Cricket Hill Brewery. I can't say I ever heard of them. I spied a bottle of their Russian Imperial Stout when looking for something else in the beer store. I noticed that they are a micro brewer in Fairfield, New Jersey. My husband is from New Jersey and he loves Russian Imperial Stout. So, I figured he might like to try something from his homeland. Obviously, I bought a bottle.
Their motto is fairly cheeky - some of the finest beers ever made on the planet earth. Hmmm, I'll be the judge of that. Pssst, that's me being cheeky☺
They're off to a good start because I really like their logo. It's cute.
Reserve Ale Russian Imperial Stout (10.50% ABV) pours a deep dark brown with ruby highlights. With a moderate pour it builds a thick rootbeer like head that fizzles to a skim of tiny bubbles. The complexion of the beer in the glass is dark as night.
The aroma is of cocoa and roasty malts.
The taste is initially dark chocolate, espresso and dark malt. The is a tease of smokiness hiding in the background. The sweetness of the malt is balanced by mellow coffee-like bitterness. As a whole, the flavor is what I would expect from a Russian imperial stout but could be bolder. The alcohol can be tasted a bit in the finish which is otherwise slightly bitter.
The mouthfeel is smooth and slightly creamy. The alcohol is warming and pleasant.
A pretty good example of the style. One of the finest beers ever made on the planet earth might be a bit of an overstatement. But I like it.
Overall: very good.
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