Courage Russian Imperial Stout

Formerly brewed at John Smiths (S&N, Heineken)
Style: Imperial Stout
Tadcaster, England

1993 vintage, still drinking well more than a dozen years later. Nose of coffee, prunes, chocolate, and alcohol. Thick almost black pour with almost no head. Slightly sour, vinous, dark fruit like plums, dried fruit like prunes and figs,

1972- 6oz bottle, sampled 2/05 She hissed with evidence of CO2 as I ever so slowly and gently pried the cap off. Upon pouring it was thick, almost black with ruby highlights and a tiny tan head made of large loose bubbles. My nose then extracted the fragrance of chocolate, dark fruit like plums, wine and tobacco. Taking in the first sip I was amazed as the complex combination of burnt, bitter roasted malt, dark fruit, tobacco and its 10% ABV as it warmed my mouth to its every crevice. Though starting astringently bitter leading into a sweet finish with a mild note of acidity, each sip was like an awakening of ecstasy. 1983 6oz bottle,sampled 3/06 Black in color with a small light tan head. Aroma of dark fruit,wine,roasted malt bitterness,chocolate. Full body, thick like molasses with a drop of soy sauce.

Bottle. Ok, I had this 1983 vintage at Kulminator on May 10, 2006 in a Courage glass. I believe that this is the first beer I’ve had from my birth year! It’s pitch black with an initially medium fuzzy tanned head that shortly dissipates to a small ring. The aroma is excellent and nothing ill-forming comes to mind - milk chocolate, toffee wafers, and caramel. It’s certainly kept something up after 23 years. Bursting with chocolate smoothness though there are moments when I found it to be too rich and sweet. I didn’t mind taking some time to sip on it though. Some malt sourness in the flavour. A great slice of history!

Well, this is a strange one. Good buddy Rob acquired this for a night of stouts. This was a 1973 bottle of John Courage Russian Imperial Stout. I decided to add it but couldn’t quite figure out how, since it wasn’t already on RateBeer. In adding, it seems to have come under the John Smith name rather than the John Courage. Whatever.

The beer poured out like 10W40, which is a good thing. A tan head briefly topped this brew. The aroma was stong notes of coffee, prune, cherry, coffee, soy sauce, and cognac. This was potent stuff, no doubt owing to the 33 years of aging. It may have been a little past its prime but still was an interesting drink. Lots of alcohol warmth as you swallowed. Quite a find.

1993 vintage which is very young compared to previously reviewed years. Very dark brown/black color with no head to speak of. Big alcohol armoa, nearly wine like in the nose. Dark sweet fruits up front, plums, figs, raisins. Chocolate and just a bit of carmel noted on the finish. Very good cold but allowed to warm, the alcohol was a bit overwhelming.

Bottle (1981 Vintage) : Outstanding aroma of chocolate, caramel, vanilla, hints of black licorice, and a touch of alcohol. On top of all these aromas, it is also very vinuous. Pours a dark cloudy brown with no transparency. Head is non-existant outside of a few stray bubbles. Chocolate and fruit up front fades to a light acidic sourness in the middle. Very vinuous. Finishes with the lightest hints of roastiness. Aroma is the best part of the experience and the flavor is a bit of a let down after taking in the aroma.

1973 vintage. This beer has an aroma of dates and molasses. There was a slight fragrance of paint in the background but this is mostly likely due to the age of this beer. It filled the glass with a thick black solution that settled under a thick cashew colored head. This beer had a strong presence about it. The taste was a mixture of malt anise, licorice, caramel, and molasses. The taste began slightly sour but as it progressed it turned to a sweet molasses taste that had a moderate presence of alcohol.

1975 BOTTLE THANKS TO SILPHIUM...deep brown/almost black body with medium off-white head...aroma is of coffee, cream, vanilla, chocolate, and oak; after smelling this beer, i could hardy wait to try it...flavor was strong in chocolate, rasion, coffee, and cream, with nice alcohol hints...nice and toasty! nice palate, and a wonderful brew