Sound Brewery Coffee Ursus Spelæus – Imperial Stout at 10% ABV | 68 IBU (2019 Craft Beer Advent Calendar #23, 355 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 22-Nov-2019, reviewed 23-Dec-2019)
Appearance: opaque black with one finger of creamy beige head diminishing rapidly to a thin ring, minimal spotty lacing. (4/5) Aroma: roasty malt, coffee, chocolate, nuts, dark fruit. (8/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, high bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, sticky lingering bitter mildly warming finish. (3/5)
Well, I guess that’ll do for Tibb’s Eve. Stylistically, it’s a little indistinct: is it a Belgian Imperial Stout, the way the label says (never mind that no such “official” style exists)? Or is the fact that it’s named after an extinct Russian cave bear supposed to be a nod to the RIS style (which it really isn’t)? Or – and this is probably my preferred approach tonight – do we simply say “Mmmm… coffee… strong… good.”? I’d like a heavier body and lower carbonation to stand up to the big sweetness and bitter, but on the other hand the double digit ABV is impressively well-integrated, so pretty decent overall. (15/20)
7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
