Courage Imperial Russian Stout
Courage Imperial Russian Stout is a brand of the Wells & Young’s Ltd group in the United Kingdom. This review is for the 2012 vintage, bottle no. 044177 of 210000.
This might not be as extreme or complex as some of the more celebrated Russian Imperials coming out these days, but it’s a perfect example of what this style is supposed to be. Smells roasted and tart, with some chocolate notes as well. The taste starts with some intensely deep (and slightly sour) roasted malts, alcohol, mild dark fruits, and a touch of molasses. There are some surprisingly lighter fruit flavors of pears and apples on the finish and in the aftertaste.
It took me a while to bite on the expensive bottle at my local store, but I’m glad I fianlly did. This really is a must try for any serious stout drinker.
