Olvalde Farm Ode to a Russian Shipwright

The second release ever from this very modest one-man operation out of Rollingstone, MN, a town I'd honestly never heard of, until they rolled out The Aurauch's Horn. That beer was universally praised, as it should have been. The second bottle they put out is being called an Imperial Stout Porter. Stouts began as "stout" versions of Porter. I like how they (he?) is playing freely with names and definitions. Comes in a swingtop bottle, ideal for those nights when you can't drink the whole thing. Here are my notes, from a week or two ago. (don't ask why I didn't post them right away. I don't remember.)

Ode to a Russian Shipwright, Imperial Stout Porter, Ale brewed with Spruce tips, (lightly hopped, unfiltered, refermented in the bottle). Olvalde Farm and Brewing Company, Rollingstone, MN.

Pitch black body, with an oddly-colored head, a little pink, a little brown. Bubbling, rocky, lasting. Active carbonation, rising up from the bottom into the foam.

Aroma: most oddness. Floral, vegetal, leafy (?)…there's something unusual here…is it the spruce tips? Or the yeast. A touch of sour here, and not displaying much of what we think of when we think of "imperial stout porter." Earthy, creamy…odd.

Drink it, now. Mmmm. Yeah. Fruit. Minor hops. And, yeah, I can get the spruce thing. Reminds me, predictably, of Anchor Our Special Ale. All the character of the porter and the stout, and while it ison the strong side, it doesn't have exactly the flavors of an "imperial stout" or an "imperial porter." There's some roast, some cocoa and coffee, but well-rounded and blended with the spruce. Tasty stuff, and very well done. 

This could benefit from aging, but doesn't necessarily need it. Drink now, drink later, either way, another excellent ale out of Rollingstone. Can't wait for what's next!