Irkutsk
Burke-Gilman Brewing Company

Poured into a Fremont small snifter. Pours a very dark mahogany brown, appearing opaque black in the glass with a quarter finger khaki head that dissipates to to a thin cap with light lacing. Aroma of dark toasted malt, cocoa, whiskey, dates, light coffee and woody oak. Flavor is dark toasted malt with light char, whiskey, light cocoa, raisins, campfire coffee, woody oak; lingering woody oak and whiskey finish. Medium bodied with light to moderate creaminess. Only one BA stout from Burke Gilman this year, but another fine one. Irkutsk is woodier than past years and the barrel character is more straight whisky then bourbon (less bright fruit flavors, but good dried fruit). Like past stouts, this has a lighter body than expected for a RIS, but still full flavored, rich malt support. Still a little hot; I probably should have waited a half to full year for this to mellow, but it's description of "gently boozy with layers of flavor" is fairly accurate. Like the woodiness in this one. I think Burke-Gilman is flying under the radar here in Seattle, which is fine for me, no lines for their very nicely brewed strong and barreled ales.