Wellington Imperial Russian Stout

Brewed by Wellington County Brewery
Style: Imperial Stout
Guelph, Canada

Serve in Snifter

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473ml can. Almost pitch black, slight ruby around the edges, tiny brownish grey head. Aroma is not too strong, roasty malt and coffee. Dark roast coffee taste, some dark chocolate and a tiny hint of smoke. Not much sweetness. Body is lighter for a RIS. Overall, somewhat lighter and less complex and I would expect from a RIS, but quite drinkable.

A-- Poured a dark cola color and settled jet black. No light penetrating this at all. One finger dark brown leather head that slowly faded to a nice, thick collar and a thin layer of film. Some large bubbles here and there. Nice head retention on swirling. Half finger of head. Spotty lacing. S-- Roast and quite earthy. Dark chocolate, dark roast, some coffee and a bit of tobacco. Quite nice. T-- Smooth, quite smooth. Chocolate, coffee, tobacco, roast, and a bit of earthy hop bite. I like. M-- Smooth body. Bits of coffee bite here and there. Roast and chocolate dominate the body with bits of prickly carbonation. Otherwise medium body and lighter medium feel. Dry chocolate, coffee, and bitter finish. Bitterness picks up a lot once warm. O-- Nothing crazy about this. Very simple and straightforward but done very well. Roast carries the beer very well and the ABV is well hidden. Feels and tastes like 6%, not 8%. Very old school RIS but that is a very good thing when done this well.

473 mL can. Pours opaque black with a thin tan head that lasts only a few seconds. Aroma is deeply roasted malts, rich toffee, espresso and dark chocolate. Sweet with nuts and cereal to start, a nice mid palate that leads into a creamy bittersweet cocoa and coffee flavor. Mild carbonation and a surprisingly clean finish, little stickiness or sour flavor here, but a little alcohol bite. A good warmer, too bad it’s summer.

UPDATED: MAR 16, 2013 re-review: Pours deep chocolate with diminishing cream head. The aroma is sour with some molasses, dates and dark malt. The taste is dark malt, with some caramel and lots of coffee. Medium bitterness and a minty-herbal hop finish. Kind of thin-bodied for an imperial stout, but reasonably well-balanced.

500ml can into small snifter; purchased today from LCBO, Brock north of Queen, Toronto. Good appearance, good mouth-feel; full and fluffy. Others have described the taste well; 8% alcohol well disguised. I like it, although I wouldn’t choose it first when it’s 36C out.

Smells of roast malt and alcohol, coffee. some decent pungency here. Pours black with average lacing - some staying power. Taste has more coffee bean abut not a super long aftertaste. Its a good drink, but nothing competive in the imp stout variety. On tap at wvrst.

550ml draught
8.0% ABV
I tried this beer on February 10, 2012 at "C’est What" in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The beer poured a dark brown, almost black with a thin creamy tan head. The aroma is roasted malt, coffee, vanilla, licorice, and chocolate. The mouthfeel is medium bodied with medium carbonation. The flavour is bitter dark chocolate, some licorice, and coffee. Very enjoyable, but not sure it lives up to the hype.

Pours a deep brown-black with a consistent tab head. Aroma carries licorice, chocolate, toast. On the palate, sweet, slightly astringent to mild bitter finish. Nice. ---Rated via Beer Buddy for iPhone

[on cask at Arrow and Loon, Ottawa] Strong black malt aroma of bubblegum and faint, creamy mocha. Opaque black under a lasting, light brown cover. Sweet, slightly tangy molasses and smoky, burnt caramel flavour with no hops flavour, but a faint bitterness. Medium to full body, lasting moderate bitterness, low carbonation.

En fût au Gambrinus, London, Ont.:Nez de café et de chocolat. Très dessert avec ses notes de mélasse, coco, chocolat au lait. Corps très confortable avec une légère amertume.