Russian Imperial Stout
Hangar 24 Craft Brewing

L - Pitch black, clear at edges, head tan but weak. Great legs and some lace
S - Chocolate, coffee, some roast. Some dark fruit and alcohol
T - Intense coffee, chocolate, port wine-like alcohol, spicy hops in background, complex
M - Spritzy carbonation, full body, high hops bitterness, strong alcohol
O - A great RIS that pushes all the right buttons. Great flavor, complexity and balance. Could use better head retention and served too cold.

 

2012 vintage on draft at KnB Wine Cellar in San Diego, CA. March, 2013.

Pitch black and opaque with a 1.5 finger beige head that slowly fades into a thin, lasting ring.  The glass is left coated with streaks of soapy lacing.  

Smokey, robust roasted malt aroma with gourmet coffee bean, oatmeal and dark chocolate along with sweeter malt notes, toffee and vinous fruit.

Full bodied with a nice balance of roasted and sweeter malt flavors with lactic cream, licorice and vinous fruit sweetness.  Some burnt sugar with robust coffee and silky dark chocolate countered by bakers chocolate, toffee and fudge.  Some licorice, peppery spice and vinous fruit notes on the back end.  High abv is excellently masked with only faint heat and subtle wamrth in the chest.  Drinks way too easy for it's strength and complexity.  

 

As I've been on a stout kick for a while, I was anxiously awaiting my friend who lives close to the Hangar 24 brewery to bring me one back from California (I live in Texas). This beer definitely lives up to the 15.8% ABV and is definitely one of the most unique stouts I've tried.

A - Poured into a Sam Adams notched glass, this stout poured heavily, with thick, residual legs. The head wasn't heavy, not even measurable really, but the little I saw was very dark and thick and clinged to the edge of the glass.

S - The smell was brilliant. You do initially get a heavily influenced alcohol smell, but it quickly changes to a warm cocoa and coffee malt. On top of the chocolaty coffee goodness you get a hint of the bourbon barrels they used to age it in, which adds a nice finish to the whole smell.

T - This stout provides a kick up-front but quickly fades to a sweet and smooth chocolate-coffee taste with some toasted barley to finish it off. Unlike other stouts, the aftertaste that this beer lasted a bit longer, but had a clean and crisp finish (I'm guessing because of the higher ABV). This is definitely a good beer to have during the winter.

M - Given the 15.8% ABV, the stout doesn't have too much of an alcoholic feel to it when first felt then other high ABV beers. It finishes with a smooth, silky finish that leaves you wanting the next sip.

O - Overall, this beer was a complete treasure and privilege to try. I've had quite a few stouts and this one definitely is ranked high up on the list. If you're ever around their brewery or have a chance to try this stout (or any of their beers) I highly recommend it.

On tap for the Summer Beerfest at Far Bar in Los Angeles, CA.

Pours an opaque black with a foamy dark khaki head that settles to an oily film on top of the beer. Small dots of lace slowly drip into the remaining beer on the drink down. Smell is of dark roasted malt, cookie dough, cocoa, and alcohol. Taste is of dark roasted malt, cocoa powder, cookie dough, and some slight coffee flavors. There is an alcohol kick and mild roasty bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a good level of carbonation with a crisp and medium bodied mouthfeel. Overall, this is a very good beer with some complex flavors that make it quite tasty.