This is a Russian Imperial Stout from the Brooklyn Brewery of New York. The alcohol content is standard for the style at a bold 10%. This beer pours a very dark brown (nearly black) with a thin, dark tan head that doesn’t hang around. The nose is made up of lots of chocolate, roasted malts, some hops, and distinctive dark fruits. The taste is sweet upfront (chocolate and malts), then the hops come in (not too strongly) and then you get these short-lived but repeating hits of dark fruit. The beer finishes with a nicely bitter coffee taste. The alcohol, while absent in the nose, is noticeable in the taste. The mouthfeel is medium-bodied and oily, with some tartness from the dark fruit. I like it. Not my favorite Russian Imperial Stout, but I’d buy it again for sure.
This beer is an American Stout from the Highland Brewing company in North Carolina. The alcohol content is 5.6%. This one pours a very dark brown color with a medium level head. I notice hints of chocolate, hops, and coffee in the nose. The taste follows suit with sweet chocolate upfront, and then a roasted coffee finish – no surprises here. The mouthfeel is creamy and smooth. This beer was decent. You could do worse, but maybe more importantly, you can do a lot better. I’d drink it again, but it’s not high on my list.
This is a Russian Imperial Stout from the Rogue Ales Brewery of Oregon. I bought the 750 mL black ceramic bottle which was dated 2007. This beer pours nearly black with a thick, dark tan head. The alcohol content is a whopping 11% and is discernible in the nose. I notice roasted chocolate malts, mild hops, and some alcohol in the nose. The taste is pretty bold. It has the traditional chocolate and coffee flavors upfront, followed by some oats, bitter hops, and a bit of an alcohol kick. The hops are strong, but very well balanced. The beer itself appears oily and leaves moderate lacing on the glass. The mouthfeel is creamy with a medium body. Overall, this is one great beer. Very warming; very complex. One of Rogue’s best offerings. I will definitely buy this one again.
Guinness Extra Stout (Original) is an Irish Dry Stout from Guinness Ltd. of Ireland. It pours a dark brown, like cola, with a frothy tan head – leaving heavy lacing on the glass. The scent is bready and also contains roasted malts. The taste is slightly bitter with coffee upfront and hints of chocolate near the end. Not a very complex beer, but a decent taste overall. The alcohol content is 6%. The mouthfeel is a bit thin and watery. The finish is dry with a touch of hops. Overall a good beer.
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