Pours a super dark black with a thin tan colored head that disappears quickly with a thin swirl of tan foam resting on top. Some spotty sticky lacing.
The aroma is dark and rich. Dark roasted malts with a blend of coffee and bitter dark chocolate. A light citrus hop is noticeable.
The taste is dark and rich and very similar to the aroma. Dark roasted malts, bitter chocolate, and dark roasted coffee with a citrus hop mixed with a bit of smoke.
Big body with light carbonation. Creamy mouth feel.
This is an awesome Russian imperial stout. Big bold flavors with a nice balance between the dark flavors and the citrus hops. Try one!
Poured darker than midnight and my ability to check if the beer was clear or not was completely inhibited. Over an inch of frothy, brown, sticky and delicious looking foam. Retention was outstanding and as it receded it left behind some brown sticky lacing.
Aroma is big and complex. Coffee and chocolate hit my nose first. Citrus hops also had its moment in the spotlight. Roasted scents mildy are in the background.
Taste is coffee that has some bitterness. Roasted and chocolate flavors about in the middle. Some citrus hops in the finish and a touch of smoke. Coffee, chocolate, and bitterness blanket the aftertaste.
Big body and light carbonation team with the creaminess to make this a sipper and almost chewy at times.
Oh man this is a nice big beer. Lots going on in the taste and the aroma to add layer upon layer of complexity. The subtle yet somewhat strong hop aroma and aftertaste are just another added layer. I hope I can get more. Enjoy!
"Well ya see, Norm, it's like this... A herd of buffalo can only move as fast as the slowest buffalo. And when the herd is hunted, it is the slowest and weakest ones at the back that are killed first. This natural selection is good for the herd as a whole, because the general speed and health of the whole group keeps improving by the regular killing of the weakest members. In much the same way, the human brain can only operate as fast as the slowest brain cells. Excessive intake of alcohol, as we know, kills brain cells. But naturally, it attacks the slowest and weakest brain cells first. In this way, regular consumption of beer eliminates the weaker brain cells, making the brain a faster and more efficient machine. That's why you always feel smarter after a few beers." - Cliff Clavin, of Cheers