Marshal Zhukov's Imperial Stout - 4 Roses Aged
Growler courtesy of Grant via Shep, thanks to both! Pours black with a half-finger dark brown head - Zhukov and all of it's incarnations remains one of the darker beers I've seen. The head recedes into a thin ring around the glass leaving decent lacing and heavy legs. Smells of smooth roasted malts with large amounts of vanilla and butterscotch. Also present are hints of dark chocolate and molasses. Tastes similar to how it smells. Equal parts roasted malt and molasses flavors kick things off and are joined quickly by boozy dark chocolate flavors. Midway through the sip the flavor profile sweetens with the addition of vanilla and hints of butterscotch. The bourbon, roasted malt, and molasses flavors carry through to a mildly bitter ending. Mouthfeel is very good. It's got a very nice thickness with soft carbonation. Drinkability is also very good. I finished my glass quickly and could easily have a few more. Overall I was a fan of this beer and I think the barrel aging accentuated the beers better qualities and improved the final product. A very nice beer that's worth a shot if you see it around.