The 6-time-GABF-winning masters at California’s Stone Brewing hold their small-batch brews near and dear to their hearts. Each release is made from a previously loved brew and then meticulously tweaked to perfection — and die hard fans go nuts! Today’s Mikhail (2018) Bourbon-Barrel Aged Imperial Coffee Stout is in the Top 100 of its Style on BA and Tavour members loved last year’s batch so much, they scored it a massive 4.43!

Stoners — the cheeky nickname for Stone Brewing’s devoted fandom — go absolutely mad every years for this big, dark, and boozy 13.5% ABV brew. Mikhail is crafted from their fan-favorite Totalitarian Imperial Stout and then aged on coffee beans for 8 months in Kentucky Bourbon Barrels.

Russian Imperial Stouts are the most intense of Dark Beers with a bold and bitter hop bite. By using Bourbon barrels, Stone puts their signature intense stamp on Mikhail with a flavorful ride through char and dark roasts. Oak-aging lends notes of vanilla bean smoothness that masks the heavy ABV while roasted espresso beans and caramel whiskey give this brew a subtle, balanced sweetness.

For Stone’s fans, the best way to start their day is waking up to the news of a freshly released, limited brew. But it’s also the worst when they realize that they won’t be able to find Mikhail (2018) anywhere in their home state! Luckily for them, we’ve managed to stash away a few cases...

Rated 4.43 on Tavour; 4.37 on BeerAdvocate; 4.29 on Untappd

Packaged On October 24th, 2018

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