The Russian Imperial Stout is a style that has a variety of different twists and turns to it and as a result no two efforts in that style will be absolutely alike. Hopworks Urban Brewery’s Motherland Russia Imperial Stout is thick with a dark brown to black coloration and a fair amount of tannish head that dissipates quickly.
The beer hits individuals quickly with a variety of oaky and tobacco notes. Roasted malt contributes further smoke to the equation while there is a moderated alcohol bite that peeks through at points. The alcohol’s intensity is considerably lower than one would think as the ABV of this effort is nearly 10%. The balance present here is considerable; for every sharp note of hops, there is a brown sugar or rum element to counter it. The Motherland RIS is extraordinarily easy to drink with hints of cinnamon and allspice that can be discerned at various points; there is a cohesiveness to this brew that makes things equally as punchy and exuberant at the ending of each 22 ounce bomber as they were in the first few initial sips from the bottle.
Hopworks Urban Brewery is able to go and create something that fans of dark lagers and porters can still find common grounds; this protean beer never forgets exactly what it is trying to do and creates an Imperial Stout that will wollop one over the head while having the nuanced, deep expansiveness that individuals crave. This Russian Imperial Stout would be perfect paired with strongly flavored meats, desserts or entrees. For additional information about the full year-round and seasonal offerings of HUB, check out their website. The brewery’s Facebook and Twitter profiles are stellar resources about new releases and events.
Rating: 9.2/10
Motherland Russian Imperial Stout / Hopworks Urban Brewery / 9.8% ABV / 60 IBU / http://hopworksbeer.com/ / https://facebook.com/hopworksbeer / https://twitter.com/hopworksbeer