The actual full name is Small Batch Escondido Satirist Mikhail Bulgakov author of The Master and Margarita Stone Espresso Imperial Russian Stout aged in Bourbon Barrels. According to the back label, they age it 14 months in American Oak Kentucky Bourbon barrels. This particular bottle has a brewed date of July 17, 2016 and bottled date of October 2017. The result is a 13.5% smooth elixir that doesn’t really taste like beer other than the black malts which come through. It has the color of dirty motor oil, but isn’t think at all. It reminds me a little bit of coffee liqueur more than a beer. It turned out to be enjoyable & the others I tasted it with were pleasantly surprised. The claimed it was more of an after dinner drink. When I first saw the bottle, I thought it said milk stout. It definitely shares the smoothness of one. I have no idea how much it costs as it was a gift from the neighbor. Given it’s a small batch, I’m sure it’ll sell out. His usual spot for finding unique beers is Hollingshead Deli in Santa Ana which is where I assume he found this one.
