Sly Fox Nihilist
Any one that has spent some time perusing the many rambling reviews on this site ought to know that my favorite beer style is the Russian Imperial Stout. It’s a genre that has richness, dynamics and full flavor — usually. While there are some excellent examples of the style throughout the world, there are also those that should never have seen the light of day. Sly Fox Brewing’s Nihilist is some where in the middle, but leans heavily toward the good end of that spectrum.
Nihilist isn’t the most dynamic of stouts that I’ve had, but it’s certainly no slouch either. It’s a big beer that weighs in at a slightly too boozey 10% ABV and brings some solid bitterness with 80 IBU. There’s a good earthiness to the beer, but it’s lacking in heft — it’s just not as full-bodied or as robust as I like my RIS. That said, there’s still some meaningfulness to this brew.
Appearance
The brew pours a near opaque black in color with a large cap of dense, brown foam.
Aroma
Dark roast coffee, distant cocoa, soft anise and distant grain combine with maybe a touch of grassy hops.
Taste
This is a pretty solid beer that’s driven by a fairly active carbonation carrying earth, tobacco and dark roast coffee briskly over the tongue. A nice, drying finish wraps up the brew with a solid measure of warmth and lingering bitterness.
Overall
Overall, Nihilist isn’t a bad beer — it’s just not as developed as some of my favorite Russian Imperial Stouts. The overly active carbonation and lighter body take away from any richness that the beer brings flavor-wise. I may still pick up another bottle (it wasn’t too expensive) to see how it does with a little time in the basement.
Rating: 3.5/5
