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Otter Creek Brewing Russian Imperial Stout

Hey there, thanks for coming by!  I hope you're all having a great week so far.  Tonight I decided to try the Russian Imperial Stout from Otter Creek Brewing.  Otter Creek is located in Middlebury, Vermont.  I don't think I've tried a beer from Otter Creek since college, when I used to drink their Copper Ale.  They also brew Wolaver's Certified Organic Ales and The Shed beers.  As of the time of this writing Otter Creek's website is down, but according to their Wikipedia page they were acquired by Long Trail Brewing in 2010.  Let's see what their Russian Imperial Stout is all about!
Otter Creek Brewing Russian Imperial Stout
Otter Creek Brewing Russian Imperial Stout
Russian Imperial Stout
Otter Creek Brewing 
10% ABV
65 IBUs
12 oz. bottle poured into Victory tulip glass

Otter Creek's Russian Imperial Stout pours jet black with a half finger width dark tan head that diminishes to nil quick.  The aroma is of bitter coffee and chocolate.  The flavors in this imperial stout is sweet, yet slightly bitter chocolate and coffee.  The sweetness is almost creamy, and makes me wonder if lactose was added to the brew at some point.  As the beer warms, the bitterness seems to increase, and a slight alcohol burn develops.  The body is heavy, and there is only just enough carbonation to play off my tongue.  
Otter Creek Brewing Russian Imperial Stout
Otter Creek Brewing Russian Imperial Stout
Overall:  I'm impressed with this offering from Otter Creek Brewing.  It is a more than solid Russian Imperial Stout, which I think could only get better with age.  Time to go back out and get another bottle or two to keep for a few years!

Have you had Otter Creek's Russian Imperial Stout?  What did you think?  Let me know in the comments!
Otter Creek Brewing Russian Imperial Stout
Otter Creek Brewing Russian Imperial Stout
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Comments

  1. Allen HuertaFebruary 6, 2013 at 9:41 PM

    I have been wanting to do a tasting of a few RIS's. Old Rasputin has always been my favorite but I am always trying to find and identify differences between beers in the same style.

    I like the way you described this one so I may just have to find a bottle and if you are truly right, actually maybe 2 or 3.

    Cheers!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. UnknownFebruary 6, 2013 at 9:47 PM

      Otter Creek's was great. I have actually never had Old Rasputin, I need to remedy that.

      I also would like to do a few more RIS's, just to see the differences between them. There is so much variation between average gravity stouts, I can only imagine it would be even greater for RIS.

      Thanks for reading and cheers!

      Delete

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