It’s exciting and invigorating to witness the revival of old beer styles. This 9.8% beer is a Russian Imperial Stout, a style exported to the Baltic in the 18th and 19th centuries by London brewers of porter and stout. This version has a jet black color with a ruby edge. It’s followed by a big aroma of burnt, roasted malt, licorice, espresso coffee, cigar smoke and hop resins. The palate is sweet with dark, roasted grain, burnt fruits, licorice, treacle, coffee and gentle hop bitterness. The finish is dominated by sweet grains, dark fruits, coffee, licorice, tobacco and spicy hops. Nostrovia! - Roger Protz