Russian Rhapsody by Church Street Brewing Co. is an Imperial Stout and is being evaluated as an Imperial Stout (category 20C in the 2015 BJCP Beer Style Guidelines). Imperial Stouts are the strongest beers in the stout family. They are noted for strong, rich chocolate and roasted malt flavors, black color with opaque clarity, and full body and smooth mouthfeel. Russian Rhapsody measures in at 10% ABV.

Russian Rhapsody pours jet black, is opaque and sports a large brown head. The aroma is strong chocolate, roasted and coffee malts with lighter molasses notes. The flavor is strong chocolate and roasted malt with lighter coffee and dark caramel malts. The body is rich, full, creamy and smooth. The flavor finishes moderately bitter with a light sweetness and prominent dark malt flavors of chocolate, roast, caramel and coffee.

Russian Rhapsody is an exceptional Imperial Stout. The dark malt flavors are rich and complex. This is a big, flavorful beer with a supporting, but not over-the-top sweetness (like some dessert stouts). Seek this beer out and enjoy!