Schlafly Reserve - Imperial Stout

2010 Schlafly Reserve - Imperial Stout by Schlafly Brewing
Style / abv: Russian Imperial Stout / 10.5%
Source / Temp: Bottle / 55 deg
Glass: Medium Snifter

Appearance: Black ale with a very thin tan head.

Aroma: I pick up alcohol, cherry, and bourbon.

Taste: I'm very surprised that the alcohol smell doesn't translate to the taste. This brew has a big sweet malty flavor and finishes with dry dark chocolate. Somewhere in the distance is a slight bourbon flavor.

Drinkability: This is a smooth, fairly thin ale with very low carbonation, and a slight hop bite at the finish.

Notes:
The alcohol sneaks up on you because, though it lingers in the aroma, it is virtually undetectable in the taste. This is a very nice, high quality beer, yet I find myself a little disappointed. When I have a bourbon barrel aged stout, I prefer a bigger bourbon flavor. To be fair, I need to try this beer fresh since two years of aging in the bottle has undoubtedly blended and mellowed the brew.

I give 2010 Schlafly Reserve - Imperial Stout 7.5 out of 10.

Eis Igian,
Randall

Canadian Breakfast Stout

Canadian Breakfast Stout (CBS) by Founders
Style / abv: Double Imperial Stout / 10.6%
Source / Temp: 750ml bottle / 55 deg
Glass: Medium Sized Snifter

Appearance: Black ale with a tan head.

Aroma: The first thing I notice is that this ale smells like a tame KBS. I pick up a light bourbon scent, chocolate liquor, and a bit of alcohol.

Taste: This is a very sweet beer. I taste creamy chocolate milk, a bit of coffee, tons of maple, and just a touch of bourbon. I am strongly reminded of a sweet Starbucks coffee. The only evidence of hops is a very slight bite somewhere in the middle. I do not taste any alcohol.

Drinkability: This smooth, creamy ale has just a little bit of carbonation. This is a dessert beer that while tasty, it is not very drinkable. I cannot imagine drinking much more than about 6 ounces.

Notes:
As CBS reaches room temperature, the sweetness becomes over-the-top. I find myself with my nose in the glass, yet less and less tempted to take a sip.

I am glad that I was lucky enough to secure a single bottle of this interesting and lauded ale. It is a tasty brew that was fun to share with my fellow bloggers. I must admit, however, that while I will continue to hunt and scrap for bottles of KBS and Backwoods Bastard, I will not go to the same lengths for CBS. There is one exception: many who have had both say that CBS on tap is far superior to CBS in the bottle. So I will reserve my final judgement of CBS for the day that I have opportunity to sample it on tap... if that day ever comes....

I give CBS 8 out of 10.

Eis Igian,
Randall

Canadian Craze

Beer geeks around the world have long pursued Founders' Canadian Breakfast Stout (CBS). Described by Founders as an "Ale brewed with Chocolate and Coffee aged in Maple Syrup - Bourbon Barrels" it is easy to understand its appeal. Of course many brews fall short of the delicious descriptions conjured up by marketing professionals but CBS has consistently received excellent reviews on websites like Beeradvocate and Ratebeer. Over the years CBS has become legendary. Part of this fame is also based on Founders reputation as masters of bourbon barrel aging. When Founders commits to aging ale in bourbon barrels, they rarely miss the mark.

Until recently, CBS was only available on tap and it's legend grew as the chosen few beer reviewers lauded it's amazing taste and aroma. Earlier this year Founders started bottling in large format 750ml bottles. Their first release was Blushing Monk and immediately people started speculating that CBS could be, or should be, next. Founders played their cards close to the chest as anticipation grew but in late August Founders announced that the next large format release would indeed be Canadian Breakfast Stout. The web was abuzz with anticipation and excitement and our little tasting group was no different.

On one of my many trips to the local bottle shoppe, I discussed the impending release of CBS with my friend and purveyor of great beer, Dave (or as he is called on Beeradvocate: backfat). "I'm not even going to bother trying to get it locally", Dave said. "It's going to be a bloodbath." I chuckled. Laura and I thought about driving up to the release party but ultimately decided to skip it. I figured it would be difficult to get, but I had always been able to track down any brew that I really wanted and figured this would be no different.

As the date for distribution grew closer, I began calling my various sources for rare beer. I could tell early on that store employees were being harassed by frenzied beer fans, concerned that they might not get a bottle of CBS. Was Dave right? Maybe I should have made the trip to Grand Rapids to secure my bottles... still, I wasn't too worried. I put my name on three bottle lists and stayed in contact with eight different stores. At the first store I was number 14 on a list, at the second I was number 5, and at my regular spot I was number 8. The only problem was that no one knew how many bottles they would receive. More time passed and rumors of extremely limited bottle counts began to surface. Now I began to lament my decision to not attend the release party in Grand Rapids. With no going back, I tried to call stores often enough to keep abreast of what was happening without becoming a nuisance. The problem was that with so many callers, beer stores were growing weary of any mention of CBS.

Finally distribution week came and the incredible stories began. People waiting outside stores who refused to make lists, some even sleeping in their cars. People hearing they would get bottles, only to find their store received none. Stores not selling a single bottle to the public but rather letting employees purchase their entire allotment. As I touched base with stores that did not make lists, I received the same news: either their bottle allotment was so small that they were already gone or they received no bottles at all. I still had hope as my name was in good position on a few lists. I spoke with the first store and found out that I was number 14 on a list for 12 bottles. I called the second store and found that I was number 5 on a list for no bottles. Uh oh. I called my last hope and found that I was number 8 on a list for 12 bottles! Okay, this would work out just fine... or maybe not. The shop kept taking names and as their list grew well beyond their allotment they decided that the only fair thing to do was to have a lottery. The list grew to around 40 names and the bottle count dwindled to 4 as their employees reserved bottles for themselves. At this point I was hopeful but not especially optimistic. I spoke with one of the employees who stated, "we're going to do the drawing at 5 this afternoon. Everyone just wants to get this whole Canadian Breakfast Stout thing behind us". I empathized with him for a minute before hanging up.

After work I decided to run over to the store and see how the drawing went. A group of people that included Dave and the store owner were quietly chatting as I entered. I smiled, congratulated them for being almost done with all the craziness, and asked how the drawing went. Dave pulled out a bottle of CBS and said, "isn't that a beautiful thing?" He held it forward and handed it me. As I looked over the label he said, "we just did the drawing and you won. That's your bottle." I paused for a moment wondering if he was kidding, but quickly concluded that Dave wouldn't be that cruel. I was a little stunned and a lot excited to realize that I would finally get to try this storied ale.

As Dave walked back to check some stock I said, "Man, you called it on the CBS release! How did you know that it would be so crazy?"

"Well, I figured this: bottle one of the most sought-after stouts in the world that tastes so good that you'd stab your best friend in the face just for a sip; it has to be crazy." I think I'll listen next time.

So last Friday night on the eve of the Three Floyds 15th Anniversary, I decided to open my bottle of CBS. It seemed appropriate as the group assembled included most of us who write here.

So next up... my review of CBS.

Eis Igian,
Randall

An Old Favorite

Imperial Stout by Founders
Style / abv: Russian Imperial Stout / 10.5%
Source / Temp: 12oz bottle / 50 deg
Glass: Wine Glass

Appearance: Black with a small chocolate brown head

Aroma: Chocolate liquore with a little bit bit of maple and roasted malt

Taste: Much like the aroma, it tastes like a dark chocolate liquore with and a nice roasted malt finish. The bite from the 90 ibu's does a good job balancing the sweetness.

Drinkability: Smooth creamy body with light carbonation. I can definitely finish off a bottle, but it would be the rare day that I'd drink two.

Notes:
Imperial Stout by Founders has long been been one of my favorite Russian Imperial Stouts. This is a very nicely crafted ale that is somehow both simple and intense.

I give Imperial Stout 8.5 out of 10.

Eis Igian,
Randall

Parabola

Parabola by Firestone Walker
Style / abv:  Russian Imperial Stout / 13%
Source / Temp:  650ml bottle / 50 deg
Glass:  Medium Snifter

Appearance: Deep, dark brown brew with a thin dark brown head.

Aroma: Sweet bourbon infused with molasses and a slight scent of alcohol.

Taste: Dark chocolate, mild bourbon, some milk chocolate and a surprisingly strong hop bite at the end.

Drinkability: Thick and creamy, this is a sipping beer at it's best. The alcohol is hidden very well.

Notes:
While this isn't my favorite barrel aged stout, this is a very special brew. It makes me think of a milder and slightly less flavorful version of Rare Bourbon County. I will definitely be making the trip to Chicago to pick some up when they release it again next year.

I give Parabola a 9 out of 10.

Eis Igian,
Randall

Dark Horse

Brew Details and Conditions:
Brewer: Dark Horse Brewing Company
Brew: Plead The 5th Imperial Stout
Style: Russian Imperial Stout
Alcohol: 12%
Source: 12 oz bottle
Glass: New Belgium Goblet
Temp: 50 deg
Appearance: Thin chocolaty brown head, jet black ale.
Aroma: Molasses, chocolate, coffee, slight booziness
Taste: Creamy chocolate and coffee with no noticeable roasted malt.
Drinkability: Very smooth, very easy to drink and deceptively alcoholic. While the bubbles make a cool pattern atop the brew, I only notice slight carbonation..
Notes:

I give this very drinkable stout 8.5 out of 10.

Eis Igian,
Randall