20th Anniversary Russian Imperial Stout
Scuttlebutt Brewing Company - Restaurant and Pub

 

 

 

 

 

 

Poured into a Fremont small snifter. Pours a very dark mahogany brown, appearing opaque black in the glass, with a thin light brown head that dissipates to patches and light lacing. Aroma of dark toasted malt with light char, chocolate, light molasses and coffee; slightly boozy. Flavor is dark toasted malt with nice smoky almost ashy char, dark chocolate, light coffee grounds and a hint of wood, although this is not the barrelled version. Medium bodied with light creaminess and good carbonation. A quite smoky, somewhat dry take on the style. The profile is more like an imperial dry stout with an emphasis on dry, smoky malt rather than chocolate and dark fruit typical in the Russian imperial style. This may be a little stark to sticklers for the style, but I'm a fan of smokiness in stout and this one delivers. Flavor is not complex, but deep and flavorful. An interesting take on the style and a good choice for an anniversary stout.