Widmer Brothers KGB Russian Imperial Stout
The minute the box from Widmer Brothers arrived last week, I knew which series of beers I was looking forward to the most. Both the Columbia Common and the O’Ryely IPA were excellent beers, but it was the three stouts in the box that I was truly drooling over the most.
The first sample up is the company’s KGB Russian Imperial Stout (the base for the other two, bigger stouts). This 9.3% ABV brew is right in line with what I love about this style. It is a roasty, assertive and layered beer that commands your tastebuds to obey the minute it hits the tongue.
Appearance
KGB pours a near black with just a hint of light showing through around the edges. The dark brown head dropped smoothly to a full ring and patchy surface cover.
Aroma
Espresso, roast malt, dark chocolate and a distant char fill the nose nicely with a fairly straightforward stout aroma.
Taste
The flavor profile on this beer makes it my kind of stout. It’s up-front with it’s roasty nature and depth. A strong, dark coffee presence dominates while notes of cocoa, burnt caramel and a bit of a char come and go as they please. This full-bodied brew finishes with a healthy bitterness (70 IBU) in the dry, warming finish. It’s smooth drinking with a slight sweetness to take the edge off the bite.
Overall
I like my stouts earthy and robust. And this one is right up there with a full-on, assertive character yet still drinks pretty smoothly. It’s a big beer that will treat you just right on a cold Winter’s night and more than lived up to my greedy expectations when I first set eyes on it last week.
Rating: 4/5
This is a review of a promotional sample from the brewery.
