The Bar Towel

This is the current release at LCBO, and another winner. This has the true taste of strong old porter, likely it would have been termed an extra or double stout in the 1800's (probably the regular Guinness Stout in 1850 tasted like this). It is less strong than the true Russian Imperial Stout (which should average around 11% abv) but is very good still, and frankly I like the lower gravity. It has though all the essential tastes I recall in the old Courage Imperial Russian Stout. One might term Sam Smith Imperial Stout a session imperial stout (if there can be such a thing). It has elements of leather, light horse blanket, torrefied barley, some malt sweetness and a pleasant fruity overlay. The hops seem acidic in nature in keeping with the light, welcome Brett orientation of this beer. It reminds me too of Sleeman Porter except Sleeman is much lighter still, but there is an evident relationship heer too. All the beers I have mentioned share a stylistic similarity and vary only in intensity and alcoholic strength.

I concur O.F...this is not a Baltic imperial..it lacks the strength and sweetness. It is very much like a strong cream or milk sout...I don't think they use any lactose in this beer so it may have been misclassified in the marketing image tombola ...certainly what must have passed for a double stout or a strong milk stout in the last century. At any rate we can mumble with the semantics but I'm enjoying my second Sam's Imp stout now from a dozen I cellared. I like their Oatmeal stout but not as much as this "Imp"....very drinkable for an Imperial.

I want to try Sam's milk stout some day to se if their is much difference in the recipies. Milk stout is a wonderful drink if it's kept at about 5.5-6 % AVB