Stone Brewing Realeasing 2013 Imperial Russian Stout and ESPRESSO Imperial Russian Stout on 4/15
(Escondido, CA) – Stone Brewing Co. is releasing two versions of the company’s coveted imperial stout: 2013 Stone Imperial Russian Stout and 2013 Stone ESPRESSO Imperial Russian Stout. As 2013 is an odd-numbered year, Stone is revisiting the “Odd Beers for Odd Years” program which began in 2011. The series introduces new and “odd” versions of Stone Imperial Russian Stout in tandem with classic version during odd-numbered years.
Stone Imperial Russian Stout is one of the highest rated Stone beers, having earned a 100 overall score on RateBeer.com and 97 “world-class” score on BeerAdvocate.com. The recipe was designed by Stone Co-founder and President Steve Wagner in 2000 and has changed little from the first brew, which utilizes four malt varieties and Warrior hops. The beer pours black with pronounced cocoa and coffee aromas. The chocolate and java notes carry through onto the palate, along with fruitiness and hints of anise. The beer finishes smooth and slightly bitter.
The 2013 Stone ESPRESSO Imperial Russian Stout is an augmented version of Stone Imperial Russian Stout brewed with espresso beans from San Diego’s Ryan Bros. Coffee. Like the classic version, the beer pours black and produces strong coffee and chocolate aromas. Stone Brewmaster Mitch Steele notes, “The addition of espresso beans in the brewhouse and post-fermentation enhances the coffee flavors that are naturally found in the classic version, but also enhance the perception of chocolate. The fruity, yeast and hoppy flavors found in the classic version are more diminished.” The Ryan Bros. espresso roast is a blend of Indonesian and Central and South American coffee beans roasted and blended together to produce a bold, robust flavor with hints of citrus and berries.
Both beers are ready to enjoy now, but are also ideal for cellaring sever months or years. Over time, the stout will continue to develop deeper, rounder coffee and dark fruit flavors as the hop aroma and bitterness subside.
2013 Stone Imperial Russian Stout
URL: stonebrewing.com/IRS
Stats: 10.6% ABV, 60 IBUs
Availability: Limited 22-ounce bottles and draft, beginning April 15
Hops Bill: Warrior
Distribution: AZ,CA,CO,CT,DE,FL,GA,IA,ID,IL,IN,KY,LA,MA,MD,ME,MI,MN,MO,MT,NC,NJ,NM,NV,NY,OH,OR,PA<RI,SC,TN,TX,VA,VT and WA.
Stay tuned for The Full Pint’s Tasting Notes on both of these beers.
ABOUT STONE BREWING CO.
Twice named “All-Time Top Brewery on Planet Earth” by BeerAdvocate magazine, Stone Brewing Co. was founded in 1996 by Greg Koch and Steve Wagner and is the 11th largest craft brewer in the U.S. Headquartered in Escondido, CA, Stone owns and operates the farm-to-table restaurant Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens – Escondido, as well as Stone Catering, Stone Distributing, and Stone Farms. Other lofty ventures include construction of Stone Packaging Hall and a second restaurant with an on-site brewhouse, Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens – Liberty Station, both with an estimated completion of first quarter 2013, and Stone Hotel & Headquarters with an estimated completion end of 2014. For more information, please visit stonebrewing.com or on social media sites: Twitter, Facebook,Instagram, Google+, YouTube, and The Stone Blog.
