Sacramento Russian Imperial Stout

Formerly brewed at Sacramento Brewing Company
Style: Imperial Stout
Sacramento, California USA

On tap at the 2007 GABF: Rich opaque black with a dense, frothy creamy dark tan head. Aroma of lightly sweet dark caramel malt and a touch of dough. Body starts somewhat thinner with a mild dark chocolate character and some chalkiness. Pretty weak and needs more sweetness.

Bottle sampled on 3/12/05: Pours a nearly opaque rich dark brown with a thin light tan head. Tart, semi-sweet cherry aroma has some acidity and slight roastiness. Mild sugary tartness and light fruit complexity throughout. Thin bodied for an imperial, but has decent flavor throughout, despite the noticeable acidity. Thanks to SpringsLicker for sharing this at the Southeastern Gathering!

Almost black with ruby around the edges. The aroma is a bit weak, but I am picking up some grapes. Some roasted and chocolate flavor, but kind of thin. Odd aftertaste.

Big roasty nose, with some fruits and mocha. little thin at the back palate. Not a true Imperial. finishes with some sugar and caramel.

Dark with ruby around the edges. Somewhat weak aroma. The flavor has some chocolate and roasted malt flavors but overall it really fails to gather together and decide in which direction it wants to go. A bit thin in the body. Tasted some other really fine imperial stouts at the same time and this one couldn’t hold up to them.

Big chocolate, roast and vanilla. Still dry and drinkable without the overwhelming bitterness that is in so many imperial stouts. Big rich and aromatic, great beer.

The pour and aroma are nothing special but the taste is the prize winner here. (Nothing like going into a beer with low expectations). Nice alcohol bite to go along with ripe cherries, plums and bittersweet chocolate. A bit thin for an impy but really tasty.

This impy stout pours with a black body topped by a thin head with little lacing. The aroma is slightly sweet yet bitter and malty with slight roasty notes and a touch of chocolate. There is also a slight cigarette ash note. The flavor is bitter and slightly malty with roasty notes. Medium to full bodied and watery.

Pours a deep brown hue with a halo of an off-white head. Aromas of roasted coffee, malts. Very light bodied with flavors of sour milk, coffee and choclate. It tastes almost waterd down. Very dissapointing.