Name: Asura
Brewer: Cervezas Yria (Spain)
Style: Mixed-Style Beer (Base Style: Imperial Stout)
ABV: 13%
Review Year: 2020
Asura is a bourbon barrel-aged “Russian Imperial Stout (RIS)” by Madrid’s Cervezas Yria. This RIS was brewed with maple syrup, muscovado sugar, and vanilla.
STYLE GUIDELINES
This beer is being evaluated as a Mixed-Style Beer (34B), combining Specialty Wood-Aged Beer (33B), Alternative Sugar Beer (31B), and Spice, Herb, or Vegetable Beer (30A) with Imperial Stout (20C) as the base style in the context of the 2015 Beer Style Guidelines of the Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP). The most current version of the guidelines can be found on the BJCP website.
TASTING NOTES
Asura approaches black with its dark brown color with a think brown head. The nose evoked a familiar duality of whisky and vanilla, followed by some cacao nibs, pears, and light root beer character. The palate suggests an Imperial Stout with a medium-full body and a moderately-low carbonation level. The relatively reduced body may be attributed to conditioning, i.e., barrel-aging. Chocolates, coffee, and cacao nibs dominate the flavor profile, with a notable sweetness akin to Stevia. Hints of vanilla and lychees also mix in. Asura ends with a dry, malty, whisky impression.
THE VERDICT
Overall, this barrel-aged Imperial Stout from Cervezas Yria showcases prominent malty cacao characters supported by vanilla, whisky, fruity esters, and some sweetness. The relatively lighter body may have been caused by the barrel-aging, but the trade-off is a beer that has that familiar boozy bourbon and vanilla interplay.
Asura got us very thrilled for the other beers from this Spanish craft brewery. Muy Bueno!
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