Coast Range Russian Imperial Stout

Formerly brewed at Coast Range Brewing Co.
Style: Imperial Stout
Gilroy, California USA

Very dark brown and superbly viscous pour. The thinnest of brown heads forms, with tan swirls, totally reluctant to dissipate. The molasses in the aroma is intimidating, along with notes of cherry, chocolate, smoke and berry skins, and the lightest touch of coffee and hazelnuts. Smells divine and very complex, now I’m really excited. Flavor expands on these notions and is truly great. Tastes of more molasses and berries, dry chocolate and sweet coffee and plums. Roasty, dry and alcoholic, this is a serious beer and a noble American effort at recreating a classic Russian style imperial stout. Bold enough and seems sturdy enough to endure that long journey, or a very long slumber in a cellar. I wish I had more, it didn’t even taste close to what I can only imagine would be a magnificent peak of a sublime melding of flavors and aromas. Finishes medium dry, mildly roasty. Hop bitterness is still noticeable, balancing, bracing at times. This is a warming, tantalizing classic for the ages, a beer that I hope is realized again one day. Fantastic. Not one complaint here other than a diminutive bottle size that limited my sample to mere ounces.

#1800 - 7oz bottle via trade with Degarth! - Thanks Joe!! - Pours black and thick.. Looks just like motor-oil. Not much head. Aromas of dark bakers chocolate, coffee, and lots of dark fruit with a bit of tobacco. Flavor is dark chocolate, coffee and some black currant with a little liccorice. Thick and full bodied on the palate not much carbonation and the alcohol is well covered.. This reminded me much of Courage RIS.. A beautiful impy and it is a shame this is retired now.. Thanks Joe for giving me the opportunity to try this one for #1800. It was fantastic!

Bottle. Nose-soy, odd sickly smell. Opaque body with a medium ring of bubbles. Not too sweet, cream, coffee, medium bitter, earthy. Well balanced and not too heavy handed in the sweet or bitter departments. Good to see an impy that can be full of flavor without being too dam sweet and/or sticky.

Cute, tiny bottle. Really rich, well balanced and smooth. Heavily nuanced after the mid-palate through the finish, with lingering chocolate, hazelnut and perhaps a hint of caramel. Could be more concentrated overall and more flavorful up front. Aroma could be much better. But....still a delicious brew.

Bottle...GABF RB Tasting ’06... Pitch black ale with a small, creamy, light brown head. Good retention. Rich, malty nose with cashews and chocolate. Sweet, chocolatey flavor with warm alcohol. A little acetaldehyde evident in both. Full-bodied with a velvety-smooth mouthfeel and modest carbonation. Lengthy, roasty, dry finish.A big THANKS to Degarth for bringing the bottles!

pours to a jet black body w/ a thick chocolate oatmeal lookign head w/ nice lacing. Rich buttery toffee and syrups w/ some chocolates in the aroma. Palate is well coated and lightly creamy. rich sweet malt flavor like buttered toffee w/ a hot alcohol in the swallow and a lightly grassy finish. Some darn good stuff.

GABF 2006 post-party thanks to Degarth. The beer pours to a pitch black body with a dark brown head. The aroma is hugely chocolatey with a nice barley aroma. Sweetened condensed milk. The flavor is richly chocolatey, nicely sweet with a good barley component. Nice creamy lingering palate.

Seven ounce bottle – dark brown / black color – subtle dark tan head - nose of malts , brown sugar , bitter dry chocolate , deep fed fruit and roasted quality – taste of malts , cereal , raspberries , milk chocolate , orange , and roasted nuts – thick oily body , no carbonation , dry – aftertaste bitter chocolate and milk chocolate , roasted malts