From the well known Stone brewery of California comes this Russian Imperial Stout. It's part of their "odd year release" series, this one being from 2011. Pours jet black and completely opaque. The head is about an inch and a deep nut brown. It dissipates down to a lacing.

Smells of rich caramel, roasted coffee, dark chocolate and a bit of smoke. Tastes richly of caramel and chocolate, with a mild hint of coffee and alcohol, followed by toasted oak flavors. The anise is undetectable to me at first, but comes through more as the beer starts to warm.

Feels full and viscous with a mild tingle of carbonation over the roof of the mouth. Warms a bit going down. Delicious and decadent, everything an imperial stout should be. However, the richness is almost cloying and makes this hard to finish. Best shared between two or consumed very slowly while pondering life's mysteries.

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-Cy