Posts Tagged ‘russian imperial stout’

Bell’s Brewery Expedition Stout

Thursday, December 8th, 2011
bell's brewery, inc. expedition stout

Bell's Expedition Stout

As I get further away from events in my life, especially time spent with old friends, the more strained those relationships become. Having a family keeps my free time occupied, especially now that they are involved in sports. Receiving a phone call from an old friend is really appreciated. Erik, a friend from high school, beach bum buddy in college, and a basketball friend throughout my 20s dropped me a line for the first time in a couple of years (I am guilty for not calling him either). After catching up on each others families we realized that we work a little over a mile from each other and lunch is in store in a week or two.

It has been a while since I had an Expidition Stout by Bell’s Brewery. Specifically it has been about two years, if not more. I was at a local beer store recently which sold singles (my favorite) and I noticed Expedition Stout, how could I pass up a single bottle.

The beer is still a bit bright with alcohol aroma and flavor. The aroma almost burns the nose hairs while roasted malt is the focus of the aroma that is slight over all. The taste carries the roast that transitions to a an ashy or burnt flavor before the alcohol takes over. A bit above average but I think this could be much better, becoming complex with a couple of years of age. Enjoy!

Aroma: 7 (25%), Taste: 8 (25%), Look: 9 (15%), Drinkability: 7 (35%), Overall: 7.6

Useless Fact: Verdi wrote the opera Aida at the request of the khedive of Egypt to commemorate the opening of the Suez Canal.

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Surly Brewing Company Darkness (365 Day 363)

Wednesday, November 30th, 2011
surly brewing company darkness

Surly Darkness

Tuesday Night Beer Club (TNBC) was held this month at Rich’s house with a theme of dark beers. The night started off slowly with a couple of American craft beers that were fizzles. As the evening went on the beers started to improve with most of the offers turned into some sort of Imperial Stout. Or course each stout seemed to be bigger than the last until you get to the point that a big stout doesn’t even feel big.

Time for the big guns. Rich rushed in with a bottle of 2010 Darkness by Surly Brewing Company and, before that was gone, broke open a bottle of 2010 Dark Lord by Three Floyds Brewing Company so that we do a taste comparison. Both damn tasty beers but American craft beer 363 is focused on Darkness.

2010 Darkness, in most of our opinions, is currently at its peak. It seems to be a smooth drinker with a nice balance between a sweet and dry finish, neither of which your mouth succumbs. I think you could maybe go another year at most on the 2010 batch before it would be past its prime.

I do have to say that I preferred the Dark Lord over Darkness but by the slimmest of margins. They are both solid beers. I will continue to find my way to the release parties each year. Enjoy!

Aroma: 10 (25%), Taste: 10 (25%), Look: 10 (15%), Drinkability: 9 (35%), Overall: 9.7

Useless Fact: The Venetian painter Tintoretto (1518-1594) once painted a picture of Paradise that was 72 feet long. It was made for the Doge’s palace in Venice.

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Founders Imperial Stout Reviewed

Friday, December 18th, 2009

founders brewing company founders imperial stout

It seems like during the week that two is my limit on the number of reviews I will do in an evening. Of course there are those special occasions that will lead me to partake in a few more, but I find it hard to review more than two beers while doing so alone. powerlins ii femmes The chit chat about the beers helps to bring out other possibilities and make the entire experience more fun. Hurray for TNBC next Tuesday 🙂

I had two stouts last night, one of the Russian imperial variety and the other an American imperial.

Founders Imperial Stout by Founders Brewing Company was the Russian imperial stout and the first beer of the evening. I have had it sitting in the cellar for only a month but it kept wooing me. I gave in to temptation. Poured black and thick with a couple of fingers of brown, sticky, frothy foam with some of the best retention I have seen in a beer. As expected the beer was complex with coffee, chocolate, citrus hops, roasted, and bitterness on the nose and in the mouth. The high alcohol really wasn’t detectable. Some creaminess added to the depth of this beer. Founders just producing the hits. 9/10

Satin Soltice Imperial Stout by Central Waters Brewing Company was the American imperial stout. A clear pour with a big, tan, sticky foam led to some good retention and lacing without even taking a sip. roshe run The aroma was good, just a little light and contained lactose, chocolate, coffee, and some dark fruits. The taste is similar but has a bit of a bitter aftertaste that I didn’t care for. It was too much. One small fault in an otherwise really good stout. 8/10

It was a good night for stouts and I really enjoyed reveiwing both. Now to start thinking of lineup for this evening. Enjoy!

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Need to Celebrate: Old Rasputin XII

Saturday, September 19th, 2009

north coast brewing old rasputin xii

Old Rasputin XII is a Russian Imperial Stout brewed by North Coast Brewing Company to commemorate the breweries anniversary. This was a beer that I anticipated for quite some time and grab a total of four bottles (two for friends and, it ended up, being two for me).

I have wanted to taste Old Rasputin XII since the day I purchased but drinking at work that day didn’t sound like a grand idea. I wanted it to be for a good occasion and cellar the other for a couple of years. At full price this is some roshe run costly liquid paradise, I wanted to make sure it was worth it.

My neighbor across street, Miles, is an American craft beer lover. I use that term here loosely as he gulps his beer like a large mouth bass would inhale a crayfish, but he always drinks good stuff. His wife has been pregnant with their second child, so I thought him and I could split the bottle to celebrate.

We did this past Tuesday as his wife gave birth to a bouncing baby girl on Monday afternoon. Yeah. I served at cellar temperature. Of course Miles eight ounce edition was down in two “small” sips. Mine, I savored. Some damn good stuff. So complex. So impressive to the senses. Now I really enjoy Russian Imperial Stouts but this is the best I have had to this point.

I know that I talk about cost of beers a lot but I think in these economic times it is something on most of our minds. I think the world of this beer, even received the go ahead from the wife to purchase another bottle or two from my favorite beer store, but I couldn’t pull the trigger. There is a ton of beer I want to try out there and I purchased two six packs and a bomber for $5 more than the price of one 16oz of Old Rasputin XII. I think I made a good decision.

Look for Two Beer Dudes at Great Lakes Beer Fest later today in Racine, WI. Enjoy!

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