ESCONDIDO, CA – It’s mid-April. The last thing you probably want to hear about is anything IRS-related, unless of course it’s the 2012 vintage of Stone Imperial Russian Stout, which is rolling out to shelves and tap lists starting on Monday, April 16.
The ├╝ber-dark, wonderfully rich Stone Imperial Russian Stout—now in its twelfth
release—is one of the world’s highest rated beers, garnering a perfect score of 100 on RateBeer.com and an extraordinary 97 on BeerAdvocate.com.
“This year’s version is full-bodiedÔǪ very rich and smooth,” says Brewmaster Mitch Steele. “The taste is all about malt, with coffee and dark roasted malt flavors in the forefront, a subtle yeastiness mid-palate, and hops present on the back end.”
“It’s absolutely ready to drink now,” Steele continues, “but like all of our Stone Imperial Russian Stout releases, it will continue to age and mature for many years.”
Stone Imperial Russian Stout:
Stats: 10.5% abv, 65 IBUs
Availability: Limited 22oz bottles & draft, beginning April 16th
Malt bill: Pale Malt, Roasted Barley, Amber Malt, and Black Malt
Hops bill: Warrior
Distribution: AK, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MT, NC, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OR, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, VA, VT, WA
Tasting notes, provided by Brewmaster Mitch Steele:
Appearance: This beer pours black with a deep tan head of foam.
Aroma: Cocoa and coffee flavors dominate, along with some fruity fermentation esters and some yeasty breadiness.
Taste: Stone Imperial Russian Stout is mostly about roasted malts. Bittersweet cocoa and coffee flavors are the major players, along with fruitiness, hints of anise, and yeastiness, followed by a smooth, balanced, and not at all sweet finish.
Overall: We don’t change this recipe much from the original version that our President & Senior Brewmaster Steve Wagner designed back in 2000. It’s a fantastic recipe, and we love brewing it every year!
Suggested pairings, provided by “Dr.” Bill Sysak
Appetizers: Bleu cheese stuffed dates, oysters on the half shell, candied pecans and walnuts
Main Course: Beef Stroganoff, Hungarian goulash, vegetable vindaloo, coffee-rubbed pork tenderloin, game meat
Dessert: Apple pie, cheesecake, coconut crème pie, most coffee- and chocolate-based desserts
Cheeses: Aged Gouda, most bleu cheeses such as Roquefort, Gorgonzola Dolce, Stilton, Shropshire Blue
Cigars: Liga Privada Undercrown, Vieja Skull and Bones, Rocky Patel Honduran Robusto Maduro, Alec Bradley Family Blend
About Stone Brewing Co.
Stone Brewing Co. was founded in 1996 by Steve Wagner and Greg Koch in North County San Diego, CA. It is the 14th largest craft brewery in the United States and has been named “All-Time Top Brewery on Planet Earth” by BeerAdvocate magazine – TWICE! A recently announced $26.6M expansion plan (that includes a hotel among other lofty ventures) is underway, as are developments to become the first American craft brewery to open a brewhouse in Europe. Visit stonebrew.com for more information.