Confluence Stavropol Russian Imperial Stout

The Confluence Brewing Company is in Des Moines, Iowa. They have been commercially available for some time on tap and in howlers sold at liquor stores, but do release some bottled specials. This is a 8.7% ABV Russian Imperial Stout.

Stavropol is a sister city to Des Moines, and this is their second beer inspired by a sister city. The first was their Shijiazhuang Lager.

The bottle begins to overfoam before I can pour, and when poured comes out almost all foam. The bottle then begins to overfoam again and I have to pour it into a second glass which then comes out as more beer than foam. The beer pours black in appearance, with a dark brown head. The aroma is dark roasted malt, char, but very tangy, perhaps more tangy than intended. The taste is deep, rich dark roasted malt, char, coffee, dark chocolate, dark cocoa. The finish is dry, moderately bitter, and with much less tang than in the aroma. The beer drinks with a nice full body, but is overly carbonated, very stinging.