When Peter the Great opened Czarist Russia to the West in the early 18th century, dark ales called "Porter" were all the rage in England. Porters, named after the working class who devoured them, were relatively easy-drinking brews with a small percentage of highly roasted malt. The result was a dark brown, toffee-flavored libation fit for mass consumption. Arthur Guinness took the idea to Ireland, increased the dark, coffee-tinted profile and added "Extra Stout" to his label, thus creating another new beer style. Peter the Great fell in love with stouts during his 1698 trip to England, and he requested that some be sent to the Imperial court in Russia. Much to the embarrassment of the English, the beer had spoiled somewhere along its tedious thousand-mile journey! Determined as always to save face, the Barclay brewery of London came to the rescue by rapidly increasing the amount of alcohol and hops for their second effort. The result was an inky black concoction with enough warmth and complexity to immediately become a sensation throughout Russia. The "Russian Imperial Stout" had been born and quickly became popular throughout European Russia.
Peter the Great fell in love with stouts during his 1698 trip to England, and he requested that some be sent to the Imperial court in Russia. Much to the embarrassment of the English, the beer had spoiled somewhere along its tedious thousand-mile journey! Determined as always to save face, the Barclay brewery of London came to the rescue by rapidly increasing the amount of alcohol and hops for their second effort. The result was an inky black concoction with enough warmth and complexity to immediately become a sensation throughout Russia. The "Russian Imperial Stout" had been born and quickly became popular throughout European Russia.
I might quibble with some of that, but the gist is mostly right. keep to the Fen Causeway
The beer would be dark, sweet and sour and Porters have generally evolved to be kinda sweetish, but the sour component has been phased out for commercial reasons.
Stout evolved from the most alcoholic combinations of Porter, originally being known as Stout (ie strong) porter. In order to substitute for that fat alcoholic flavour (originally 7 - 9%) the hop rate is very high, resulting in a bitter flavour, a very different beastie from the sweeter porter.
Many craft breweries around the US do an Imperial Stout, I have one at home here to try. In Chicago, Rock Bottom seem to brew an Imperial Stout as do BJ's. Google Chicago and Imperial stout. Without having tried Baltika, I have a lot of respect for American craft brewers and doubt you'll be disappointed. keep to the Fen Causeway
