RX Strength Imperial Stout
Country Boy Brewing

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rx stout [Barrel aged RIS 12.5%] on tap at Country Boy
Black' opaque; hardly any head or lacing.

BBL dominates the aroma and, to a lesser extent, the flavor, Lastng aftertaste of sweet, high quality bourbon.

Medium+ body with low carbonation. Smooth.

O: with the bourbon dominance, this is most recommended for bourbon lovers. ABV mostly hidden; pretty much only the warming gives it away.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Country Boy Brew's close approximation to the very best bourbon makers in the world garners them to earn the most coveted of barrels for housing their larger-than-like ales. So, how about a Russian Imperial Stout to hibernate in freshly emptied Pappy Van Winkle barrels for nearly a year? This has been pulling at my taste buds every since I heard of its conception!

Jet black and absolute opaqueness gives the beer an ominous pour. As its dainty espresso-like creme forms on its surface, I'm reminded more of the 30-weight beer that lies beneath. With each sip, the beer begins to favor brandy-like legging as its blackness stains the glass over that of conventional lace, retention, or foam generation. This is a cordial for sure!

Strong roast and oak notes waft over the nose and bring with it waves of cocoa, walnuts, charred breads, burnt wood, scorched toffee, vanilla, cream, coconut, peppercorn and esters of cherries and concord grapes as the strong bourbon alcohols tingle the olfactory senses.

Roasted barley commands the beer's taste and keeps the "stout" flavors front and center. Backed by burnt toffee, caramel, brown sugar, and molasses, the roasted taste of espresso, cocoa, and walnut are supported by just enough malty sweetness to prevent ash flavors from distracting the taste buds. And then come the barrel influences which start out with fresh oak, and then reign in the coconut, additional bourbon-infused caramel, dry sherry wine, peppery wood tannin. As the alcohol flavors rise, so do the taste of charred fruit- raspberry, cherry, grape, and figs hint toward red wine and cherry just before the beer dries its taste and steers toward its finish.

Full bodied and leaning weightily on the palate, the beer's bigness is slow to dissolve. It saturates the palate fully before slowly fading into a moderately acidic, mildly astringent pre-finish. Alcohol warmth, roasty dryness and powdery oak textures linger indefinite on the palate and beg for the next savory sip.

Rx Strength is the hallmark of Country Boy's first birthday. It signifies the boldness of the brewery, the experimental nature of their brewery, and the regional taste of bourbon. It does so with class, boldness, and a little bit of ruggedness.