Stone CHAI-SPICED Imperial Russian Stout
From Stone Brewing Co. – Chai spiciness—from the collective addition of black tea, cinnamon, cardamom, clove, ginger and black pepper—combines with Stone Imperial Russian Stout’s incumbent chocolate, coffee and licorice flavors to take it deep into previously unfathomed territory. This 2015-exclusive exploration has enabled a deep, dark, roasty and already profoundly rewarding beer to gain yet another tantalizingly flavorful dimension.
Stone Brewing Co. – Stone CHAI-SPICED Imperial Russian Stout – 22 oz. bottle poured into a goblet – 10.5% abv.
Appearance: Pours near black with minimal head action. No light gets through. Looks thick.
Aroma: Beautiful chai spice nose. Some oatmeal raisin cookie which surprisingly masks the roast and hops. Lavender hand soap/oil.
Taste: Chai tea, cardamom/cinnamon/clove. Way too much for me. Little hop kick, but not 100% sure.
Mouthfeel: Rough, drying,astringent. Prickly carbonation.
Overall: If there’s one thing I can’t stand, it’s a beer that advertises a prominent ingredient or flavor description, and then doesn’t deliver. This beer right here is exactly as advertised and delivers the CHAI-SPICED experience. With that said, it (the treatment) was too overpowering for me, and in it’s fresh incarnation, took away from most of the characteristics that I enjoy in the Classic Imperial Russian Stout.
April 14, 2015 @ 2:15 pm
I didn’t like this beer, which is surprising given how much I do like Stone IRS. It tasted very strange to me, not like Chai at all, just an odd flavor. I am going to try it again because when I tried it the first time it was after I’d already had some very bitter hop-heavy IPAs, which I think maybe threw off my palate. I do expect it’s better than my first experience with it. Hopefully.