Sacramento Russian Imperial Stout

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

Date: 10/13/2007
Mode: Draft
Source: Brewfest, GABF

black, scant tan head, rich dark chocolate aroma with some vanilla sweetness and a touch of roasted, rich malt flavor, lots of dark chocolate, nice balancing bitterness blends with the roasted character,

Aroma: 8/10; Appearance: 7/10; Flavor: 8/10; Palate: 8/10; Overall: 17/20
Rating: 4.1/5.0
Drinkability: 8/10
Score: ***+/4

(RBSG04) Black body topped by minimal tan head. Aroma is medium sweet, coffee, roasty/burnt, some vinous. Taste is sweet, coffee, roasty, light vinous, bit of burnt. Medium-full body, but light for an IS.

Considering the style, Scores ranging from 1 to 5, 5 being the most intense
Appearance:
Body:   Clear(1)->Murky(5) : 3     Light Brown(1)->Pitch Black(5) : 2     Still(1)->Sparkling(5) : XX
Head:   None(1)->Large(5) : 2   Off-White(1)->Dark Brown(5) : 2   Lasting: XX   Lacing : XX   Nitro : XX
Aroma:
Intensity : 3  
Yeast : XX   Bread : XX   Apple : XX   Tropical Fruits : XX   Ink : XX   Tar : XX   Olives : XX   DMS : XX
Malt : 3   Biscuity : XX   Burnt Toast : 2   Caramel : XX   Nuts : XX   Pumpernickel : XX   Cereals : XX   Coffee : 4   Dark Chocolate : XX   Vanilla : XX   Grapes : XX   Blackberries : 2   Cherries : XX
Hops : 2   Noble(1)->American(5) : 4   Leafy : XX   Floral : XX   Lemon/Lime : 3   Grapefruit : XX Orange : XX   Herbal : XX   Pine/Spruce/Resin : 2
Notes :   Earth : XX   Wood : XX   Mint : XX   Smoke : XX   Soy : 3   Bourbon : XX   Anise : XX
Flavor:
Initial Flavor : Dry(1)->Sweet(5) : 3   Finish Dry(1)->Sweet(5) : 2   Sourness : 3   Lactic : 3   Bitterness : 1   Complex : 1   Length : XX
Palate:
Light(1)->Full(5) : 1   Flat(1)->Fizzy(5) : 2   Clean : XX   Sharp : XX   Watery : XX   Oily : XX   Chalk : XX   Astringent : XX   Alcohol : XX   Mineral : XX   Oxidation : 2   Metallic : XX

Comments: Sourish, oldish imperial stout at 2 years old. Not one for the cellar apparently and rather thin both in complexity and body.

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!

Bottle. Pretty tasty stuff. Bitter, roasted, tarry, nutty, good length and bitterness. Decent Imperial stout.

My Bottom Line:
Screeching roastiness and grapey tartness collide. Burnt coffee beans and citrusy hoppiness disagree. At around 2 years old, this bottle shows obvious signs of wear, which should not happen in a beer of this gravity.

Further Personal Perceptions:
-A ring of foam circles the dark brown.
-This one didn’t match with chocolate very well.
-Black olives even show up in the flavor profile.
-The body is rather slim, making this very drinkable and not what I’m looking for in the style.

Bottle; no date written, but around 2 years old.

Found a bottle of this at the Geary St. BevMo in San Francisco, and opened it while camping in Brookings, Oregon. Piotch black with a creamy tan head, although the light to judge the appearance wasn’t sufficient. Creamy milk nose with a small touch of cherries when warm, very thick texture up front, but lessens through the drink. Kind of an empty palate experience... just dulls out really quick. Some smoky and spiced malts, just a little kick, with a major creamy flavor throughout. Falls short.

Bottle @ RBSG 04’ Grand Tasting
Aroma is roasted & astringent with lots of oak & soy sauce. The flavor is full of chocolate & light fig. Finishes balanced, a big off taste overall.