Stone Imperial Russian Stout

It's been a loooong time since I reviewed a beer but I was in the mood for something incredible this past Sunday and I can't let the experience be forgotten.

It was a cool, crisp Sunday afternoon and the late game was in full swing. I knew the Saints-Vikings game would live up to my expectations so I decided to grab a beverage for the game that I knew would also live up to my lofty expectations. Like the outcome of the game, the Stone Imperial Russian Stout did not disappoint! Since I was in the mood for something strong, I poured this beer into a tall pint glass for my enjoyment. From the moment I opened the beer I knew I was in for a treat because the smell quickly filled the room. There's a strong coffee flavor upfront followed by dried fruit, roasted malts and alcohol. The beer poured an almost jet-black color that slowly gave way to a dark brown, mahogany head. There was no late penetrating this beer. It poured as dark as oil as you can see from the picture. The color of the head made it one of the finest I've seen. I was itching to jump right into this beer by the time I was done filling my glass. Upon first taste, this beer did not let me down as there was a harmony of flavors with no one dominating over the other. The roasted malt is the first thing that I noticed followed by chocolate and coffee. These last two flavors stick with you in between sips so that your mouth is never "flavor-free" throughout the experience. Of course, being that this beer has a 10.5% alcohol content, the alcohol flavor also made its presence felt. For a beer this strong, it is surprisingly smooth. It has a nice thick mouthfeel with not too much carbonation going on. Absolutely perfect for the style. As I started to drain my glass, the individual flavors started to blend together more freely creating a delicious experience. Beware if you ever find yourself with one of these in your hand because the alcohol will smack you in the face rather than sneak up on you as with most other beers. I was not even halfway done with it when I was already feeling the alcohol. Football, friends, and food all combined to make this an excellent brew and one that fit the occasion perfectly. I would be hard-pressed to choose a better beer on a cold winter day. Defintely grab this one if you have a chance.