Beer Review- Pleasant Surprises

In the past I've stated that I wasn't a fan of the imperial beer craze. These are big (usually 8% alcohol and up) and very hoppy beers. It seemed like this was the trend in American beers,
bigger = better. The few imperials I had were not impressive, and overall, as someone who enjoys hops, but not in excess, I figured this craze was not really something I would appreciate.

However, I'm an open-minded person. So I've set out to try some imperials to find out if I might be wrong. The first occasion, I bought Avery Brewing Company's The Czar, a Russian Imperial Stout, and also Sam Adam's Imperial Pilsner. In January, Jeff, Brian and I split these beers and weren't too impressed. Actually none of us could finish The Czar and we thought the Imperial Pils was interesting, but not something we'd drink often. But, I decided to give a couple more a shot. Here are my thoughts:

Old Rasputin
This winter, I've been drinking more stouts and after reading some positive reviews of a beer I'd always heard alot about, North Coast Brewing's Old Rasputin, I thought I should give it a try. I was very impressed. The beer pours a jet black with a thin tan head. Roasty and hoppy aromas hit you first. What follows is a creamy stout filled with peppery spiciness from the hops, and a nice balance of coffee, toffee, and roastiness. It didn't feel as strong as it is, and there was no noticeable alcohol burn one might expect from that strong of a beer. This would be great on a cold night, and seemed to more flavorful as it warmed up. Add to it, a kick ass name, this is one that changes my opinion of Russian Imperial Stouts.

Bell's Hopslam
This is a beer that has gotten a lot of buzz and is from one of my favorite breweries. I was skeptical about this beer, despite some good recommendations. It sounded like a beer I wouldn't enjoy, plus at $14 a six pack, I really didn't want to spend the money and have 6 beers I didn't like. But one day I decided to throw caution to the wind and drop the cash on a sixer.
Wow! What a beer! It took me a couple bottles to really appreciate what I was drinking (not in one sitting, it's 10% abv!) The beer pours a copper-orangish color with a lacy white head. It smells strongly of citrus, especially grapefruit. At first it is fairly bitter, with a chewy body. The hops are everywhere, but after a few drinks, there is a slightly sweet maltiness, and there is a honey sweetness as you finish. Someone told me they thought last year's was better because it had less honey presence, but that was the final sell for me. I thought that the honey added a sweetness that really balanced out the hops. This is a beer that takes a while to drink, because it is chewy and strong. But over the course of a couple weeks, I found myself really looking forward to cracking one open. I should have known that Bell's wouldn't disappoint!

So there you have it. Being open-minded and willing to try new things can lead you to beers you wouldn't have thought you'd like. I wouldn't say I'll make either of these my everyday beer, but there will be occasions that either of these beers would be great.
Salud!
The Bearded Brewer