Widmer Brothers -- W'11 KGB Russian Imperial Stout

Widmer Brothers' W'11 KGB Russian Imperial Stout is the latest in the Brewmasters' Release series and is, "as dark as a torrid past," "as full as a well kept dossier," and "as complex as a conspiracy theory."   

9.3% ABV and 65 IBU's

Review:

This lovely seasonal pours black, and carries a thin, tan/cream head. The carbonation is obviously light (common for ales of this strength), but is adequate for releasing the pleasant aroma reminiscent of Whoppers malt balls. No hop aroma is evident. The flavor has highlights of slightly burnt sour cherries and after a few sips and some contemplation, I found the hop character to be earthy with a slight citrus astringency. I attribute this astringency to a high alpha acid bittering hop like Millennium or Columbus. But don't be alarmed if you aren't a hop-head. This is in no way a hop-forward beer. I had to sit, sip, and think hard to pull out those hop flavors. As a matter of fact, the more this beer warms, the more the roasted malt character asserts itself and dominates the palate.

(Side Note: Widmer Brothers is part of the Craft Brewing Alliance and is therefore partly owned by Anheuser-Busch.)

Overall Impression: 

This is a nice departure from the bland beers that Widmer Brothers usually put out. The beer that this company is best known for is their Hefeweizen, a beer that despite winning a few awards, I find to be boring and tasteless. KGB on the other hand is well crafted, and although it does lean toward being a bit one-dimensional, it is quite tasty, *has flavor,* and for the price, is one of the best buys on the market.

Grade: A-

Barrel Man says,

"easiest Imperial Stout to drink."

(bottle purchased at The Liquor Collection)