Raspberry Russian Imperial Stout

Fruit beers have a reputation for being frou-frou. Not so this raspberry Russian imperial stout by Widmer Brothers. It's about as serious as they come. When I looked at the label, I thought, what an odd pairing--I'm used to fruit beers being light affairs, whether they are berry beers or apricot beers, they all seem to emphasize blonde ales. So I was immediately intrigued. I also thought, raspberry is Tracy's favorite fruit and she asked me to pick up something special for her. I did suspect it might be too strong, but I also thought it was worth a try, something different and definitely special.

As counter-intuitive as it seemed when I looked at the label when I tasted it the combination was, of course, perfectly natural. Like raspberry and dark chocolate. Very dark chocolate, like 80% cocoa dark, with some coffee to make a very dark mocha flavor. Plus 9.3% alcohol and some fortifying hops. The flavor is very strong, and you wouldn't think that the hint of raspberries from the aroma would be able to hold up against them, but it does, creating a striking flavor that really works in every one of its facets.

Alas, Tracy did not like it--it was too strong. To be fair, she doesn't like 80% cocoa chocolate (truthfully, I don't tend to, either, but with hops & alcohol, I can go with it). But I really did. Highly recommended. An image of the beer itself. It doesn't do justice to the head--it's Tracy's portion poured back in the bottle to wait until I could enjoy it and it had gotten more than a little flat. Remarkably, it's still tasty that way. It's very dark, but if you hold it up to the light and tilt the glass to get a view through the thinnest portion, there's some purple there. Highly recommended!

Serpent's Stout

I had long been eying this bottle in the cooler. It's really attractive, but the beer is pretty pricey, and I've often been burned paying more for a less tasty beer, but with the U-Bring-Em bomber exchange, I thought my opportunity had come to try it, show off the attractive bottle, and if it was bad, I wouldn't be stuck drinking the whole thing. How I wish I'd kept this all to myself. Simply delicious, and though strong, the flavor was unimpaired. Well worth the cost and definitely recommended.

Oatmeal Stout

The two previous brews I'd had from Rogue had not really inspired me with a great deal of confidence that the brewer's reputation was justified (like Flying Dog), but this solid stout changed my mind. They certainly know how to make a good oatmeal stout.

Yeti Imperial Stout

This beer was one of the ones we shared at our most successful U-Bring-Em Bombers event at Page 1. A really tasty stout. Very strong roasted malts, and very strong hops. So much flavor that you don't hardly notice you're getting hammered, too. A nice thick texture, too. Highly recommended.

Obsidian Stout

This is a pretty good stout. Not a standout, but if you have this as an option, you won't be disappointed if you like stouts.

Yeti Espresso Oak

Also a pretty good coffee beer. I split this one with a coworker while hammering out the basic training manual for our new writer. Perhaps a bit strong for the situation--we didn't get as much done as we ought've.

Cappucino Stout

I loved this beer. So delicious it was distracting. I was trying to drink it and cook at the same time, and I kept leaning to the drinking, and periodically I had to remark out loud--this is a great beer. This is definitely the best coffee beer I've had.

Winter Warlock

My second beer from Bristol, and like the Compass IPA, I was not impressed.

Tumbler

This is an okay stout. Drinkable even for someone who's not a stout fan (like me).

Lion Stout

Imperial Russian Stout

This is another really strong beer--over 10% abv. Not very tasty, and makes me think that I just don't like beers with this level of alcohol--they don't taste like beers, more like hard liquor, which isn't what I want when I drink a beer.

Barney Flats Oatmeal Stout

Dundee Stout

Dundee--A remarkably light-tasting stout. For as dark as it is, the taste is incredibly airy.

Milk Stout

Left Hand

Chocolate Stout

Fort Collins Brewery

Guinness