Ok, Ok, Ok... Why do some people refer to Russian Imperial Stouts as Imperial Russian Stouts? I can't be the first to wonder this. I mean... Is there even a difference???!?
Same thing I imagine. Originally Russian Imperial Stouts were strong stouts brewed to stand up to shipment to the Russian Imperial Court (hence the name RIS) I don't think stouts were ever brewed much in Russia that I know of. If there were local versions of stouts from Russia that someone amped up and did a high ABV there might be a modern IRS, but it isn't a traditional style (not that RIS are very traditional anymore compared to their historical versions!)
Wells Young Courage Imperial Russian Stout used to be called Courage Russian Imperial Stout, before that Barclay Russian Imperial Stout (when made by Courage predecessor Barclay Perkins). The "Russian Imperial" got inverted around 1970, to Courage Imperial Russian Stout. The reason may have been to avoid giving the impression the beer was made in Russia, i.e., for legalistic reasons. "Imperial" in either version of the name, according to research by Martyn Cornell, is apparently a reference to best domestic (U.K.) quality, not the Russian court, although that historical connection came in handy later no doubt to suggest a link between the Russian court and the beer. It was called Russian stout because that was a prime export market for the beer. Once again, Catherine the Great did apparently fancy the beer, but it is more of a coincidence than anything else. Strong porter was brewed in numerous areas of the Baltic, Le Coq Double Stout is a good example, brewed in what is now Estonia. I'd think similar beers were made in Russia proper too, a la Carnegie Porter, Sinebrychoff Stout, etc., these were also strong export style and made locally probably to reduce the cost of duties on the import.
My recollection is that is had something to do with getting the name/label approved by the government. "Russian Imperial Stout" was viewed as confusing to the consumer in that it implied it was a product imported from Russia. So the name was changed to Imperial Russian Stout. I can't kind the source material on this, so I could be wrong. I'm sure others will jump in a correct me if that is the case.
Understand they are the same thing, but I find that either wording equally implies Made in Russia. Russian <Imperial Stout> or Imperial <Russian Stout> - six of one, half dozen of the other. But that's our tax dollars at work.
Albert Le Coq was a Belgian distributor who shipped much stout to Russia from England. Eventually he moved to Russia & brewed it himself to avoid taxes.
Grammatically, I prefer RIS. 'Russian' is a modifier telling which type of Imperial Stout it is. However, I agree that this could fool someone into thinking the beer is Russian in origin.
During WWI, Americans rejected German based products, ergo sauerkraut became liberty cabbage. I am surprised the same thing didn't happen during the cold war and wouldn't be surprised if that happened if Putin antagonizes Americans even more so than now. Anyone care for a Imperial Strong Stout? This doesn't answer anything from the question asked in the post but I believe some of the previous posts have added much more than anything I have to say on the subject...I always thought IRS was just used because it's an abbreviation all Americans know, though as a marketing strategy I wouldn't want people to associate my product with the taxman.
