I’ve lived in enough subpar rentals to know that there’s nothing quite like an imperial stout to help warm you up in winter. They’re dependable, sturdy and can take the chill out of the air, if only for a moment as you turn your loungeroom into a blanket fort out of sheer necessity to stay up beyond 6pm. Few are quite as reliable as Hargreaves Hill’s RIS; an imperial stout that appears each year just in time for winter and always brings a whole lot of warming delights.
The big beer is made without barrels (well, unless it's a very special moment) and instead just favours time between brew and release to find a harmonious point between complexity and lucious drinkability. So for 2023's entrant, released for winter 2024, it's delightfully smooth and brings rich whirls of chocolate fudge, molasses and licorice-meets-aniseed while simultaneously providing roasted notes, bitterness, a touch of spice and a boozy warmth. Some might say it's best enjoyed by the fire but to remember times gone by, I turned the heater off and tried mine while wrapped in blankets and beanies.
Will Ziebell
Published June 5, 2024 2024-06-05 00:00:00
