As you’d expect from a genre of beer that bears the name of a form of territorial conquest, Russian Imperial Stout doesn’t mess around. Produced for the Russian tsar centuries ago, it’s a strong style that naturally lends itself to cold, dark nights. Black and thick like oil and just about as filling, Russian Imperial Stout is a meal of a beer. Stone Brewery is known for its potent beers, particularly Arrogant Bastard and Ruination IPA, which both make men out of boys.
You’d think a hard-hitting brewery doing such an intense style would translate to a flavor overdose, but this is remarkably balanced. A sweet malt base with hints of molasses, chocolate, raisins and a heavy dose of alcohol makes your taste buds stand at attention. But where some heavy-duty stouts give way to overly abrasive aftertastes, this stays pleasant all the way through. Drinkers beware: You wouldn’t know this is 10.8 percent alcohol by volume until you looked at the bottle.
With so much alcohol and flavor, this certainly is not an "everyday” kind of beer you down with dinner while watching the Mariners lose by one run once again. But when the weather turns cold and nasty and you need something to keep you warm, Stone’s Russian Imperial Stout does the trick.
