Anatevka
Highlands Hollow Brewhouse

Nitro-pour at the Brewhouse.

A: Opaque black pour with a creamy off-white head nitro head that sticks around.

S: Surprisingly dominant notes of coffee and toasted malt, earthy and inviting.

T: Smoothed-out roasted malt character and that same impression of coffee/ground coffee bean, very nice. Earthy hops and appropriate bitterness.

MF: Very creamy and smooth.

O: A nice RIS if you like coffee stouts - I happen to love them.

funny they call this a russian imperial stout at such a modest alcohol content, rarely are those two things associated, but i think they are right in that the makeup of the beer, the taste, and even the texture surely makes it seem bigger than it is, and its definitely traditional in the right ways to be a russian imperial. frankly, i kind of prefer it this way, all the same depth of flavor and texture and character but i can have more than one of them and still drive home, makes this more accessible, and thats always fun. these guys are so underrated, and this really is a good beer, sometimes served on nitro too. its fuller feeling even without that, with a deep and dry roast profile and lots of nuttiness, coffee, and dark cocoa complexity, but in a really drinkable package that doesnt topple me too abruptly. maybe its a little thin in places, but its just about right for me, especially if you just think about it as an english stout or something, some yeast character, all the grain layers you could want, and a smooth mouthfeel, i think its a nicely made beer, super old school, but these guys have been around for like 30 years or something, and they are entitled to something like this, and i almost like them more for it, cant imagine that has changed much over time or ever will. somewhat of a relic, but i really like it!

ap at Black Friday. A bit tame next to all of the Imperials, but also a refreshing break. Decent all around stout, only knock is a thin body. Good stout, however....