Cold Nights Ahead

The darkest, strongest, most flavorful, and complex of all the stout family of ales is the Russian Imperial Stout. The British, makers of the world’s finest beers, brewed their export stouts and porters to be powerful and alcoholic to withstand the long journey across the North and Baltic Seas. The darkest and strongest of these beers gained favor with the Russian royalty of the time, were made for Catherine the Great, and were soon dubbed Imperial stouts, or Russian Imperial stouts.
Russian Imperial stouts are typically jet black, with dark tan heads. The higher the alcohol level, the less head will be present. Heavy on malt, roasted and rich, these can offer extreme levels of dark chocolate and coffee. Dark fruits can be present and a burnt quality is sometimes noticeable. Dryness and sweetness is possible; full-bodied, smooth and intense.
True English-made Russian Imperial stouts are extremely rare. The bulk of available Imperial stouts are American-made renditions. The Brooklyn Brewery, out of New York says “The Legend Returns: Black Chocolate Stout is BACK.” The mid to larger sized brewery is world renowned and boasts a stellar lineup of great beers. Brooklyn Brewery’s Black Chocolate Stout is a beast of a brew, all chocolate and alcohol, checking in at 10 percent alcohol by volume (ABV).
This New York beer is a Russian Imperial Stout with strength and complexity. In a snifter glass, this beer pours up an almost complete black, with a small brown head, which drops to a dusting in a short time. The first and most obvious aroma is a chocolate coffee mix, which is a delight to the nose. It’s a soft smell, not harsh and overpowering.
Beware: this beer is complex and powerful. Bittersweet dark chocolate flavors mix with strong coffee and alcohol! Smooth as smooth gets, the mouthfeel is medium to full, but the liquid glides over the mouth.
When fresh, this is a robust, hoppy, chocolate beer. After time, the hops fade, and you are left with a warming, dark chocolate and molasses milkshake-like treat. I recently opened a 2005/2006 bottle of this stuff, and it was amazing. Also, seek this beer out on draught, and you will be rewarded.
The Brooklyn Brewery offers the following pairings on its website: “chocolate desserts, cheesecake, fruit tarts, ice cream; strong cheeses, especially Stilton.” They even suggest the beer as a component in an Imperial stout float. I think the beer works great as a dessert on its own.
Beers that are meant to be savored, sipped, and taken slowly, Russian Imperial Stouts will warm you in the dead of winter and challenge your palate. This beer will evolve when cellared. Buy a few bottles of ‘BCS’ and drink one every year to notice how it ages. This is a once a year offering, so grab it now. Enjoy the brews … Cheers.
Gene’s Haufbrau has at more than 200 beers in bottles or on tap. Gene’s is located at 817 Savannah Hwy. 225-GENE. E-mail the Beer Snob at publisher@westof.net.