Matryoshka (Westward Whiskey Barrel Aged)
Fort George Brewery + Public House

 

Matryoshka Westward Whiskey Barrel Aged – from Fort George. Received from @snaotheus in a ninja strike during BSBIF#1. Reviewed 02/02/24 (Review 3238). Note that I use DD/MM/YY protocol.
Printed on the edge of the back label of the 500 mL bottle “2022”. Stored at 34 degrees at home. Served at 54.8 degrees F in a hand washed and dried Jester King snifter. The final temperature was 60.6 degrees F.
Appearance – 4
First pour – Deep Amber (SRM 15), hazy.
Body – Black (SRM 40), opaque. Under direct light, same. When rear-lite, light penetrates at the edges – deep amber.
Head - Average (Maximum 2.5 cm, aggressive center pour), brown sugar, high density with a few rocks, fizzy, short retention, leaving neither crown nor cap, just a thin ring of bubbles.
Lacing – None – not expected at 14% ABV.
Aroma – 4.5 – Sweet, weak chocolate and whiskey. No yeast, no hops, no malt, no spices, no alcohol (14 % ABV as marked on the label).
Flavor – 4.75 – Begins slightly sweet with chocolate and mild whiskey. No yeast, no hops, no roasted malt. On the aftertaste, cardamom and a little cinnamon, no vanilla or ginger. No dimethylsulfide or diacetyl. No ethanol. A mild gastric warming seems weaker than expected from the ABV.
Palate – 4 – Full; more syrupy than creamy; lively non-aggressive carbonation.
Final impression and summation: 4.5 Very smooth and flavorful, lacking the harshness associated with many Russian Impy stouts and many whiskey-barrel aged brews. The cardamom comes through, particularly as it warms, with the cinnamon part-way through and ginger eventually appearing. Never any vanilla but that’s I flavor I can rarely detect. No coffee. In general, an excellent Impy Russian stout! Thanks Ryan!