With a full body and robust flavor, it’s no wonder why Catherine the Great requested this high octane style of stout for her Imperial court. Despite the name, Russian Imperial Stout was originally an English style, brewed with a high alcohol content and an increased amount of hops to preserve the beer on it’s long voyage to Russia. Although ours won’t make the same journey, we followed the same philosophy. At nearly double digit alcohol and plenty of hops for an assertive bitterness, the real focus is the roasted malts providing the rich flavors of coffee and chocolate. Pairs well with hearty dishes like the braised short ribs, but we prefer drinking one alongside a rich chocolate dessert such as the chocolate combustion cake. 9.1% ABV, 65 IBUs