Year of New Beer: Four Roses Aged Baba Yaga Russian Imperial Stout, Ethereal Brewing (Lexington)

Written By: Dion on 11/29/2015

A quick glance at my Facebook page reveals the fact that I enjoy a good beer every now and then. They can't all be extraordinary, or even average on many days. But once in a great while, a beer knocks down the door to extraordinary and "barrels" into rarified air. This is certainly one of those times. The nose is layered with cocoa powder, sweet dark fruits, hints of oak, creamy vanilla, and gentle bourbon spice. No less complexity is experienced once this nectar hits the tongue. Rich chocolate and light coffee blend with plum and raisin, sitting atop a roasty malt and wisps of smoke. The body is thick and chewy, sweet and viscous-everything you want in a barrel aged stout. Incredible. Lexington breweries are killing it right now, and at just one year old, Ethereal is throwing down the gauntlet. It's a good time to be a beer nerd in the Bluegrass.