L'Amico Avaro
Liberati Osteria & Oenobeers

L:. Pours a dark black color with a very small tan head and a finger or two of lacing on the glass.

S:. A dark rich chocolate mixes with a strong red wine grapes, notes of cherry and stone fruit.

T:. Starts with a dry red wine grapes, tannins, leads to a strong bitterness, followed by roast and a smooth chocolate, this leads to a slightly disjointed taste.

F:. Body is a lot lighter than the normal stout, slick carbonation.

O:. Solid beer but the grapes interact a little weird with the base beer.

This is the "heavy" stout offered on their menu, checking in around 12% and definitely feeling it. My review of their other stout mentioned that it felt lighter because of the grape addition, but that's not the case here. You've got yourself a solid, strong stout here, with all the heaviness of a typical Russian Imperial Stout. This was the best of the three beers I sampled when at the restaurant. I think the collaboration with River North, using their base and adding the grapes, was a good way to go.