The Beverage Testing Institute awarded BrickStone's Dark Secret Russian Imperial Stout a Gold medal in the Stout, Porters, & Strong Ales competition held last month. BrickStone's Dark Secret is released annually on Black Friday. This year's variance was aged in Dark Matter El Rosaro coffee beans which were barrel-aged then roasted to a medium dark and blended with Giant Step dark roast.
BTI gave the brew a rating of 92 (exceptional) and described it as, "Opaque black color. Dense aromas and flavors of dark roasted coffee beans, burnt sugar and nuts, burnt raisin toast, and wood with a velvety, soft, under-carbonated, dryish medium-to-full body and a warming, medium-length finish with elements of espresso gelato, smoked nuts, caramel cream, and honeycomb with light oak. An intense coffee stout for real coffee connoisseurs that has an interesting arc from burnt to sweet."
"We're very proud of this brew," said BrewMaster Tommy Vasilakis. "We are extremely fortunate to have collaborated with Dark Matter and their fun and talented team. We knew from the first sip of coffee that we just had to work with them."
BTI gave the brew a rating of 92 (exceptional) and described it as, "Opaque black color. Dense aromas and flavors of dark roasted coffee beans, burnt sugar and nuts, burnt raisin toast, and wood with a velvety, soft, under-carbonated, dryish medium-to-full body and a warming, medium-length finish with elements of espresso gelato, smoked nuts, caramel cream, and honeycomb with light oak. An intense coffee stout for real coffee connoisseurs that has an interesting arc from burnt to sweet."
"We're very proud of this brew," said BrewMaster Tommy Vasilakis. "We are extremely fortunate to have collaborated with Dark Matter and their fun and talented team. We knew from the first sip of coffee that we just had to work with them."
