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Jolly Russian

Colorado
United States
Jolly Russian, Odell Brewing Co.
Judges Ratings 
1 Review
94
Aroma:
23 / 24
Flavor:
37 / 40
Appearance:
6 / 6
Mouthfeel:
9 / 10
Overall Impression:
19 / 20
Description 

Bridging the Baltic and Caribbean Seas, Jolly Russian is a rich Russian Imperial Stout stowed away in Rum Barrels for aging. Dark as night and thick as the raging sea, this brew boasts notes of coffee and cocoa with waves of oak, spiced molasses, dried fruit and vanilla from the planks.

Beverage Profile
ABV: 
13.0%
IBUs: 
45
Judges Review 
David Sapsis's picture
Judges Rating:
94
Aroma:
23 / 24
Appearance:
6 / 6
Flavor:
37 / 40
Mouthfeel:
9 / 10
Overall Impression:
19 / 20

Jolly Russian by Odell Brewing Co. is identified as a Rum Barrel-Aged  Russian Imperial Stout, and is being judged as a BJCP Category 33B, Specialty Wood Aged Beer. Served at 50 F.

The beer is presented in a large goblet after a full and vigorous pour. The color is opaque and deep brown/black, crested with a thick, 2-inch crop of  light brown-mocha foam, which shows modest but respectable stand (mostly gone in 3 minutes).   

The aroma is big and lushly sweet with lots of dark fruit (prunes, figs), medium molasses, and some cocoa, rounded out by a very evident shot of alcohol. A bit of spicy wood combined with the sugary vanilla and fruity sweetness gives some hint to its rum-cask provenance. The beer smells very inviting and dessert-like. 

The flavor starts off with notes of ripe black mission figs dosed with medium dark molasses, and a nice complementing spicy angle (cinnamon, allspice), and an  evident and respectable hop bitterness; mid-palate flavors see the emergence of a soft and somewhat muted cocoa/roast character, much more chocolate-like then coffee-like. The finish is a very well-balanced off-dry, with a shot of ethanol heat and lingering herbal-spicy tones well into the late-palate. While the rum and wood character are there, they aren't deeply aged/aldehydic and solera-like (common in well-aged examples of these types of beers)  and it overall seems to dry the beer out nicely. Mouthfeel is thick with appreciable creaminess, relatively low astringency, and a nice carbonic spritz. Despite the beers big flavor profile and appreciable alcoholic strength, its pleasant balance and off-dry finish make for a very drinkable digestif/nighttime warmer. 

 

Brewery Introduction

Odell Brewing is now the 34th largest craft brewery in the country distributing beer to just 14 states.. While the brewery crafts a variety of beers, its roots are built on British styles. Innovation and creativity meet balance, consistency and quality in each brew.

This balance is a not... Read More

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