The First King Of Kiev - Bourbon Barrel-Aged
Mad Swede Brewing Company

Review: 2477
Name: The First King Of Kiev
Brewer: Mad Swede
Location: Boise, ID
Style: Barrel-Aged Russian Imperial Stout
ABV: 10.5%
Canned: Unknown
Date: 13 August 2025
I visited this brewery at least five years ago and picked up these beers. Since there is Heaven Hill and 8 Feather, I will combine them in this review. The pour created a frothy, creamy, one-fingered, light tan head with fair retention—the somewhat quick dissipation left little to no lacing on the glass. The color is inky black, with dark brown mahogany hues, and has an SRM of 36. It is opaque. The appearance of this beer is average for this style.
Nosing the beer, I detect earthy notes, chocolate, coffee, wood, resin, bourbon, and lightly toasted malts. Smelling the beer again, I detect a light floral, leather, tobacco, Maillard, and a touch of caramel.
The first sip reveals a complex array of flavors: chocolate, coffee, wood, resin, bourbon, caramel, tobacco, raisins, dates, leather, earthy dirt, Maillard, smoke, char, dark toasted bread, and a hint of mild stone fruit.
The mouthfeel is chewy, finishing a bit warm. The body is heavy and has low carbonation.
Final Thought: There is a difference between the two barrel versions; However, the first one is much better. The beer is an okay barrel-aged stout; it felt clunky and unbalanced. Considering what I am judging this beer against —the other epic Barrel-Aged stouts that I have tried —it has a mountain to climb to reach that caliber of goodness.

Taster flight at brewery. Dark black pour, small ring of beige head. Aroma is a big hit of bourbon, boozy. Taste tones down the whiskey a bit to offer coffee bitterness and dark chocolate.

Waxed 22oz bomber, split into glasses. Pours dark brown with golden light showing through the edges; minimal creamy off-khaki head. Definitely strong bourbon character, with notes of dark caramel; touch of acrid ash/oak, mild dark fruitiness and espresso. Not a great bba stout, but nothing objectionable.

A-Nearly jet black with a ruby rim when you look at it through the light. Minimal head
S-Molasses, roasted malts, cold brew coffee
T-The hops do not entirely take a back seat to the malts here. They both play on the stage. Below average sweetness, above average bitter
M-Medium (+) body, minimal carbonation
O-Pretty balanced, reasonably smooth, and just enough of a difference in character from similar brews to stand out well.

Great beer with tremendous depth. I highly recommend this beer if you enjoy a malty and hoppy stout.