Owen's Russian Imperial Stout
Selin's Grove Brewing Company

Brewed in 2001 and aged in cold storage for 15 years. This was cask served via beer engine/hand pump into a 10oz snifter. The brew is black in color with a rich mocha head more than 2 fingers strong that fades leaving patchy lace.

It smells roasted and earthy with chocolate and a hint of leather, molasses, citrus and touch of minerals. The taste is roasty almost acrid/charred with earthen bitterness and very mild oxidation like milk chocolate. The aftertaste is almost meaty and mineral/citrus filled with a pleasant warming alcohol creep. The faintest touch of soy/umami character to the aftertaste. As it warm up it has what seems like the softest touch of lactic tang to it. Further sips reveal raisons, anise and some caramel sweetness.

This is medium in body with a modest to creamy feel of carbonation. Very rich and super enjoyabe. Its hard to believe this is 15 years old but it has the nuance that can only be attained with time. What an absolutely lovely experience. Sad to hear that this was the last of this beer. I really hope they brew this again because it was a fantastic representation of the style regardless of the sentimental reasonings.

10 year old version served on cask during Owen's 10th birthday, April 29, 2011.

A - The body on this one is pitch black...there is no light coming through even in the dimly lighted bar...the head stands one finger and is solid and creamy...it's dark brown in color and shows wonderful retention as it stays one finger for the entire beer...no too much lacing is left behind

S - Aromas are pretty one dimensional with chocolate and coffee leading the way...there is some roastiness lingering as well

T - The flavors of the beer really come together on the palate...there is a slight alcohol flavor up front but it doesn't take away from the flavor...it kind of adds to it...again the chocolate and coffee flavors are all around...both are roasted and bitter with more coffee in the finish...there are a few sweet notes coming from vanilla, molasses, and some dark fruit...all the flavors work well with one another and the only flavors that dominate are the chocolate and coffee

M - Full bodied...amazing...creamy, roasty, chocolatey, bitter coffee

O - This was a fantastic aged stout...10 years and there wasn't anything wrong with the flavors...the nose was a bit muted but really showcased the chocolate and coffee components which were a big part of the taste...I had a great time with a lot of BA's and I'm glad we were all able to get some of this wonderful birthday beer

10 yo. keg served on cask hand-pump at SGBC into a goblet pint. Happy 10th Birthday Owen! Wish you could try this!

A - Pours opaque black with a thick, creamy, one and a half finger tall tan head leaving light lacing down the glass. This was a beautiful pour.

S - Smells of bittersweet chocolate, dark roasted chocolate malt, coffee, a light vanilla sweetness. The stout isn't as oxidized as I was anticipating, only a tiny twang in the background really.

T - Plenty of coffee beans and chocolate sweetness in this one. Some dark roasted malt and light vanilla sweetness creep in as it comes to room temp. Only a very faint hint of oxidation can be detected at all. The alcohol is hidden well by all the dark flavors but is present. I loved this one. I pray they decide to make it again one day.

M - Heavy body and flavor with moderate carbonation. Amazing feel, like velvet on the tongue. Silky smooth feel with plenty of lingering dark roast. I wish all stouts felt this good on the pallet.

O - Damn. I am so glad I found out about this event. It had been on my calender for over a year now and it most certainly did not disappoint. I could have drank this all night no problem. I vote for Barrel Aged Owen for his 21st!!!

Owen's Russian Imperial Stout is pitch black, with a brown head a little taller than one finger. The head is thick and creamy looking, like the frothed head of a cappucino. There is only a spot or two of lacing, and normally I would have trouble giving a really high appearance rating because of this. Owen, however, has fantastic retention; the solid slab of foam that barely even flattens out when I have finished my beer makes up for any lack of lacing. Also, this beer is ten years old and has an ABV of ten percent.

Deep notes of chocolate and coffee dominate the aroma. A bit of roasted malt also.

This is definitely one of those beers that tastes better than it smells. Honestly, I didn't expect very much out of a beer that is ten years old, but Owen surprised me. Huge notes of rich chocolate and coffee make up the majority of the flavor, with just a touch of roasted malt. Some sweet molasses like character sneaks through also. A little bit of booze comes through, but it honestly tastes like it adds a bit of whiskey to the flavor instead of just alcohol or warmth. The finish has two new components to it: Just a hint of oxidation, which does not surprise me, and a good bit of hop bitterness, which certainly does surprise me.

The mouthfeel is smooth, and although it isn't a hugely viscous stout for its ABV, its carbonation level is nice and it has enough body.

Owen's Russian Imperial Stout is impressive, and it is the first beer that I have actually liked that was aged more than a few years. Trying this beer took a little bit of effort for me, but I'm glad to have tried it.

On a hand pull at SBGC. Happy 10th Birthday to Owen! Brewed originally on 29-Apr-01.

A: The stout looks perfect, pitch black and forboding. After a sizeable wait, a tulip-esque glass arrived. Dark as night, nestled underneath a thick, dense head that resembled a café au lait (thank you, Treme Season 2, for reminding me of Café du Monde). That thick head lasts for most of the glass, coating the side in luxuriant foam. As perfect as stout as you'd ever see.

S: The nose takes a while to get going. When it does, rich stout aromas, burnt and roasted, are prevalent. Age has done the ale well, bringing out the darkest, murkiest aspects of the nose. The nose is nice but things quickly get better.

T: The nose is nice but it doesn't hold a candle to the bold, big stout. 10 years in the cellar? Hell, this beer could use another 10 before it fully matures. Roasted malts, chocolate and cocoa, along with dark coffee are quick to rise to the surface. Slower to emerge are boozy single malt flavos, an alcoholic fullness that is as complex as it is dangerous. The stout's body has taken on a vinous character, sweet and dark with ample strength below it. Molasses and burnt sugars loiter around the finish, a potent reminder of the power of the ale. The dark nuttiness is coating, leaving me with a full flavor in my mouth for half of the drive home. A wonderful stout.

M: The mouthfeel is smooth and creamy, no off flavors or anything to drag it down. The dark tastes are strong and deceptive, a filling ale that could knock one around if one were careless. Easily the best imperial stout that I've ever come across.

O: This ale deserves a few valedictory remarks. I may never taste it again, so be it. I'm glad that I made the hour-long trek from home to get two glasses of this stout. Possibly the most brilliant ale to come out of SGBC, and that's sayin' something.

Since I noticed this beer had not been added or rated to the SGB arsenal I went back and found my notes from the tasting of this beer on 4/28/06. At this point Owen's RIS was 5 years old. This beer was originally brewed for the birth of Steve and Heather's son Owen in 2001. Next taping will be 4/29/11.

A-Deep, dark black with deep ruby mahogany highlights. Medium,creamy looking dark tan head. Copious amounts of lacing.

S-Dark roasted malts dominate with hints of chocolate, coffee and a touch of black strap molasses. Alcohol fusels burn the nares a bit.

T-Rich, deep chocolate malts swirling with coffee, milk chocolate and hints of leather. Alcohol not so present in the taste. A pleasant roasted malt/hop bitterness in the finsih.

M-Medium body at best. This may have thinned a bit due to the age, 5 years at this point. Still very smooth and fairly creamy. Too bad this didn't retained a bit more beefiness though.

D-Despite the minor flaw in the "lack"of body this is still a winner! So glad to have had the chance to get a couple pints of this special occasion brew! Cant wait till 2011!