Imperial Stout

Our local pub, which shall remain nameless, has the good fortune of having a cask conditioned version of the Berkshire Brewing Company's Imperial Stout on tap at the present time. This is one of the finest Imperial Stouts that you will find, it compares favorably to Brooklyn's Black Chocolate Stout. Brooklyn is an all time favorite of mine, up there with Coolidge, Ceravolo, ribs, Burt Lancaster, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Bemsha Swing, &tc-- so this is not a comparison to be taken lightly.

Incidentally if you aren't sure what an Imperial or Chocolate Stout is, and are too lazy to click on the link above, there is a nice explanation at the Brooklyn website:

"In the 18th century, Catherine the Great, Empress of Russia, asked for stout to be sent to her from England. Fearful of spoilage on the long voyage to the Baltic ports, the English brewers made the beer strong, and added more hops as a natural preservative. It arrived in perfect condition, and became known as Russian Imperial Stout, the toast of the Russian aristocracy. We use three mashes to brew each batch of this beer, achieving a luscious deep dark chocolate flavor through a blend of specially roasted malts. We brew it every year for the winter season, and it ages very nicely for years, becoming even more complex in flavor. Served in a snifter glass, there is nothing better with chocolate desserts, cheesecake, fruit tarts or ice cream."