Elbeck Brews KGB Russian Imperial Stout at 9% ABV | 75 IBU (C$11.66 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 650 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 25-Apr-2017, reviewed 15-May-2018)
Appearance: clear deep brown with one finger of medium beige head diminishing gradually to a thin ring, spotty lacing. (3/5) Aroma: milk chocolate, dark roasted coffee, light ash, hint of liquorice. (8/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, high bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, lingering and building bitter spicy finish. (3/5)
I waffled pretty badly evaluating this one, starting low then bouncing up a full point and a half on the total before settling back. My biggest complaints here are the lacklustre appearance, and the inappropriately light body and high carbonation. If this had better head retention and a smoother, softer body, it would be a solid eight, but the higher carbonation in particular is giving it a slightly harsh edge despite its year-plus cellaring. That’s not to say it’s bad, by any means, but it ultimately falls short of great, and the body is a big chunk of the reason why. That said, I’ve spent a lot of time detailing this thing’s flaws, and that’s not even a little bit fair to a beer that’s actually pretty solid overall – it’s just that with a few relatively small fixes, it could be a lot better. (15/20)
7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
