BRAND: Alaskan Brewing Co.

NAME: Perseverance Ale

TYPE OF BEER: Russian Imperial Stout

ALCOHOL CONTENT: 9%

IBUs (Bitterness units): 50 of 100

DESCRIPTION: ALASKAN BREWING CO is celebrating its 25th Anniversary this year. The company has brewed a special beer to commemorate the event: Perseverance Ale. True to its Russian Imperial Stout bloodlines, this beer weighs in at 9% ABV.

Alaskan Brewing added a few different ingredients to make this beer special. “This complex and malt forward Imperial Stout is brewed with an array of local ingredients and flavors to add dimension and celebrate Alaskan’s history and home. Alaska birch syrup from Wasilla lends a deep, almost tart character to the dark malt profile, while fireweed honey from Delta Junction adds a delicate sweetness and floral notes to the aroma and finish. The slight addition of our in-house alder-smoked malt alludes to the distinctive roasted flavor of turn-of-the-century malting practices, without overpowering the more subtle flavors of this dynamic anniversary brew.”

POUR/TASTE: Perseverance pours like a good Stout should: it has a deep brown color and a tan head. Aroma wise there's a very subtle hint of roasted malt with some unique sweet qualities. There's nothing overpowering. The beer has a rich Stout character without a ton of roasted bitterness and the sweet aroma shows up in the beer as a unique flavor that leaves a bit of stickiness on the glass rim. For a lack of a better description, Perseverance has a very “soft” taste for such a dark beer. For a 9% brew, it's almost too easy to drink … the ABV sneaks up on you.

BUY IT AGAIN? Yes. I've tried many excellent Russian Imperial Stouts in the past and Alaskan's take on the style is worth trying. If you like Stouts, this one won't disappoint. It's a beer that's rich with flavor but not too rich to drink. Try one and let me know what you think ….

Alaskan Brewing Co. | Perseverance Ale from Redtail Media on Vimeo.