Oak Aged Yeti Imperial Stout
Drank on-tap at the Dirty Truth, Northampton, MA Served in a fluted glass Poured an absolute pitch black with a bubbly, one-finger, mocha colored head that left spotty blocks of lacing all down the glass. The aroma was rich, sweet and enticing. Powdered cocoa dominated. Vanilla and oak were noticeable as well. A touch boozy with some hops trailing in the background. The taste was similar to the aroma. Rich, sweet and malty with dark chocolate notes coming through strongest. Creamy and smooth. Black coffee was noticeable as well. Dark and roasty yet not in the least bit acrid or harsh. Vanilla, oak and dark stone fruits appeared in the center along with a touch of licorice. Sprucey, piney, slightly citrusy hops came through on the finish. The hops were intense yet not at all overwhelming, and they provided a perfect balanced to this sweeter than average imperial stout. The hops carried into the long-lasting aftertaste, which eventually turned chocolatey and semi-sweet. Surprisingly, the oak presence in this beer was rather mild. Perhaps its purpose was merely to help smooth and round out the flavors. Whatever the case, this was a damn tasty brew. The mouthfeel was full-bodied and ultra smooth. Mouth coating. The beer enveloped my tongue and never let go. Super creamy and rich with a very fine, moderate carbonation. This was an incredibly smooth and relatively drinkable beer. It lacked the extreme bitterness and the harsh acridness found in many of the other examples of the style. The 9.5% ABV was also very well masked. All in all, this was definitely one of the finest examples of a Russian imperial stout I have tried. Pair this one with a chocolate dessert or, even better, let it be the dessert.