Cantognake Imperial Stout

Style: Barrel aged imperial stout
Producer: Lehe Brewery
Origin: Estonia
Size: 33cl
Alcohol: 21% (yes, 21!)
Price: 115kr
Systembolaget: – (sold out)

Lehe Brewery was founded in 2013 by brewers Gristel and Tarmo, making it one of the country’s earliest modern craft breweries. The business grew rapidly and changed ownership in 2019. This imperial stout has been aged in old Buffalo Trace bourbon barrels, which helped to impart secondary flavours into the beer. What drew me to this beer initially was the insanely high alcohol, and I believe this is the strongest beer I have ever had in a tasting! But would the massive alcohol content ruin the beer? Not at all as it turned out.

This poured with a thick and heavy body with zero carbonation or head. The aroma was magnificent, with massive chocolate, vanilla and oak notes escaping the glass. Upon tasting, those big flavours continued onto the palate, with the bitter chocolate enveloping the senses. The oak and vanilla crept though in the aftertaste, floating on the lips for a long time after swallowing. The sticky body really covered every inch of the mouth, but every sip was just as nice as the last. The crazy alcohol was surprisingly well balanced, with taste, aroma and body all dialled up as well to stop from feeling boozy. It gave a nice warmth in the chest after swallowing but this was to be expected.

This could have easily been terrible, as it is very hard to balance such an extremely high alcohol content. Lehe have done a good job though and manage to create an amazing sipping stout that would be great to share between friends.