Michigan Brewing Russian Imperial Stout

Formerly brewed at Michigan Brewing Company
Style: Imperial Stout
Webberville, Michigan USA

Serve in Snifter

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Draft at MBC. apparently they still have some left. No idea how old this is. That said, near black with a dark beige head. Sweet caramel, toffee, plum and raisin aromas. Similar flavors but really heavy on the dried dark fruits. This might even be better now that it's aged.

2007 Vintage 12oz bottle (no label) purchased in winter of 2007 / 2008 by a trade partner at the original Michigan Brewing location! Pours the deepest mahogany to black, opaque, with a 1 finger medium khaki crown that shows moderate retention and lace. The aroma gives off hints of sweet caramel, bread, moderate roast, moderate chocolate, a tiny amount of raisin, and a whisper of oxidation. The sweet malt, sweet raisin, and brown sugar notes take center stage. Moderate roast lays down the foundation. Palate is on the thick side of medium bodied to the thin side of heavy bodied. Overall its aged pretty well and I can tell love went into brewing it 5 years ago. I would have been nice to have tried this one fresh back in the day to establish a reference point.

Growler sample from a friend who brought it to the Smuttynose tasting at Ale Wine & Spirits on 4/27/12. Clear dark brown pour with a thin tan head. Aroma of malt, dark fruit, booze and chocolate. Malty and chocolatey flavor with some dark fruit before a boozy and roasty finish.

Sample from growler at Ale Wine & Spirits in Powell on 04/27/2012. The beer is a brownish-black color with a medium tan head that diminishes steadily. Rings of lacing on the glass. The aroma consists of dark chocolate, coffee and malt. Full-bodied with a roasty coffee and malt character along with notes of hops and nuts. The finish is rich and malty with a lingering sweetness. Above average overall.

On tap at the brewpub...big, robust, complex, and chocolaty with a touch of sweetness - nice rendition of an Imperial Stout.

Tulip glass at the Michigan Brewing Co. brewery. It’s a little sweeter than most imperial stouts, but still very drinkable and not too strong of an abv flavor. Fairly light bodied too, so it doesn’t fill you up.

On tap at the brewery for my rating #666. Pours a very dark brown with just a light tan ring for a head due to an overpour from the server. Interesting aroma of molasses, cocoa, and quite a bit of alcohol. Flavor is heavy on alcohol, with molasses, cocoa, soy sauce, and some smoke. Not a great imperial stout, but still a bit enjoyable.

22oz, hand-labeled bottle courtest of iceicebaby on BA. thanks, sean! pours a deep, dark brown, almost black with just a shred of dark, beige head leaving a ring lace around the edges. aroma is awesome with huge, roasted malts, black licorice, ash, and light soy backed by uniquely sweet, dark fruits, toffee, rich chocolate, and hints of coffee. flavor is delicious as well with big, bitter, dark chocolate, roast, nutty toffee, and salty, smokey nuts with dark fruits and espresso on the finish. palate is medium bodied with low carbonation and a bit of warmth on the swallow. overall, a fantastic, under-the-radar imperial stout. really looking forward to the barrel aged version.

(12oz bottle thanks to JJFoodie) Sweet, vanilla, maybe even bourbon aroma. Super dark brown color but not actually black. A little mineralness to go with the nice stout flavors- vanilla, sweet brown sugar, again maybe some bourbon. I’m really liking this beer.

UPDATED: OCT 12, 2010 Bottle shared by Sean, thanks! Poured a near clear black with a light brown head that lasted throughout the beer. Aroma had a nice coffee note with some roasted malts and just a bit of dark chocolate. Flavor started with coffee and is joined by roasted malts and was balanced by a nice dark chocolate finish.