Cigar City Humidor Series Marshal Zhukov’s Imperial Stout

Brewed by Cigar City Brewing
Style: Imperial Stout
Tampa, Florida USA

Serve in Snifter

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CPLYFO 09. Growler brought by Retorp. Thanks Joey. Pours a very rich deep dark black viscous oily, with a thin beige head- and low carbonation. Aroma is roasted barley- chocolate malts, deep dark burnt toast among, a citrus and pine oily cigar box- cedar which works very well in this stout, tangy orange zest, earth and some dirt, almost has that shredded cedar character to it. Flavor is dark chocolate some coffee, licorice and tar- and a really nice dark wrap tobacco leaf on a cigar, which matches well with the nice spicy and orange oil cedar throughout- the cedar even had a slight reminder of a ponderosa pine shreddings. As it warms coffee comes through a bit more and has a very soft and smooth finish. Very nice overall.

UPDATED: FEB 7, 2011 Big thanks to Joey for bringing this to the Chunk and Patriot Throwdown at Bryan’s. Of the 80 or so beers I tried at the tasting, this one was my favorite!.............. Pours like some thick ass black motor oil from the growler. Thin khaki head with some nice legs on my snifter. If this was any thicker I could have ate it with a spoon……….. Damn I love the smell of fresh cedar and this didn’t disappoint. Starts of with some spicy cedar (like opening a fresh box of stoggies) followed by some chocolate, coffee, and roasted malt notes. There’s also a hint of vanilla along w/ some fresh hops. Wow, I need a car air freshener that smells like this!........ The taste doesn’t disappoint either. Similar to the nose with some chocolate, coffee, roasted malts, and lots of spicy cedar. Really rich stuff here………….. Super thick, rich, and somewhat creamy mouthfeel w/ the flavors and spiciness from the cedar hanging for a bit……. Easily one of the top 10 beers I’ve ever had. Awesome mix of cedar, chocolate, coffee. I can’t wait to try this again and everything else that comes from Cigar City.

On draft at Oldsmar Tap House for the CCB launch party. Pours a pitch black color crowned by a foamy, tan head that shows good retention. Sheets of lacing coat the glass. Really great looking beer in the glass. The aroma shows rich chocolate notes along with toasted caramel malts, dark fruits, and a woody spiciness from the cedar wood. The flavors follow with the rich cocoa and caramel flavors blending with the dark fruits, and some roasted espresso. The cedar then shows its spicy pepper and woody profile adding different flavors in. The flavors are deep and complex and the cedar adds a nice variation that you don’t normally find in an imperial stout. The mouthfeel is thick and oily with perfect carbonation and really easy to drink. The finish is long and roasty with some black pepper bite on the back end. A really well crafted beer and an awesome imperial stout. I can’t wait to try this again.

Tap @ CCB Launch Party...Big strong Stout, that can hold it own in a battle of flavor. I loved the smoky taste. Nice beer to sip on.

Had on tap at Oldsmar Tap House at the CCB Launch Party. This beer smelled like grilled meat to me. Very strong aroma of pepper and worchestshire sauce! Flavor was similar. Woody. Pepper. Grilled meat. Some dark roasted nuts. Very nice as it warmed.

On tap at OldsmarTapHouse for the CCB launch party.Damn where do I start.A power rate that really rocked.The nose was woody, earth, tobbacco, and coffee.Flavor was mild roasted notes, tasting the cedar with a small black pepper bite on the back.This was blended nicely with a nice clean finish.CCB this brew was awesome!

A: Pours a nice deep dark black hue with a small mocha head. The retention is low but some spotty lace is noted. Once the head dies down it is matte black in color and very evil looking in the glass. S: I still dream of the aroma of this one. Tons of fresh roasted malt with layers of chocolate, both bitter and sweet. Hints of coffee poke thru, and then bam.... the cedar. How come no one else had tought of that? T: If this beer is lacking anywhere, the taste makes up for it ten fold. Roasted malt comes first. It was perfectly toasted and good. After that you are hit in the face with chocolate. The rich smooth chocolate quality of this beer is what cake and fudge makers dream of. The beers is so smooth and rich like nothing I have had before. Milk chocolate makes an appearence as does caramel and marshmellow. The cedar dances in the background but does not overpower. To call this beer expertly crafted is an understatement. M: Full in body, very rich, as smooth as a babys ass. When it comes to mouthfeel this was the smoothest most enjoyable beer I have ever tasted. D: So drinkable, it is my absolute favorite beer to date.

On draft at OTH CCB party. Jet black. Choclate and tobacco nose. Thick and creamy mouthfeel. Roasty, coffee, choclate, cigar and cedar taste. Very warming. Those flavors stay in the after taste as well. The Cedar aging is very unique. Fits this beer perfectly. One of the best Imperial Stouts I have ever had. Amazing.

Draft CCB launch party. This was a swift kick in the nuts. Big strong Imp Stout that has been put on cedar to add that extra punch. This is a slow sipper proceed with caution.

Otown throwdown. Thanks to Joey. Pours BLACK. Thick as hell, so much that it was almost saddening to rinse my glass after trying this amazing beer. Smells of dark pepper, cedar, tobacco and pretty chocolate. Tastes of simlar things but add coffee with smokey and roasty grains to that. This is a world-class beer.