Topic Archives: Russian Imperial Stout
Bourbon Santa’s Little Helper Returns July 16th
Port Brewing’s Barrel aged edition of Santa’s Little Helper returns July 16th. This is the bourbon edition of the brewery’s festive Russian imperial stout released each winter.
Everyone knows that Santa delivers toys and gifts to little girls and boys each Christmas Eve. But what does he do with the sleigh the other 364 days a year? Well rumor has it he hitches up the reindeer each July testing driving to ensure it’s still in operating condition. At the North Pole they mark their calendars calling it Christmas in July. How do we know that?
Well, Virginia, each year Santa stops by Port Brewing to load up his sleigh with beer for his return trip to the North Pole. He’s a big fan of Santa’s Little Helper, and for the last nine months our brewers have been extra naughty aging some in bourbon barrels. Hopefully Santa won’t drink it all by himself, but we wouldn’t blame him if he did.
Style: Russian Imperial Stout (Barrel Aged)
Hops: Phoenix, Challenger and East Kent Goldings
Malts: Two Row, Wheat, Domestic and English Crystal, Roasted, Black and Chocolate Malts
Yeast: White Labs California Ale and Proprietary Yeast Strains
Port will post more on availability, price & quantity closer to release date…
Availability: 22oz bottles, seasonally.
Arrival: Late July, 2011
10.5% ABV
Also, Port Brewing’s “Road To Helles” returns June 27th. Draft only.
Stone’s Belgo Anise Odd Russian Arrives
Arriving together – Stone Brewing’s Russian Imperial Stout, and Belgo Anise Russian Imperial Stout. RIS is an annual release from Stone Brewing, while Belgo isn’t. It’s actually a part of the brewery’s new “Odd Beers For Odd Years” series. They took Russian Imperial, and tossed in a Belgian yeast, star anise, & oak chips. An oddity indeed.
Stone Imperial Russian Stout is so thing, rich and well, sinful you might feel certain that you are to be doomed to the fiery pits just for thinking about taking a sip. It almost seems evil. Rest assured, however, that our ever faithful gargoyle has done his job well by successfully warding off all evil spirits. In fact, we guarantee that no sin was committed in the production of this seemingly pernicious brew. We will admit that we used copious does of decadence in creating the viscous beauty you have before you, but no actual sin… You’ll have to add that on your own.
This particular edition is brewed in the authentic historical style of an Imperial Russian Stout, and then, shall we say… embellished. Specifically, by using a Belgian yeast strain, adding liberal amounts of star anise, and oaking it (which arguably could be considered “historical” as they used wooden barrels back then rather than todays stainless steel).
While our original version is “intensely aromatic (notes of anise, black currants, coffee, roastiness and alcohol) and heavy on the palate,” this Odd Year version doesn’t just have “notes” of anise… it screams it. Big, loud, & proud. LIke the Russian Czarists. Presumably. Truth is, we can’t say for certain, but one sip it’s easy to imagine it to be true.
Style: Russian Imperial Stout
Taste Expectations: Licorice, coffee, dark roasty malts, & booze. Underlying Belgian complexity.
Availability: 22oz bombers, Draft. Brewed for odd year (2011. Next brew – 2013)
10.5% ABV
Alaskan Brewing Celebrates 25 Years Of Perseverance
Alaskan Brewing Company (Juneau, AK) is celebrating 25 years with a special brew. Perseverance Ale arrives this year – a special imperial stout.
Alaskan Brewing was founded in 1986 by Marcy & Geoff Larson. At the time they were the 67th brewery in the United States, and the first in Juneau since the dark times aka prohibition. Copied straight from the brewery bio – Alaskan beers reflect many of the same characteristics of beers that were brewed here during the gold rush era. From the historically based Alaskan Amber recipe to alder-smoked malts and Sitka spruce tips, Alaskan beers reflect Juneau’s local brewing history and innovation. The brewery surpassed the 100,000 per year mark in 2005.
Perseverance celebrates the first 25 with this big Russian imperial stout brewed with birch syrup and fireweed honey.
Availability: 22oz bombers. No draft mention yet.
9% ABV
A little video history on Alaskan Brewing from Craftbeer.com
Stone’s Odd Russian
This year Stone Brewing is releasing 2 beers in their “Odd Beers For Odd Years” series. Initially the idea was to just release Old Guardian and Imperial Russin Stout in Belgo/Belgianized odd versions. The Stone faithful complained, the brewery lamented and will be releasing both. The Belgo Old Guardian has already arrived. Next up is the Belgo Russian. 2011 will be an odd year for it indeed. Details from the label indicate this beer will full of star anise, a seed pod of the evergreen tree that boasts a licorice flavor. Bottle copy:
Stone Imperial Russian Stout is so thing, rich and well, sinful you might feel certain that you are to be doomed to the fiery pits just for thinking about taking a sip. It almost seems evil. Rest assured, however, that our ever faithful gargoyle has done his job well by successfully warding off all evil spirits. In fact, we guarantee that no sin was committed in the production of this seemingly pernicious brew. We will admit that we used copious does of decadence in creating the viscous beauty you have before you, but no actual sin… You’ll have to add that on your own.
This particular edition is brewed in the authentic historical style of an Imperial Russian Stout, and then, shall we say… embellished. Specifically, by using a Belgian yeast strain, adding liberal amounts of star anise, and oaking it (which arguably could be considered “historical” as they used wooden barrels back then rather than todays stainless steel).
While our original version is “intensely aromatic (notes of anise, black currants, coffee, roastiness and alcohol) and heavy on the palate,” this Odd Year version doesn’t just have “notes” of anise… it screams it. Big, loud, & proud. LIke the Russian Czarists. Presumably. Truth is, we can’t say for certain, but one sip it’s easy to imagine it to be true.
Style: Russian Imperial Stout (Belgianized)
Availability: 22oz Bombers. Draft.
Arrival: Late Spring, 2011.
10.5% ABV
Dark Lord Day Tickets On Sale March 17th
3 Floyds Brewing has announced that tickets go on sale for Dark Lord Day 2011 on March 17th, 2011. Time TBA.
For the impending April 30th event, a ticket will be required for admittance to 3 Floyds. No exceptions. The ticket also guarantees your bottle allocation. Ticket limits, and bottle schedule is still being discussed by 3 Floyds. Bottle limits to also be decided once the 2011 yield is figured out.
For more info check out 3 Floyds Dark Lord Day Website
Weyerbacher Heresy & Insanity Return
2 popular releases from Weyerbacher Brewing (Easton, PA) have returned – Heresy & Insanity. Weyerbacher does barrel aging very well, as evidenced by these amazing beers.
Insanity
Is made by aging our perfectly balanced Blithering Idiot Barleywine in oak bourbon casks. This incredible combination creates a melange of flavors from rich malts, raisons, and dates to oak, vanilla, and bourbon.
Style: Barleywine (Barrel aged)
11% ABV
Heresy
This is an incredibly intriguing ale is made by aging our Old Heathen Imperial Stout in oak barrels that were used for making fine Kentucky bourbon! The result is an extraordinary, dark, and mysterious stout whose very essence has been enhanced. The aroma is filled with vanilla, cocoa, and roasted coffee beans.
Style: Russian Imperial Stout, barrel aged.
8% ABV
Availability: Both Heresy & Insanity are seasonally released in February
Pic Thx – @AleYeahBeer
Abita Releasing 25th Anniversary In June
Abita Brewing (Abita Springs, LA) was founded in 1986 just outside of New Orleans. They have gone from producing 1,500 barrels of beer in their first year to almost 110,000 each year. In addition, Abita makes 6,000 barrels of root beer. Amazing root beer.
In honor of Abita’s 25 years of craft brewing, the brewery plans on releasing a 25th anniversary beer. All the details are 100% official, but it looks like it will be “double vanilla Turbodog, 7% abv”. Actually release date isn’t set.
The brewery also plans to release a few draft only selections, a black IPA (Dark cascadian, or whatever term you want) and a Russian imperial stout in 2011…
