Weyerbacher Old Heathen

The Brewers:

Brewmaster:  Chris Wilson

Company:  Weyerbacher Brewing Company

Location:  905-G Line Street, Easton Pennsylvania

Website:  http://www.weyerbacher.com

The Beer:

Style:  Russian Imperial Stout (RIS)

ABV:  8.0% 

Served:  12 oz. bottle

The Drink:

Drank out of a 16 oz. traditional English pub glass

Pours a gorgeous pitch black with a thick tan head.  Laces very well.  Color is still black when held up to light, pretty spot on for an imperial stout.  

Aroma of roasted malt and coffee, with hints of sweet fruit.  Cherries or raspberries perhaps?  I think that one is palate dependent.  Surprisingly there is no detectable alcohol, which is usually typical of imperial stouts (or anything with a hefty ABV).

Beer starts with a decent amount of roasted malt and a moderate level of carbonation, accompanied by a full, almost chewy, mouthfeel.  Lower carbonation is something I personally prefer with this style, but there always exists beers that make me think twice.  The middle reveals the thick, robust body of this brew, most likely stemming from wheat malt or the use of rolled/roasted barley.  Some of the fruit character comes through, but the finish truly highlights this character. The finish is very complex, and it's almost impossible to pin down any one thing to focus on.  There is a good deal of fruit flavor, and a pleasant roasted bitterness that builds with time.  The finish on this beer is remarkably long, and the fruit/chocolate/coffee flavors hang out for quite a while. 

Overall:

Although this beer doesn't rank in my top ten, I can't think of a single reason that it wouldn't.  Complex, full-bodied and well-balanced; a home-run beer.  This beer is one that I want to sit down and eat with a fork (yeah, it has that kind of body).  The fruit character really sets this beer apart from other Russian Imperial Stouts (RIS) and is the reason I've come back to it as many times as I have.  Though not a real "drinking" beer by most people's standards, this thing belongs in a warm hand on a cold night in front of an open fire (a bear skin rug might be appropriate).  I would recommend this to any RIS fan, though maybe not appropriate for someone who wouldn't appreciate a healthy dose of black malt and a full body.  If you drink a bottle of this, it may feel more like you've eaten something, which is always a plus in my book.