Beer in History: Imperial Stout
A Beer in History: Thank the Czar for Russian Imperial Stout!
It’s cold and windy outside, which means the time for drinking Imperial Stouts is upon us.
History 
In the late 1700s Russia was ruled by a female Czar, Catherine the Great, who not only managed to rule an empire but knew how to enjoy a good brew. The story goes that on a diplomatic trip to England she first encountered the stout beer style and decided she would be bringing stout home to Russia with her. Of course, at this time, she wasn’t privy to such innovations as West Side’s refrigerated beer trucks so securing the beer’s safe passage across the Baltic Sea without its spoilage became an issue. The brewers, when faced with such a dilemma, did what brewers do best; they played around with the beer and got a bit creative until the final result was a stout with a high alcohol content that could withstand the journey.
Profile
The beer, which typically clocks in at over 10% ABV, showcases a strong and bitter pour with warming sensations from the alcohol, dark fruit and chocolate flavors. This combination made it popular beyond just Catherine the Great’s personal tastes and soon many breweries were brewing and shipping the brew across the Baltic and beyond. It remains a favorite drink, especially during the bitter cold of winter, for many beer drinkers out there. Here are a few of our brands’ own unique takes on the Russian Imperial Stout style.
Arcadia Ales Imperial Stout 9.5% 82 IBU
Pours Black with a molasses and roasted malt aroma. Prunes, bittersweet chocolate are balanced with a heavy dose of hops. This stout is the proud winner of the Gold Medal for Bottle Conditioned Ale at the 2002 Real Ale Festival.
Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout 10% 51 IBU
Imperial Stout that uses three mashes to create a luscious, dark chocolate flavor. Multiple award-winner, including gold medal for the 2011 World Beer Championships.
Perrin Brewing Imperial Stout 8.5% 35 IBU
Coffee, molasses and chocolate flavors combine for a rich black beer that is topped off with a creamy toffee head.
Right Brain Brewing Fat Lat Imperial Stout 9.2% 90 IBU
Brew with a massive body and robust roasty character with a sweet finish, yet not overpowering.
Stone Brewing Imperial Russian Stout 10.5% 65 IBU
Intensely aromatic and heavy on the palate, this version of the traditional Russian Stout pours black and heavy.
Blog Archive
- 2016
- 2015
- 2014
- 2013
- 2012
- December (17)
- Year in Beer: 2012
- Frankenmuth 150th beer
- Boosting wi-fi with beer
- Beer Christmas Carol
- Holiday Survival Kit
- Sam Adams Beer Dinner Recap
- It's time we talk about barleywine
- Beer Burger
- NB and BV collaboration 2
- Holiday Season: Brooklyn Stout Cookies
- Happy 12/12/12
- Homebrewers Conference announced 2014
- Right Brain's Big Move to a New Home
- Winter Seasonal Beer: Part 2
- Sam Adams December Beer Dinner
- A Beer in History: The First Hopped Beer
- Michigan Winter Beer Festival Tickets Sell Out
- November (1)
- September (1)
- May (2)
- March (1)
- December (17)
- 2011
Tags
- Craft Beer (22)
- Budweiser (19)
- Holiday (16)
- New Belgium (15)
- Bud Light (13)
- Perrin (12)
- Stella Artois (12)
- craft beer (11)
- Oskar Blues (8)
- Beer (8)
- New Release (7)
- Food Pairings (7)
- Samuel Adams (7)
- Right Brain (7)
- holiday (6)
- Arcadia Ales (6)
- Rochester Mills (6)
- Seasonal (6)
- Holidays (6)
- Food Pairing (5)
- IPA (5)
- Stone Brewing Co. (5)
- Goose Island (5)
- Charity (4)
- Recipe (4)
- Perrin Brewing (4)
- Deschutes (4)
- World Cup (4)
- Super Bowl (3)
- Folds of Honor (3)
- Stone Brewing (3)
- Up For Whatever (3)
- Baseball (3)
- Pairings (3)
- Smuttynose (3)
- new releases (3)
- Shock Top (3)
- Cider (2)
- Halloween (2)
- Infographic (2)
- Traveler Beer (2)
- Recipes (2)
- Pairing (2)
- beer education (2)
- Enjoy By (2)
- local (2)
- Spring (2)
- Laughfest (2)
- Clydesdales (2)
- stone brewing (2)
- arcadia ales (2)
- Magic Hat (2)
- food pairings (2)
- Stella Cidre (2)
- Beer School (2)
- food pairing (2)
- Brooklyn Brewery (2)
- Sports (2)
- Angry Orchard (2)
- Frankenmuth (2)
- Valentines Day (2)
- magic hat (1)
- pumpkin (1)
- Pumpkin Beer (1)
- Stone (1)
- Brewing (1)
- oculto (1)
- Redhook Brewery (1)
- Rise As One (1)
- Cask Ale (1)
- Upcycle (1)
- Ratebeer (1)
- Anheuser-Busch (1)
- Thanksgiving (1)
- Wholesalers (1)
- Education (1)
- Sponsorship (1)
- Rita Family (1)
- comedy (1)
- KCCO (1)
- Labatt Blue (1)
- Fall (1)
- Smuttynose Brewing Co. (1)
- smuttynose brewing (1)
- Coffee (1)
- beer pairings (1)
- Blue Point (1)
- stout (1)
- Michigan (1)
- Core Values (1)
- Bud and Burgers (1)
- Holiday Buds (1)
- Magners (1)
- Sam Adams (1)
- Spaten (1)
- DIY (1)
- Homebrew (1)
- cheese (1)
- Shocktop (1)
- petoskey brewing (1)
- Stout Day (1)
- summit brewing (1)
- Murphy's (1)
- Events (1)
- flying dog brewery (1)
- Retro (1)
- angry orchard (1)
- diy (1)
- shiner (1)
- video (1)
- Brewbound (1)
- Arcadia (1)
- Grapefruit (1)
- 2013 (1)
- Traveler (1)
- Christmas (1)
- Tradition (1)
- Mixology (1)
- Hockey (1)
- anchor brewing (1)
- Alcohol Safety (1)
- Soccer (1)
- Grab a Beer (1)
- New Beer (1)
- Shandy (1)
- Murphy's Stout (1)
- Rita (1)
- infographic (1)
- Nonprofit (1)
- glassware (1)
- oktoberfest (1)
- beer (1)
- Belgium (1)
- Beer Week (1)
- Responsible Drinking (1)
- Craftbeer (1)
- Tacos (1)
- Summer (1)
- christmas (1)
- Social Media (1)
- recipes (1)
- bud light (1)
- samuel adams (1)
- Ridge Cider (1)
- homebrewing (1)
- culture (1)
- budlight (1)
- right brain (1)
- anniversary (1)
- Candy (1)
- charity (1)
- Aluminum Bottles (1)
- smuttynose (1)
- blue point brewing (1)
- rochester mills (1)
- Stout (1)
- Superbowl (1)
- Mustaches (1)
- food (1)
- soccer (1)
- craft beer week (1)
- Sessionable (1)
- Trend (1)
- Ritas (1)
- Petoskey Brewing (1)
- Franziskaner (1)
- Straw-ber-rita (1)
- Community (1)
- Release (1)
- Boston Beer (1)
- St Pauli Girl (1)
- right brain brewery (1)
- beer school (1)
- perrin brewing (1)
- recipe (1)
- marketing (1)
- Traveler Beer Co. (1)
- Shiner (1)
- Grand Rapids (1)
- distribution (1)
- cinco de mayo (1)
- budweiser (1)
- stella cidre (1)
- Winter (1)
- prohibition (1)
- GiveBeautifully (1)
- seasonals (1)
- Special Release (1)
- Snow (1)
- New Releases (1)
- Awards (1)
- Yeast (1)
- Alcohol Awareness (1)
- halloween (1)
- brooklyn brewing (1)
Follow Us on Twitter
Contact Us
West Side Beer Distributing
5400 Patterson Avenue SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49512
Call: 616.698.1900
Fax: 616.698.6965