Commissar Russian Imperial Stout - Real Ale Brewing
Real Ale Commissar has been catching my eye for a while, but I’ll be completely honest, stouts are not my go-to beer. With that in mind it was a little intimidating thinking about trying an Imperial Bomber-style stout with some serious power. Thankfully, stout November came around and I found the opportunity to give this tantalizing beer from one of my favorite breweries a try.
One thing I like about anything Imperial is the controlled excessiveness in the hands of a great brewer, and this beer portrays that nicely. Commissar bears a club at 9.8% ABV and 75 IBUs, and it is filled with malt richness and colossal additions of American hops that infuse citrus-like qualities. (Realalebrewing.com)
But, enough swooning, let’s dive in.
First Impressions:
On the Eyes --Thick, opaque, and dark as night. It pours like a fine syrup, exposing its richness right away.
On the Nose -- To be honest, it reminds me of a dark chocolate truffle. A little bitter, but sweet and mouth watering.
On the Palate -- The aroma held up. The sweetness hits you first, then it finishes with some dry coffee flavors. I certainly get the notes of American hop citrus (Cascade? Maybe Simcoe?), and that helps cut a little of the malt sweetness as it takes you to a bitter finish. It has a noticeable alcohol content, but it is masked by the great balance of malt sweetness, hop bitterness, and roasted coffee finish.
One thing that attracts me to this beer is the decadence, which is what I like when I go the stout route. This one has all my favorite beer drinking feelings. It has malt sweetness, citrusy hop notes, and a dry finish. It is impressive to see a beer weighing in at 75 IBUs be so balanced and easy to drink. That shows some great finesse by Real Ale, and I can tell they are proud of this one.
Real Brewing suggests pairing Commissar with some of my favorites: Chocolate Desserts, Oysters on the shell, and Elk Burger.
Check out Real Brewing out of Blanco, Texas. They are truly one of Texas’ favorite breweries, and they offer some fantastic staples and seasonals. And give them a visit in Blanco if you have the chance.
Cheers!
Mr. Brew