Brother Ivan
The Bold Monk Brewing Co.

One of the best looking RISs I've had, lacing found the pint which I find rare if not totalli unique. Mouthfeel is full-bodied with a taste that is rich in roast. The only thing to ding was the smell, very much booze-forward completely hiding the other scents to my nose.

Look: Pitch black pour with a thin tan head.
Smell and Taste: Coffee and Chocolate. Slightly bitter on the pallet.
Feel: Oily with some carbonation.
Overall: The best thing going for Brother Ivan is the 9.7 ABV. Nothing really special to me. Not bad but there are greener pastures out there.

 

Poured from an undated can into a snifter, tar black through the middle, but with obvious clarity with light hitting the right angle. Center pour with a fingers worth of hazelnut hued head that ultimately clings to the edges as you drink it down. Aromas of dark chocolate, cocoa, roasted marshmallow, and toasted hazelnut. Flavors of bitter chocolate, and light roast coffee with a bit of milk and sugar. Nicely balanced at the finish, smooth, but not too sweet. This is a solid RIS. Not a style you see too often in Atlanta sans-adjuncts. Would put it up against any in the area and would be curious to see what some barrel aging might do, though perhaps hard to improve on the original.