Winter has arrived again and Huntsville, Alabama's Straight to Ale has released a new batch of their Russian imperial stout - Laika. I fell in love with this RIS last year and have been eagerly awaiting its return. Despite Straight to Ale offering their Lily Flagg Milk Stout year-round, it lacks the complexity and punch that can be found in this seasonal brew.
Laika pours out like thick ink into my pint glass and absorbs all light which comes in contact with it; not even a hint of light can penetrate through the narrowest of angles when held up. The head is about a finger thick and is the color of hot chocolate. Its foamy head has slowly receded to a thick cap. There are sheets of lacing which recede after each sip, but there are spots of lacing which are able to successfully cling to the glass, leaving spots of lacing instead of a web.
The aroma is primarily roasted coffee and rich fudge chocolate (moreso than a dark chocolate). I detect a bit of vanilla or similar which adds a nice light note to counter the otherwise dark roast smell. There also seems to be a bit of cherry or plum in the mix, too.
When I taste Laika, my first thoughts are of a box of liqueur-filled dark chocolates I got a few years ago. This seems to deliver the taste I got from eating those, but completely in liquid form. The chocolate does taste darker than the fudge chocolate I detected in the smell. The char and alcohol combine to give off a bourbon-like flavor (maybe that contributes to the vanilla smell I sniffed), which is highlighted in the bourbon barreled variety of Laika which can also be found in bars and stores. This is definitely more complex than the Lily Flagg Milk Stouts I drank a bunch of during Christmas. There is a great deal of wonderful complexity despite the consistency in flavor I get from first contact with my tongue through the aftertaste. As Laika warms, the taste does get more syrupy and bitter. If you consider that a bad trait, you may want to serve your glass below 55 degrees. You'll lose a little of the aroma at first, though, by doing that.
Like most Russian imperial stouts, Laika has a bit of heft to its body. It flows like oil. Especially when warmer, the thickness is such that the stout feels sticky in the mouth. There is very little carbonation.
Laika is one of my favorite Russian imperial stouts. While it may not be as complex and challenging as North Coast's Old Rasputin RIS, I find this to be more comforting and enjoyable to drink. Laika has a dominant taste and a richness that promotes savoring smaller servings. I ended up corking my bomber and finishing the second half a few hours after the first glass I poured.
You can find two other varieties of Laika - a bourbon barreled and a Cabernet barreled. It pairs nicely with strong cheeses like Coastal cheddar, feta, goat cheese, or horseradish Havarti. Nice enhancement to jazz up an otherwise dull birthday cake.
