Bourbon Barrel Aged Kushetka Russian Imperial Stout
Counterbalance Brewing Company

Tastes mildly infected.

Clean and a little austere. Lovely Bourbon aroma and taste. Moderate bitter aftertaste. Burnt malt and a touch of dark chocolate. Dry finish. Not a syrupy sort of RIS. Another good beer from this surprising South of Georgetown brewery. From the 375 ml bottle purchased at Elizabeth Station in Bellingham.

Very dark appearance with little tan head. Aroma is a bourbon stout. Taste is a very pleasant bourbon stout without any alcohol aftertaste. This was well worth trying.

Poured into a Fremont small snifter. Pours pitch black, opaque in the glass, with a thin dark khaki head that dissipates to patches with light lacing. Aroma of dark toasted malt, coffee, licorice, toffee and molasses; nice. Flavor is dark toasted malt with a hint of char, molasses, coffee, light bourbon, cocoa, a little oak. Finishes with more bourbon infused dark malt and a slight cherry note that may be from the barrel. Medium bodied with light creaminess. A nice bourbon barrel stout. It is thinner than expected for a Russian style stout base, but is well balanced and has interesting light supporting flavors There is a slight tartness to the finish that is probably a bourbon barrel influence that mars the overall nice flavor balance, but overall really well done and flavorful barrel aged stout. I've been pleased with everything I've had from Counterbalance and look forward to seeing more.