Wichita Brewing Co. Catherine III Russian Imperial Stout

**Aroma:** “Nose is relatively mild. Light chocolate up front. As it warms, a bit of alcohol and more chocolate. Low hops aroma, no sweetness. Light sherry note. As it warms, slight fruity esters (plum, pear, cherry). Less chocolate and roast than expected. Some woody English character. Black licorice mixed with dark chocolate.” **Flavor:** “Rich roast and chocolate up front that is moderately dry. Moderate astringency throughout the sip that emphasizes the alcohol at the end and into the aftertaste. Smooth and strong, roast is medium. Alcohol warmth gets your attention without being harsh. Hop flavors medium strong, resinous, spicy. Some tart notes in the aftertaste. Thin bodied.” **Overall:** “Dry with roast, chocolate, and alcohol that are all fighting to be #1. The roast and alcohol finish in the aftertaste leaving the chocolate hanging. Slight sharpie note, perhaps a bit too much black patent malt. Seems to be aged, mostly good oxidized but some flattening of malt notes.”

__Aroma:__ “The cherries smell very ripe, maybe overly so, approaching rotten or cough medicine. A touch of roast pokes through here and there, but it’s pretty hard to find under the fruit. Dark chocolate, black patent malt, roasted malt, and caramel.” __Flavor:__ “The cherries are dark, tart, and rich, but still have that slightly overripe muddiness to them. The base beer feels like it has the right body and roast level but is hard to find under the cherries. Some bubblegum and fruity esters, with mild phenols and chlorophenols. Thin-bodied, chalky mouthfeel.” __Overall:__ “A good attempt, but the quality of the fruit really detracts. Has nice rich dark chocolate flavor, but chlorophenols and black marker diminish the finish. The cherries need a stronger beer to provide a richer context.”

__Aroma:__ “Roasty and malty, with coffee, chocolate malt, and molasses—there’s a thickness to this nose. Fruity notes of raisin and plum as well, with sherry. The hops aroma is low and earthy.” __Flavor:__ “The malt sweetness hits up front, with notes of roast, toast, chocolate, and coffee. Fruity notes of cherry, raisin, and plum are also present, as well as low apple and cherry wood. Vinous and licorice flavors cut through the roast. Medium-full body and clean fermentation, with a finish that is well-rounded and chewy.” __Overall:__ “Good balance between sweetness and roast backed up with a significant malt complexity. The chocolate notes plus the vinous flavors and dark fruit really balance the beer. It’s a very flavorful and drinkable beer with a full round body that carries the fruity flavors and the roast.”