Alaskan Brewing - Perseverance Ale



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Tonight I'll be breaking out a bottle of Perseverance Ale from Alaskan Brewing in Juneau, Alaska.  Alaskan Brewing is best known for their Alaskan Amber, which is an easy-drinking Altbier that our friend Kasper, an Alaska native, is utterly obsessed with (he was actually introduced us to the brewery).  We've also enjoyed their IPA and Summer Kolsch brews - both also quite good.  The Perseverance Ale is a Russian Imperial Stout released to commemorate Alaskan Brewing's 25th Anniversary.  It's part of their Pilot Series, which is a rotating, limited release series of big, distinctive beers that utilize unique local ingredients.  Take a look at this list of beers in the Pilot Series.....it's quite the line-up! 

This brew comes in a bottle with a retro label, depicting what looks like the original brewery in a log-cabin style building.  The label states "STOUT BREWED WITH BIRCH SYRUP AND FIREWEED HONEY".  It also has a timeline on the back of the bottle, pictured below.  This beer is a thick black color with light tan head and good retention.  The aroma is lightly smokey with charcoal and plenty of roasted barley.  Also some sweetness, honey and cocoa smooth off the edges of the alcohol fumes.  The first sip yields a creamy texture, carrying light roasted chocolate malts.  Mild notes of coffee and smoke.  Some earthy bitterness comes in towards the end, followed by a wave of alcohol heat in the finish.  Far less going on than I expected from the aroma. 

Overall Rating:  I was expecting a lot more out of this beer.  It was like a heavier, more alcoholic version of Guinness - none of the big, bold flavors you expect in an RIS.  I'll finish the bottle, but overall, disappointing.  C-

Dark Horse Brewing - Plead the 5th Imperial Stout

Tonight's brew comes to us from Dark Horse Brewing in Marshall, MI.  Plead the 5th Imperial Stout is the fifth in a series of 5 beers in their Holiday Stout Series.  This series is designed to "help ease you through the cold and grey midwestern winters."  Thank you Dark Horse, in MN we need help from decent brewing folks like you to make it through our winters.  Unfortunately, it's now late July and over the last week it's been 95-100 degrees with 80-90% humidity....absolutely steamy, not the environment this brew was intended for.  We can't ever catch a break here...it's either cold and snowing or hot and humid.  But I digress!

The ABV isn't listed on the bottle, but the google-brain says this is ~12% alcohol.  It's going into my snifter - a motor-oil black color, no light gets through this one.  Leaves a full inch of dark tan head, some of the darkest foam I've ever seen on a stout.  Beautiful looking brew.  The aroma is big on alcohol, cocoa syrup, dark-roast coffee beans, a touch of candied dark fruits come through.  It looks and smells rich, and the flavor does not disappoint!  Big, rich, thick chocolate malts start off, with plenty of sweet dark chocolate mixed in with roasted malts.  Coffee isn't much of a player, instead there is more hot alcohol presence, along with a big chewy mouthful of sweet candied plums.  I'm also noticing tobacco and charred oak.  A touch of vanilla also comes through in brief spurts.  Full, thick, chewy body complimented by an appropriately low level of carbonation.

Overall Rating:  This turned out to be a much bigger, chewier, more complex brew than I expected.  I really enjoyed it from start to finish - a truly great RIS that would be a phenomenal sipper in front of a winter fire.  Dark Horse continues to impress with their creative and complex brews - they are quickly moving up my ladder, approaching fanboy status...  It's out of season, but if you can find this brew, jump on it!!  A