Black Sheep Imperial Russian Stout
Black Sheep are one of 12 brewers who produce their own version of Imperial Russian Stout to take part in a grand tasting held in Saint Petersburg. The Great Baltic Adventure re-traced earlier 18th century journeys, when British porter, a dark, rich beer was shipped to Russia where it was a great favourite with Empress Catherine the Great and renamed Imperial Russian Stout. The beers were loaded on to a 60ft, former round-the-world Clipper and left Greenwich, London and then headed across the North Sea and the Baltic Sea, stopping at Denmark, Sweden and Finland before arriving in Saint Petersburg. When the beers arrived they were tasted by a panel of judges who selected the winning stout. Unfortunately Black Sheep didn’t win, but the demand has been so great for their Imperial Russian Stout that they have kept it brewing!