Imperial Stout
From Wikipedia: Imperial stout, also known as "Russian imperial stout" or "imperial Russian stout," is a strong dark beer or stout in the style that was brewed in the 18th century by Thrale's brewery in London, England for export to the court of Catherine II of Russia. In 1781 the brewery changed hands and the beer became known as Barclay Perkins Imperial Brown Stout. When the brewery was taken over by Courage the beer was renamed Courage Imperial Russian Stout. It has a high alcohol content - nine or ten percent abv is common. This higher alcoholic content was necessary to prevent the beer from freezing in transport, due to the colder temperatures in the Baltic.
From BJCP: An intensely flavored, big, dark ale. Roasty, fruity, and bittersweet, with a noticeable alcohol presence. Dark fruit flavors meld with roasty, burnt, or almost tar-like sensations. Like a black barleywine with every dimension of flavor coming into play.
Baltic Porter
From Wikipedia: A version of porter which is brewed in Denmark, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia and Sweden. It has a higher alcohol content than ordinary porters. Export ales (see "Russian imperial stout" above) introduced from Britain in the 18th century were influenced by regional styles when they began to be produced locally. While it was once a top-fermenting beer, it is now mostly brewed as a lager-style bottom-fermenting beer in Slavic and Baltic breweries.
From BJCP: A Baltic Porter often has the malt flavors reminiscent of an English brown porter and the restrained roast of a schwarzbier, but with a higher OG and alcohol content than either. Very complex, with multi-layered flavors.
The Beers
The following have been hand-selected to be sampled at the December 2010 Holiday Meeting. Here's a little background on each of the available beers:
Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout
Beer Advocate: A-
Rate Beer: 100
http://www.brooklynbrewery.com/beer/
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/45/680/
http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/victory-storm-king-imperial-stout/626/
Victory Storm King Stout
Beer Advocate: A-
Rate Beer: 100
http://victorybeer.com/beers/storm-king-stout/
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/345/1013
http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/victory-storm-king-imperial-stout/626/
Samuel Smith's Imperial Stout
Beer Advocate: A-
Rate Beer: 99
http://www.samuelsmithsbrewery.co.uk/
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/113/782
http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/samuel-smiths-imperial-stout/85/
North Coast Old Rasputin Imperial Stout
Beer Advocate: A
Rate Beer: 100
http://www.northcoastbrewing.com/beer-rasputin.htm
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/112/412
http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/north-coast-old-rasputin-russian-imperial-stout/680/
Okocim Porter
Beer Advocate: A-
Rate Beer: 98
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Okocim_Brewery
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/568/1504/
http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/okocim-porter/4996/
Sinebrychoff Porter
Beer Advocate: A-
Rate Beer: 99
http://www.sinebrychoff.fi/porterbeer
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/264/2758
http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/sinebrychoff-porter-iv/7231/
Podge Belgian Imperial Stout
Beer Advocate: B
Rate Beer: 95
http://www.podgebeer.co.uk/podge-belgian-imeprial-stout.html
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/6288/28242
http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/alvinne-podge-belgian-imperial-stout/47219/85427/
Great Divide Oak Aged Yeti
Beer Advocate: A
Rate Beer: 100
http://www.greatdivide.com/#/beer
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/158/19216
http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/great-divide-oak-aged-yeti-imperial-stout/37652/
Flying Dog Gonzo Imperial Porter
Beer Advocate: A-
Rate Beer: 99
http://www.flyingdogales.com/Beer-Specialty-Gonzo.aspx
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/68/24071
http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/flying-dog-gonzo-imperial-porter/45950/
Haand Norweigian Wood
Beer Advocate: B+
Rate Beer: 97
http://haandbryggeriet.net/Nwood.html
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/15711/37300/?ba=adamharbaugh
http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/haandbryggeriet-norwegian-wood/71087/