On the 5th day of Christmas, Frank About Beer drank for me - Peg Leg imperial stout from Heavy Seas brewery.
Imperial stouts (sometimes also called Russian Imperial stouts) tend to be boozy, English-style stouts with a more pronounced hops flavor. They were originally brewed for the Russian monarchs who, at the time, preferred the British beers, but also wanted a higher alcohol content since they were used to distilled spirits like vodka. Because travel across Europe took a while, the Brits added extra hops, which helped keep the beer fresher for longer.
Peg Leg checks these boxes with a dark color, mild carbonation and a heavier alcohol content of 8% ABV.
The taste is mildly sweet from the malt, and there's not a lot of the chocolate or coffee flavors that show up in a lot of stouts these days. This is typical of an English stout, as is the dry finish and thin body that this beer has.
Bottom line? This one is spot-on for the style. I personally like a heavier stout with more pronounced coffee or cocoa flavors, but I'd recommend this one to anyone who typically enjoys something like Guinness.
Check back tomorrow for the next beer in our #12BeersofXmas series.
Cheers!
Christian & Eric
