Michigan Brewing Russian Imperial Stout

Bomber bottle from Michigan Brewing Pub in Webberville: pours black with no head at all, just a few fine bubbles surface around the edges, a small ring of light tan bubbles formed in the glass, this beer is a dark brown-black that is a dark ruby when held up to a light, aromas of dark roasted malt, coffee, and dark chocolate, hints of licorice and soy sauce, fragrances of chocolate cake, caramel, flavors of dark roasted malt, coffee, chocolate and intense or burnt caramel, there is some sweetness in this brew, some hop and alcohol bite felt on the tongue, and some taste of dark grains to, 12% alc. is hidden well in this drink, mouth feel is a little thin for an Impy, gave some warmth on the palate, the carbonation is a little low to, not a bad Imperial Stout but not a great one either.

Name: Imperial Stout
Date: August 21, 2009
Mode: Bottle
Source: Trade
Appearance: black, wispy tan head, streaks of lace
Aroma: rich sweet dark chocolate aroma, sweet dark caramel, light roasted, touch of sweet dark fruits
Body: creamy body
Flavor: rich dark chocolate and roasted flavor, sweet dark caramel is balanced by the dark chocolate, light bitterness, endless rich chocolate, touch of vanilla
Aroma: 8/10; Appearance: 7/10; Flavor: 8/10; Palate: 7/10; Overall: 16/20
Rating: 4/5.0
Drinkability: 8/10
Score: **4

Bottle bonus from mbirder. Thanks Sean. Aroma is thick with chocolate, sweet breadcrust, light spice and mild coffee. Thicker mouth feel and nice taste: more brownie chocolate, roast, brown sugar. Flavor was almost a 9.

22 oz. bottle courtesy of a trade with mibirder. Pours very, very dark brown, but not quite black, with a thin light brown head that took almost the entire pour before it finally materialized and then barely lasted through the first two sips and left virtually no lace. Very pleasant aroma of chocolate, coffee and just a touch of soy sauce. The flavor is chocolate, coffee, and scotch whiskey with an ever-so-slight taste of soy sauce. A bit of salt in the flavor as well. Some mild smoke emerges at the finish, especially as the beer warms. Fairly dry at the finish with medium bitterness. The bitterness and the dryness linger on the palate for several seconds beyond the swallow. A good stout albeit a bit rough around the edges.

Very enjoyable and drinkable. Very dark with an off white head. Nice balanced roast and some bitter cocoa and coffee. Taste is sweet and with some mellow dark fruit and coffee.

Bottle provided to me by Sean, thanks. Served in my Stone IRS snifter and is jet black with an initial large foamy tan head which does fade but leaves behind excellent lacework. The aroma has notes of black strap molasses, chocolate covered fig and prune, hint of charred ashy malts, coffee, alcohol, some resiny and herbal hop and associated peppery notes. The taste pretty much follows suit with a malty and dark fruit forefront, moderate hop spice and boozy back end with a chocolate and toasted midsection. There is a bit of an almost peaty and salty character on the aftertaste along with a quick note of coffee. Still seems a tad young and brash, aggressive mouth feel.

2007 version aged for year & 1/2 at Coles. On tap at Coles Buffalo NY. Pours deep dark blackness with dark tan/khaki head. Huge roasty aroma . Taste is huge roastiness, notes of chocolate. 12% is a tad boozy but not overbearing. Very well done

Pours pure black, with little capuccino coloured head. Strong alchohol aroma, overlying a smoky malt aroma. Alcohol battles with bitter hops in the flavour. Too much alcohol to be enjoyed, yet true to the style.