Jan 2, 2013

Emilisse Imperial Russian Stout

I think I picked this bottle of Emilisse Imperial Russian Stout on a random visit to one of my favorite local beer shops a few weeks ago. I’ve never had anything from the Netherlands’ Bierbrouwerij Grand-Café Emelisse before, let alone even heard of them, but the moment I noticed the 12 Percent Imports (their products are only just now showing up in Virginia the past couple of months, but they have proven to bring in some excellent beers) logo on the label, I knew there was a good chance that I was in for a treat of a beer.

This big stout weighs in at 11% ABV was tasty and right in line with what I’ve become accustomed to drinking when I crack open anything from the New York based importer. The beer is deceptively drinkable, but not as full-flavored as many of my favorite beers of this style.

Appearance

Pouring a very dark brown, the beer rest with a light brown head that drops fairly quickly.

Aroma

Dark coffee, a distant roast, dark fruits, grain, light cocoa and a touch of booze fill the nose with a wonderfully smooth aroma.

Taste

The chocolate and dark roast coffee are the first to arrive as is a touch of licorice. They hang around for a bit before giving way to a light hop bitterness in the warming finish. There are hints of plum throughout, as well. The medium bodied beer drinks pretty smoothly with the higher alcohol content only showing late in the finish.

Overall

I enjoyed this beer. It was smooth and tasty, but not as assertive as many of my favorite Russian Imperial Stouts. I might not picked this beer up over one of my go-to bottles, but I would certainly give it another shot in the future. And as long as 12 Percent keeps bringing tasty treats to the NOVA area, I’ll keep buying them.

Rating: 3.75/5

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