Otter Creek Russian Imperial Stout

I think I’ve said this before, but I love dark beers.  I especially like big beers; I love all these craft brewers making imperial style beers.  My local liquor store carries ten’s of stouts, but this is the only Russian stout I’ve seen there.  Of coarse, I had to try this Otter Creek Russian Imperial Stout and see if it is as big as the label boasts.

Otter Creek Russian Imperial Stout

Pour:

This one fooled me, I started with what I considered and average pour( glass at 45 deg) and there was no head.  I moved to a slightly harder pour and the head exploded into a dark thick head.

Appearance:

Inky blackness, there are stouts that are very dark, but when you drink enough of them you start to notice the shades as it is poured, this one was B-L-A-C-K! No reddish hues what so ever.  Not only was the beer dark, also the head was a dark cream color almost brown.  A very promising start.

Aroma:

I could smell this beer as I poured it, very strong chocolate aroma with notes of smoked nuts and coffee.  Very luscious.

Taste:

Very intense beer, exactly what I expected from a Russian Imperial Stout.  Tons of hops in this beer, the bitterness of the hops is nicely balanced with the chocolate sweetness.

Drinkability:

A Big bold beer, 10.6% ABV, a very strong heavy beer.  I really enjoyed this beer.  I was surprised to read on the label the beer had 65 IBU’s I would have thought there was more in the beer.

Tasting Method: 22oz Bottle

My Rating: 9.3