expects from the look/smell etc.
F-Very pungent and yet notably dry hops too, as above hence some balance achieved, yet ends in an unusually very hoppy imperial stout
O- A bit unexpected. Imperial Stout is usually trad and follows lines. This is like a hipstered version with unusually hugely prominent and powerfully bright dry hops. Interesting, it's different, but it's too bright-hoppy for this style of beer for me. I wouldn't buy or drink it again. Just because it was $$, high ABV% and 'Imperial Stout' 'ish doesn't make it accomplished brewing (to ME!). I hope others find it more to their tastes.
Bought from Alko chain Helsinki and brought home to UK. Euro6 BB: 27/02/2028 330ml bottle.

Deep dark brown with no light passing at all. Thick beige head that leaves an initial blanket of lace.

There’s something odd about the smell. I pick up a mild sourness and a bit of greenery (vegetal) before I get to any coffee or dark chocolate smells.

The taste is far better. There’s both chocolate and coffee on the tongue. Quite dry—no lactose or maltose. The body is thin, similar to a Guinness. The alcohol is well hidden making this a deceptive beer. The finish is bitter with the burnt malt.

 

 

On-tap at Bruuveri, Helsinki, Finland

A: The beer is jet black in color. It poured with tan lacing on the surface and a narrow collar around the edge of the glass.
S: Light to moderate aromas of black licorice are present in the nose.
T: The taste follows the smell and has stronger flavors of black licorice. There is a light to moderate amount of bitterness. Flavors of roasted malts and licorice linger into the finish.
M: It feels medium- to full-bodied on the palate and has a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: This stout is really enjoyable if you like black licorice. No alcohol is perceptible.

Serving type: on-tap

 

 

 

Plevna Siperia Imperial Stout. On-draught at a bar in Helsinki. Reviewed from notes taken Summer 2014.

HEAD: Half finger wide khaki colour head. Creamy, soft, shiny, and appealing. Not real frothy. Retention is 3-4 minutes. Coating lacing clings to the sides of the glass as the head recedes.

BODY: Opaque solid black. No yeast or sediment is visible within. Looks adequately carbonated.

Looks like a pretty good imperial stout, but not a unique or special one.

AROMA: Deep chocolate and cocoa notes. Roasted barley is evident, thank God. It's surprisingly hoppy for an imperial stout, actually, with floral, piney, and evergreen-redolent notes. Dark and chocolate malts comprise the malty core.

A pleasant aroma of average strength, though simpler than I'd like for a beer vying to be a top tier imperial stout. A bit too hop-emphatic.

No overt yeast is detectable.

TASTE: Dark malt sweetness and cream greet the drinker on the open. In thhe early second act, it sifts to a pine needle dominant character, which actually works here. It's so hop dominant it almost flirts with Cascadian dark ale conventions. I do like it, and the hops are well balanced by the malts, but it's a catastrophic failure if they were after a traditional imperial stout. Still, it's a tasty brew.

I detect no overt yeast character, or off-flavours. There is a slight alcohol warmth that is noticeable.

TEXTURE: Smooth, wet, and a bit too glossy/coating on the palate. An imperial stout demands some degree of coarseness and dryness to accentuate any roasted barley presence, but then I guess this isn't really a traditional expression of the style. Full-bodied. Not too heavy or overbearing on the palate. Not oily, gushed, hot, boozy, etc.

Adequately carbonated, if a little too much so. Suits the taste decently overall.

OVERALL: It's a drinkable brew and is ironically more balanced than most Cascadian dark ales while being almost as hoppy. By no means a conventional example of the intended style, but a beer I'll have to revisit in spite of its high price (4.50 euro/33cl). I'll enjoy finishing the glass, and I'm sure this will find its fans.

High C+ (3.25) / ABOVE AVERAGE

***
Summer 2015 impression on-draught at Pikkulintu:

B+ / VERY GOOD

 

 

 

 

 

Draft @ Olutravintola Pikkulintu

Black bodied with a thin long lasting tan head.

Really roasty and slightly ashy. Dark chocolate with a slight sweetness. A little woody. It's really more bitter than anything though. There's some slight grassy hop peeking in.
Smooth medium body and dry.

Quite a stout here. Hits hard with those hops but at only 8% lends itself to a couple pints if so inclined.

 

A-Pitch black with a thick tan head

S-Roast malts, cocoa and coffee

T-Cocoa and dark coffee, lots of dark roast malt character, just a hint of sweetness

M-Fullbodied and medium carbonation

O-Excellent imperial stout, well worth seeking out, rich, malty with awesome roast character

Had on tap at Pikkulinto, from notes. Pour is jet black with smaller bubbles and a creamy tan head. The nose is nice, roasted malt up front, light coffee with some fleshy orange citrus and light bitterness. Taste is much of the same, well balanced with nice roasted malts and light milky chocolate and coffee notes. The hops are light, citrusy with moderate bitterness in the finish. Medium body and very smooth and creamy with assertive carbonation and clean finish.

On tap at Pikulintu in Helsinki. From notes.

A - Poured black and opaque with a slight mocha head, some slight lacing and no visible carbonation.

S - Definate hop presence was a bonus off the bat. Roasty and chocolatey. Good combination, nice and inviting to me. Very cool aroma.

T - Hoppy stout, hello! Chocolate and roasted notes. Maybe some licorice as well. That nice hop compliment is so cool. Maybe a little grassy and fruity. Mixes well.

M - Huge mouthfeel. Explores every cranny. Medium carbonation and body is a little more than medium. Feels really good and smooth.

O/D - Heck ya. Nice stuff. Strong and powerful. Hop compliment is cool. Just a great stout IMO. Well put together. All elements work well and it goes beyond those typical Impy Stout characteristics and puts a new spin on things.