Written by This is a tricky one, a limited edition Imperial Stout made exclusively for Total Wine and More in the US.
Limited to just 10,000 bottles, I understand there are 75 branches of Total Wine, and doing the math there should be over 100 bottles per store.
And a few that didn’t quite make it across the Atlantic.
The label is drawn by Johanna Basford who describes herself as an ‘Ink Evangelist’. Her images are intricate and complex, and this features matryoshka dolls, traditional Russian ‘onion’ cupola’d buildings, and an owl, possibly alluding to Imperial Faberge eggs… the label reads “all full bodied taste, this opulent whirl of hops and malt even rivals the most colourful of imperial Faberge eggs, originally created to celebrate the Russian royal family. This beer is a fitting tribute with which to toast your own empire” yeah right!
Perceived wisdom, and indeed this brew’s label, would have it that Imperial Russian Stouts were brewed with extra potency “to avoid freezing during its journey across the Baltic sea to snowy Moscow.” However an article on the scarily well informed Zythophile site (here) pours scorn on that particular legend. But why let the truth ruin an entertaining piece of beer folklore?
It pours pitch black – there’s a glimmer of garnet from a halogen light, but barely a glimmer, topped by a rich coffee coloured head that’s reluctant to disperse, leaving lavish lacing (like the alliteration guys? That’s what comes of watching Charles Dickens on TV while tasting this stuff).
The nose is bitter, slightly sour, with bitter coffee to the fore and an underlying hint of something fruity, maybe dark cherries, maybe liquorice – the hard, dark, ‘Bassetti’, bitter kind (do you guys have that in the States?), not the flaccid, sweet stuff.
The first sip comes through very,very sharp, causing an involuntary shudder, but once through that sharpness, subsequent sips reveal a deep coffee bitterness, with hints of burnt toast. It’s rich and warming, although perhaps less than the 8.2% ABV might suggest. Bring it on!
Similarly, it’s not quite as full bodied as I would expect for a ‘stout’, a bit like a post-mix cola that’s got slightly more soda than it should, if you get my drift.
And for that reason I’m giving this 4½ stars, it’s good, very good, but not quite great.
Rating: 
So, how did I get my hands on a bottle (or two)?
Well if one were to check the label of this particular brew and learn that it was ‘gently crafted by hand in Scotland’ there might be a clue in there. But I couldn’t possibly comment 
Mind you a visit to Total Wine, if you’re in the area, might reveal some other interesting Scottish craft brews!
Bob the Brit
Why would the beer be going to Moscow? The Tsar/Tsarina lived in St Petersburg.
Good point, but Could be part of the “ledgend” surrounding Imperial Stouts as Bob suggested.
Good Point, Well Made Martyn.
Of such errors are legends propagated.
Still a damn fine beer.
I’m going to be looking for this one, Bob. That’s quite a head – looks amazing! I really hope my Total Wine is slated for some of these!
Again, great catch by Martyn. Slipped right by me!
Found one! I’m enjoying it right now and I’d agree, a little thin, but otherwise quite nice. At 8.2% abv, its a big beer, but the alcohol flavors don’t dominate the beer which is nice. I’d give it 4 stars if it were me rating it.
Glad that you managed to find one @Scott, and glad you enjoyed it. I think it’s definitely a 4 stars, but as you know my beer preferences tend towards the ‘dark side’.
I have a bottle on my beer shelf for next winter.
I we getting a little tired of Imperial Stouts actually and was looking for a nice regular-strength stout. Seems the trend is toward the higher ABV. No worries with this one though, as I mentioned, the alcohol doesn’t take over the taste even @ 8.2%, so, if it had a bit more body this would be an awesome beer. As it is, its still very good and worth trying. (Seems to be in Total Wine at this time if anyone is interested.)
Curious to hear how an aged bottle compares.