Tsar Wars Imperial Stout

With perhaps one of the best name-and-label combos in Toronto craft brewing, Tsar Wars Imperial Stout is basically an irresistible purchase. Sold in 500mL bottles, the labels feature Northern Maverick Brewing Co.’s polar bear mascot decked out in a Darth Vader helmet and some Russian military garb. The beer, classed as a Russian Imperial Stout, clocks in at 8% alcohol and 30 IBUs, both of which are on the low end of the spectrum for the style. The Toronto-born ale is near-black in colour, under a thin layer of tan head.

Tsar Wars (incidentally, a name that is wildly susceptible to autocorrection) has a sweet, sticky, boozy aroma. The scent encompasses leather, fruitcake, and molasses notes. The flavour charges ahead with roasted malt, molasses, raisin, and a bit of dark chocolate. It finishes with some warmth and java bean bitterness.

Excellently-named and well-packaged, Tsar Wars is a pretty fair ale, too. It could definitely be stronger (I’d have liked it to be in the environs of 10%) and more assertively hopped, but the flavour is quite agreeable and, for a strong ale, approachable. This is certainly the best Northern Maverick offering that I’ve sampled.

Rating: 8.5 out of 10.