Stalin's Dark Side (Evil Czech)
At the 2nd Annual Stalin Release Feast, I had the opportunity to try the 2013 and 2014 releases of Evil Czech's Stalin's Dark Side. It was served with a decadent chocolate cheesecake that had some Stalin mixed in. Having the 2oz pour of 2013 next to the snifter of 2014 you can really taste the differences.
General Thoughts
Look and Smell: They were both nearly black with a chocolate-colored head. The 2013 smelled like chocolate. The 2014 smelled boozier. For some reason I was getting an almond extract aroma from the 2014. More as it warmed. It was crazy.
Taste: The 2013 was boozy and tasted like chocolate syrup (in a good way). The 2014 tasted like chocolate cake and malt balls. Again...crazy. Not sure what was going on here. I normally don't get all of these crazy flavors. The 2014 also tasted kind of smoky to me, but it didn't smell smoky at all. It was a dryness to it probably from the barrel aging. The 2013 did well in the year aging, smoothed out quite a bit as expected.
From the Evil Czech site:
Released once a year, on the anniversary of Josef Stalin’s death (March 5). Stalin wasn’t even a true Russian! Dark as Stalin’s mind, this is a true Russian Imperial Stout, aged for three months in whiskey barrels straight from Journeyman’s Distillery in Three Oaks, Michigan. This beer features a sweet smelling nose with roasted malt, dark chocolate, and a hint of fruit. The taste will hit you like the best chocolate chip cookie you’ve ever had…one with a bourbon barrel taste!
General Thoughts
Look and Smell: They were both nearly black with a chocolate-colored head. The 2013 smelled like chocolate. The 2014 smelled boozier. For some reason I was getting an almond extract aroma from the 2014. More as it warmed. It was crazy.
Taste: The 2013 was boozy and tasted like chocolate syrup (in a good way). The 2014 tasted like chocolate cake and malt balls. Again...crazy. Not sure what was going on here. I normally don't get all of these crazy flavors. The 2014 also tasted kind of smoky to me, but it didn't smell smoky at all. It was a dryness to it probably from the barrel aging. The 2013 did well in the year aging, smoothed out quite a bit as expected.
From the Evil Czech site:
Released once a year, on the anniversary of Josef Stalin’s death (March 5). Stalin wasn’t even a true Russian! Dark as Stalin’s mind, this is a true Russian Imperial Stout, aged for three months in whiskey barrels straight from Journeyman’s Distillery in Three Oaks, Michigan. This beer features a sweet smelling nose with roasted malt, dark chocolate, and a hint of fruit. The taste will hit you like the best chocolate chip cookie you’ve ever had…one with a bourbon barrel taste!
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