My older brother Sonny was in Philly recently (I also have an older brother Fredo, and several sisters that I refer to collectively as The Connies (the cold blooded, Godfather 3 version, not the beaten down and beaten up Godfather 1 version, or the obnoxious Godfather 2 version) because they keep offering me cannoli like I’m Don Altobello), so I loaded the family into the BoozeMobile and headed into the city to meet him for dinner. Given the current state of my mobility, we opted for a place within walking distance of the parking garage. The closest reputable establishment was Con Murphy’s, a place I have passed a number of times but never had the pleasure of going to.

Naturally, Sonny was late, so to pass the time, we ordered some beverages. After a quick perusal of the beer list, I opted for a local brewer, 2SP Brewing Company. They are a newly founded brewery (established in 2015) from Aston, PA. The folks at 2SP (Head Brewer Bob Barrar and friends) took their experience with Iron Hill Brewing and struck out on their own to form “the most dependable brewer in Delaware County”. They have a lineup of seven year round beers as well as some seasonal offerings. Additionally, they have a tasting room that is open 7 days a week.

Here’s what 2SP Brewing has to say about The Russian…

Imperial stout with notes of heavy roast, dark chocolate, and espresso.

And here are my impressions of this beer…

Appearance : Murky black/brown with a slowly dissipating foam.

: Murky black/brown with a slowly dissipating foam. Aroma : Faint coffee aroma, doughy & water. Like a weak cup of coffee and wheat bread.

: Faint coffee aroma, doughy & water. Like a weak cup of coffee and wheat bread. Taste : Medium mouthfeel with mild carbonation. A little bitterness and a bit doughy. With a Russian Imperial, I had expected a little more flavor and a little more oomph.

: Medium mouthfeel with mild carbonation. A little bitterness and a bit doughy. With a Russian Imperial, I had expected a little more flavor and a little more oomph. ABV: 9%

The Verdict

While this may have hit the requisite ABV, the flavor was a bit too mellow for a Russian Imperial Stout. That said, for my first try of a 2SP Brewing product, I thought that this was intriguing enough to make me want to try more of their lineup.