Courage Russian Imperial Stout 12OZ

Courage Russian Imperial Stout 12OZ is a limited-production English imperial stout bottled at 10.0% ABV in a 12-oz format. Brewed only once a year with a cap of 210,000 bottles annually, this historically significant ale earned Bronze medals for Best Stout at both the 2013 and 2014 Melbourne Royal Show competitions.

Quick Facts: ABV: 10.0%  |  Origin: Bedford, England  |  Style: Russian Imperial Stout  |  Brewery: The Brewery, Bedford

Production & Heritage

Courage Russian Imperial Stout traces its lineage to a style originally brewed in 18th-century England for export to the Russian Imperial Court. The modern version is brewed at The Brewery on Haverlock Street in Bedford, England, using the brewery's own accredited natural mineral water drawn from an on-site well. The grain bill combines chocolate malt, amber malt, and pale ale malt, hopped with Hertsbrucker and Styrian Goldings varieties. Notably, the recipe was revisited by Jim Robertson — the same brewer who oversaw its last production run some 31 years prior — lending the revival genuine historical continuity rather than mere nostalgia.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Dark espresso and roasted cocoa dominate the nose, followed by waves of dried fig, prune, and date. A subtle undercurrent of earthy hops and cigar leaf rounds out the aromatics.

Taste: The entry is dense with burnt coffee and baking chocolate, giving way to a mid-palate layered with dark toffee, black licorice, and a restrained caramel sweetness. Ripe pear and plum emerge toward the peak, balanced by mild earthy bitterness from the dual hop additions.

Finish: Medium-long, carrying a fresh smoky character alongside lingering dark fruit and roasted malt. The texture is notably smoother than many imperial stouts at this ABV, avoiding the chalky harshness sometimes associated with the style.

How to Drink Courage Imperial Stout

Serve at cellar temperature — roughly 50–55°F — in a snifter or tulip glass to concentrate the complex aromatics. Pouring too cold will mute the espresso and dark fruit layers that define this beer. For cocktail-curious drinkers: try it in a Black Velvet (paired with dry sparkling wine for a rich, effervescent contrast), a Stout Float (poured over vanilla bean ice cream to play off its chocolate and toffee notes), or a Beer Flip (shaken with a whole egg, simple syrup, and a dash of nutmeg, where the stout's body creates a velvety, dessert-like drink).

Best For

• Gifting a craft beer collector who values historically revived brews
• After-dinner sipping alongside a dessert course or cheese board
• Cellaring for special occasions — the high ABV and malt complexity reward patience
• Exploring the English imperial stout tradition beyond American craft interpretations

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Courage Imperial Stout taste like? The dominant profile is a well-rounded blend of dark espresso, baking chocolate, and black toffee, layered with pronounced dried fig, plum, and ripe pear. A mild earthy hop bitterness and a touch of smoky character keep the sweetness in check.

How does Courage Imperial Stout compare to Old Rasputin? Courage Russian Imperial Stout runs more bitter and less overtly sweet than North Coast's Old Rasputin, and carries a noticeably thinner mouthfeel. Old Rasputin tends to deliver a fuller, more viscous body with heavier caramel sweetness, while Courage leans into roast-forward dryness and dark fruit complexity.

Is Courage Imperial Stout good for sipping neat? Absolutely — at 10% ABV and with its layered espresso, chocolate, and dark fruit character, it is purpose-built for slow, contemplative drinking at cellar temperature.

Where is Courage Imperial Stout made? It is brewed at The Brewery on Haverlock Street in Bedford, England, using natural mineral water sourced from the brewery's own on-site well.

What foods pair well with Courage Imperial Stout? Aged cheddar or Stilton blue cheese mirrors the beer's dark toffee richness. Dark chocolate truffles echo its cocoa and espresso notes. Slow-braised short ribs complement the roasted malt backbone. Figgy pudding or sticky toffee pudding align with its dried fruit sweetness. Smoked brisket plays well against the beer's subtle smoky finish.

What sizes does Courage Imperial Stout come in? The standard retail format is a 12-oz bottle, consistent with its limited annual production run of 210,000 bottles.

Is Courage Imperial Stout worth the price? It positions as a specialty-tier imperial stout, justified by its once-a-year brewing schedule, limited bottle count, historically authentic recipe, and the involvement of the original brewer Jim Robertson in its revival. For the style, it represents strong value relative to many limited-release American imperial stouts.

Why Courage Imperial Stout?

Few imperial stouts on the market carry this kind of provenance: a recipe revived by the very brewer who last produced it over three decades ago, using the same brewery's own mineral water well. The once-a-year production schedule and annual cap of 210,000 bottles make each vintage a finite quantity. Back-to-back Bronze medals at the Melbourne Royal Show in 2013 and 2014 confirmed its quality on a competitive international stage. For drinkers seeking an English-origin imperial stout with genuine historical weight rather than hype-driven marketing, Courage stands as one of the most authentic options in the category.