Victory Storm King Imperial Stout

I love imperial stouts. Especially ones that are inexpensive and are over 9% abv. I have hesitated with Victory Brewing Co. everytime I saw there beer up until now. The name and logo(a big V) remind me of 1984 and for some reason makes me feel like a mindless prole. I'm a prole regardless, and it wasn't and act of mindlessness that made me buy and enjoy this Victory product.



Appearance: Dark with a capital"D",with a 2-fingered head that looked a bit like chocolate milk after it's been shakin' up.

Smell: Hops, citrusy hops.

Tastes: Fairly complex and slightly bitter, Although, less bitter than Old Rasputin. I wouldn't guess the abv was so high, due to the lack of a prominent alcohol taste,but look at Brooklyn's Stout. The warmer this beer gets, the tastier it gets to.

Art: Beware the Storm King,Oh Eagle-headed God wearing the Victory Crown. No need to look so pissed buddy...you won!

Overall: I ain't scared of this Big Brother. In fact, I embrace him.

Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout

Sometimes you find a beer that makes you never wanna drink a different kind of beer again. Sometimes you don't have to go very far to find one of the best beers ever made. Sometimes......Oh I'll just shut up. I tried Brooklyn Brewery's crowning acheivement the other day, and I must say it made the Old Rasputin taste like cow piss. If this is what Russian Imperial Stouts are supposed to taste like,bring them all on.



Black Chocolate poured blacker than a trillion midnights. No light was getting through when I held it up to a bulb. Probably the darkest beer I have ever seen. The head was brown and creamy and there was an evident chocolate scent. It tastes sweet, but not sickly sweet, with a faint hops undertone. At 10.6% , I had a great mini-buzz after just one. This is the kind of beer you bestow upon people as a gift,which I'm probably going to do.

If you haven't tried Brooklyn's Black Chocolate Stout,your losing a very important life experience.

Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout

I was excited to finally get a chance to try a Russian Imperial Stout,which some regard as the king,or czar, of beer styles. The beer was first made in Britain for export to the Russian royalty during the 18oo's. Thankfully the style didn't die with the Revolution. I have heard people rant and rave about Rasputin for awhile now. This was my chance to give it a shot.



Old Rasputin started of with a thick,tan head and so dark that only the smallest amount of light escaped(I say a blood red sliver at the bottom of the glass). Upon further inspection through taste, I was bitten with the bitterness of a hops monster on the first sip. I thought the bitterness might die down as the beer got warmer, but it didn't. I'm not afraid of bitter beer, they are just not my favorite. I also don't enjoy sucking on lemons, if you can believe that.

Aside from the bite, I enjoyed all the other aspects of the beer. The malty smell was nice and so were the sweet undertones. The best part was probably the 9% abv. That always makes my experience more pleasurable. I'll buy it again when Brooklyn's Black Chocolate is out of season or if I'm in an area where it is the best thing around. Until then,there will be other Imperials to try.