In the nose: richly malty, intensely chocolate-y. Anise, molasses, dark rum, espresso. Big malt sweetness, with a hefty dose of hop bitterness, too.
In the mouth: Thick. Viscous. Deep, dark, and really rich. Starts bitterness, smooths into sweet malty notes. All the typical associations of imperial stout pop up. All those hints noted from the nose are at play on the palate. Bitterness increases and blends well with the massive malt, as the alcohol rears it's head. Still plenty of bitter-sweetness, but it's well attenuated and ends dryly.
Quite nice. I'm drinking from a sample bottle, but when I see some 6-packs, I'll be stocking up.
I'm just a little curious why they're calling this "Imperial Russian Stout" instead of the usual "Russian Imperial." Stone also calls theirs that, but I don't remember why. I'm not fond of it because it suggests that it's an imperial version of a Russian stout. Russian Imperial stouts aren't Russian. They were named that because they found favor with the Russian Empire. Well, knowing Damo, there's got to be a good reason.
Inspired by the union of new, modern ingredients with an authentic British recipe from the 1840s, our sixth Union Series beer combines massive malt character from brown, black, chocolate, and heritage pale malts with huge amounts of Olicana and Minstrel hops — two new British varieties. Aged for six months and featuring notes of licorice, bitter chocolate and dark fruit, this powerful export stout brings the intensity.
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