Straight to Ale Cabernet Barrel Aged Laika (Imperial Stout)

Laika Russian Imperial Stout is one of Huntsville, AL-based Straight to Ale’s most well-known and well-loved beers. They do a couple barrel-aged versions as well, including this one.



ABV: 11.7%

Price: Got this at Hop City in Birmingham. Don’t remember the exact price, but it was around $10 for this 22 oz bomber.

Availability: Brewed for the first time last year; looks like they plan for it to be a once-a-year thing. Late fall.

Appearance: Oily pitch-black. Frothy, but quickly dissipating dark tan head and no lacing.

Nose: Dark chocolate, raspberry, tannic red wine

Taste: Starts with a lot of dark roasty character, particularly a dark chocolate that’s so thick it’s almost like fudge. Tons of dark fruit follows - lots of cherry and raspberry. A note of licorice as well. Finishes with an oaky red wine flavor, but without much acidity.

Body/Mouthfeel: Thick and oily - almost Bourbon County level thickness. Finishes long, slow, and fairly hot. The ABV isn’t overwhelming, but it’s definitely present.

Thoughts: Yummy. Aging in red wine barrels is becoming more and more popular these days, and in my experience the beers tend to be very hit or miss. This one’s a definite hit though. The wine character shows up largely in the form of dark fruits, and it meshes extremely well with the malt flavors, particularly the dark chocolate. Great beer from one of Alabama’s finest breweries.