Portsmouth Kate The Great Russian Imperial Stout

Brewed by Portsmouth Brewery
Style: Imperial Stout
Portsmouth, New Hampshire USA

Serve in Snifter

I had this at a tasting last night. Reviewing this via my notes. We had the 2010 and 2011 bottles on hand. The beer was just below room temperature and poured into a brandy snifter A - (Both 2010 and 2011) Very dark with tan edges. No head appeared at all. You’d think this beer was black but up to a light, it’s far more tan than you’d expect. S - (Both 2010 and 2011) Chocolate, Espresso and Oak really overwhelms the nose. I also get some brown sugar and caramel hints. T - The 2010 bottle we had was spoiled and had fallen off. Lots of dark fruits but a horrid aftertaste. The 2011 bottle was great. Others said it was better fresh. Huge fruits, espresso, figs, raisins and chocolate. On a second taste, I got more fruits like mango, peach and some almonds as well. Tons going on and really pretty amazing! M - Medium carbonation. Very very easy to drink! It’s a sipping beer but can easily just be chugged. O - Aside from the 2010 bottle spoiling, the 2011 was delicious and wonderful! I wish this beer was more available. Despite how great it was, I have had better Imperial stouts. I wouldn’t give this beer a 100..maybe a 95 but there are much better beers out there that are far easier to get without raffle tickets.

2010 Vintage
Tasted on 1/6/12 from a 22oz bomber bottle obtained in a trade. Pours jet oil black with a thin tan head that leaves thin, bubbly lace. The nose is vinous dark fruits and nuts with molasses, dark chocolate, coffee, and a hint of vanilla. The flavor is lightly sweet malty milk chocolate, vinous dark fruit, and vanilla up front, moving to the bitter coffee, nutty dark chocolate, and a touch of anise. The body is full with a creamy texture, light but still stinging carbonation, and a long finish that features all of the flavors mentioned above.

Bottle - 2010 vintage courtesy of tytoanderso. Pours used motor oil black with a tall, frothy mocha colored head. Aroma is espresso, light soy sauce, roasted malt, burnt caramel, burnt double chocolate chip cookies, and soft hops. Taste is roasted malt, soy sauce, softer hop bitterness, dark fruit, dark chocolate, espresso, and burnt caramel. Body is medium-full with a soft stickiness, creamy carbonation, and mild warmth. Finishes with more soy sauce, dark chocolate covered cherries, burnt caramel, roasted malt and espresso.

22 ounce bottle shared at a tasting in April 2011.
Aroma: smoky, chocolate/roasted malts
Taste:smoke, caramel sweetness, roasted grains, alcohol, chocolate
Overall: A solid Imperial Stout with a solid/ balancing bitterness.

Pour is a deep black with a tan colored head. The nose has a little oak, light roasted malts, hints of dark chocolate, bright sweet flavors of anise, malt, and dark berries. The flavor is great, lightly roasted, dry dark chocolate, a touch of smoke in the roast, fairly sweet towards the back but not in a sugary way. Blackberry, plums, and cherry are very bright. The body is medium to full, very drinkable, smooth on the palate with a light carbonation and short finish.

(2010 version shares by Dak). Pours a clear dark brown with red hue and thin espresso. Aroma is booze, hard candy, chocolate, roast. Sweet malts with some booziness and roast. Nice beer. Very good, but not worth the hype on BA.

Tastes of chocolate, coffee, roasty, nice black pour and the aroma is fantastic. Overall a great beer and it was worth waiting for!!

Bottle shared by Ben. Thanks! Lots of dark over ripe fruits initially followed by roast, earth, caramel, cofee, brown sugar. . Black pour with a lasting tan head. Sweet initially just like the aroma, this is followed by dark roast, caramel, toffee, earthy hop bitterness, some pleasant sugars and sweetness come through in the finish. Moves well from sweet to bitter and dry. As it warms it becomes very well balanced and drinkabl.e. Dry resiny finish on palate and lips. Well done. Whales and Dongs.