Kalashnikov - Icarus Brewing
It's been a long time coming, but finally the review for Icarus Brewing's coffee variant of their signature stout, Kalashnikov. The first thing that will always jump out to me about this beer is how massive it comes in at 14%. That's the kind of beer that'll take the edge off of your long work day, especially during the winter. I'd have this tasty beer, months before, and loved every sip of it, but with the coming of the 1st anniversary of Icarus Brewing and the canning of this delicious stout, I just knew I was in for a tremendous treat.
I'll admit that at first, I had no clue what was going into this beer other than it having coffee. With the first can opened, the wonderful aromas of coffee hit the tip of my nose and from that moment on, I knew I was embarking on a wonderful 12oz adventure with this brew. At first sip, the stout was sweeter than I remembered, but still pretty good. I took a sip every few minutes as I let it warm up and the experience became better and better... but still, a bit too sweet. The can was enjoyable throughout and it wasn't until the second can that I realized what was happening. This beer has coffee AND brown sugar along with honey. The sweetness made much more sense and the perspective about this beer shifted. I came to terms with it and enjoyed the second can much more simply because now I understood it.
This really is a great beer and along with the purchase of the variants at the first anniversary, I can tell you right now, this dark, delicious, sweet stout is here to stay. It's sweet without being overpoweringly so. That touch of brown sugar and honey BEG for you to let this beer warm up. Recommendation: Pop open a Yacht Juice AND a can of Kalashnikov at the same time. Let the stout sit, have the IPA. It's a exquisite combination worth having. Just make sure you hit the gym that day to earn those delectably dangerous beer calories. If you like stouts, coffee, and some sweetness to it, this beer is the one for you! Salud!