Beer Post #4

Tonights' beer post is in honor of Russian Imperial Stout, which I would be drinking if they had it here. I have discovered it is an English style beer that no one drinks here in Kharkiv, Ukraine. They've never heard of it!

At wikipedia, the Russian Imperial Stout is described as, "Imperial stout, also known as "Russian Imperial Stout" or "Imperial Russian Stout," is a strong dark beer or stout that was originally brewed by Thrale's brewery in London, England for export to the court of the Tsar of Russia as "Thrale's Entire Porter".^[5] It has a high alcohol content (nine or ten percent is common) intended to preserve it during long trips and to provide a more bracing drink against cold climates. The colour is very dark, almost always opaque black. Imperial stout exhibits enormously powerful malt flavours, hints of dark fruits, and is often quite rich, resembling a chocolate dessert."

Never heard of Russian Imperial Stout, learn the history and beer characteristics in Roger Protz's great article in All about Beer.