I've always been a huge fan of the Russian Imperial Stout style and an even bigger fan of Yeti, Oak-Aged, and Barrel Aged Yeti Stout from Great Divide in Denver, but they just released a beer unlike any I've had; it has no peers that I know of:
"Chocolate Oak Aged Yeti" -To be specific its a hoppy Russian Imperial Stout that has been aged on Oak Chips, coco nibs, AND has spices, including a healthy dose of Cayenne hot peppers added.
-I have had quite a few American "chili beers" and they were all horrible; none even approaching "drinkable" as far as I'm concerned. (A true beer abomination in my book.) This Yeti is something entirely different...
I'm spreading this bottle over a few hours as it really deserves it.
It pours a black, viscous, 30,000-kilometers-since-my-last-oil-change color. Holding the glass directly up to a light bulb shows truely how dark this beer is; no light escapes it; NONE. The head is very substantial, fully mocha coloured, and leaves rings of lacing as you drink it; it lasts until the last drop and the bubbles are tiny almost like its on Nitro. (It's bottle carbonated, though.) After the initial pour it appears that it is 30% or more over carbonated but the carbonation yeilds to the head fairly quickly leaving the perfect amount of carbonation for an American RIS. (Still considerable more carbonation than an Irish Stout.)
The nose is first oaky (american oak; that same smell/taste that defines Jack Daniel's), then sweet; either brown sugar or molasses; the normal hoppy smell of the "normal" Yeti is either majorly subdued or abscent. (As it warms the smell just get more and more oaky.)
The mouthfeel is INCREDIBLY silky; I would guess that there are oats in here, but I've seen oak aging create a simliar affect so I just don't know.
Taste: The bottle says that the hop levels are more subdued than a normal Yeti and although it smells that way the taste is still quite hoppy; for the hoppy RIS lover it still appears quite well balanced, how this is possible I have no idea. (Initially tastes like a really good B.O.R.I.S. the Crusher clone (my 2nd favorite RIS) but with a little extra molasses taste. -Right after you swallow it you get lots of oakiness, and about 30 seconds after swallowing the back of your tongue and the front of your throat start getting hot from the Cayenne; there is a LOT more Cayenne than you initially taste and the more that you drink the more spicy it gets.
-I took a drink of water and tried it again and this time I got an almost instant rush of Oakiness, followed by the Cayenne burn.
The beer is utterly fantastic; possibly my over-all favorite; and I don't like to pick an over-all favorite; I just like to have a favorite per style.
The Chocolate RIS + Cayenne is a first for me and I think a first for beer, it is an unbelievable combination.
Although this is definitely one of my top 2 favorite beers ever, I am still slightly dissapointed that there's not more chocolate taste; I think more chocolate plus the cayenne would make it even better.
Do something/ ANYTHING to get a hold of this beer. Now is the time as it might dissapear forever. Get on the beer forums and trade some American for some stuff, offer to pay shipping, given them a kidney, just get some of this beer.
-My luggage is already 10 lbs overweight but if I can get rid of enough stuff and get under the weight limit I'm going to bring some of this back for sharing with ICB. (If not I'll be back in Charleston within 60 days and should be able to bring some back then.)
Chocolate RIS + Cayenne is fantastic.
If any one is considering an experimental stout soon, I'd LOVE to try an ICB-made Chocolate RIS+Cayenne. (I'm going to have to consider making my own now...)
Adam
