Courage Russian Imperial Stout

Formerly brewed at John Smiths (Heineken UK)
Style: Imperial Stout
Tadcaster, England

Serve in Snifter

send corrections   |   shelftag   |   edit barcodes   |   update pic

1972 6oz bottle drank in 2005: Murky dark brown with a very small persistent large-bubbled tan head that leaves a stain on the inside of the glass while drinking it. Aroma consists of sour cherries, rich plums, roasted malt, bitter chocolate and tobacco is noted after tasting it. Full bodied with an oily texture, it starts bitter, sharp and acidic and ends bitter sweet with a very dry aftertaste and warms the throat. It a way it is sad that this beer was kept in great shape for 33 years and I drank it after owning it for less than 3 weeks; let this be a lesson to the rest of you beers.

UPDATED: JUL 19, 2005 1981 sampled 5/6/05... Poured an opaque black color with a small tan head, light lacing on the glass. Aroma of roast, lots of chocolate, caramel malts, and light soy sauce. Much fuller than the 93 (surprisingy!), was very smokey, more chocolate, roast, nuts, and caramel, very light alcohol as well. 4.5
1989 / 1993 sampled 7/05 & 10/04... Poured a dark brown borderline black color with no head, tan bubbles, large yeasties. Dark chocolate and roasted coffee, lightly fruity . Taste was oxidized, tart cherries and grapes, roast, tobacco, and alcohol. Medium mouthfeel. Interesting, though rather old. 3.9
The vintages from the early 80s, are better than the later 80s, and into the 90s.

Sampled at the Kulminator in Antwerpen, Belgium. Vintage 1983. Black. Mellow and pleasant, obviously effected by its age, with notes of blackberries, dark malts and molasses. Lovely. Aged and molded. The flavor profile mainly consists of chocolate, cocoa and coffee. Dark fruits as well with notes of purple grapes, red apples and maple.

UPDATED: DEC 6, 2004 pre-tucson beer meeting with Squidget-huge thanks goes out to him for sharing this 21 year old beer with me. To think, i was 4 years old when this badboy was bottled. Thats just amazing! pours oily black with a ruby red tint to the outide of the beer in the glass. coniac, dark berries, grapes, fermented cherries, molassas-dry ice? bitter, slightly salty, sour coffee and long roasty finish brings out the flavors. pretty damn cool for a 21 year old beer!!! BTW, this bottle was from 1983!!!!!!!

1989 bottle – drank in 2004: Very dark beer with no head or carbonation. Aroma is mostly comprised of alcohol and a subtle smell of coffee. Taste can be described as a mix between roasted malts, coffee, subtle chocolate and ends with some bitterness and a warm alcohol taste. Very intriguing beer, it almost feel like a mix between an old ale (Gales Prize Old Ale) and a Russian Imperial Stout without extreme hops (Sam Smith Russian Stout) without any carbonation but with a good warming feeling from the alcohol as you drink this. I feel lucky I had the chance to taste this but a vertical tasting of this beer would be paradise…

Bottled 1992 vintage. Very dark. Roasted aroma with notes of coffee, alcohol and liquorice. A bit sweet flavor with notes of coffee, liqourice, cocoa and alcohol. Decent bitter finish.

1993 bottling. pure black with a thin ring of tan bubbles. super complex aroma of fermenting dough, dark bread, chocolate, roasted malt, molasses, anise, raisins, and figs with lots of vinous notes. flavour is tarry, and roasty with soy, booze and more molasses. very complex. amazing.

UPDATED: FEB 17, 2006 Bottled, 1992 vintage. Intransparently black. Sweet and very chocolaty. Salty, rich and thick with loads of licorice in the finish. Mature and intensely flavourful, the rawness of this beer when young is long gone.

1984. Jet black with no apparent head. Aromas were a sour dried grape, coffee and bittersweet chocolate. Taste was still hoppy with cocoa, alcohol (rum?) and roasted malt. What a gem.

1984 - Very impressive impy stout, black in color, virtually no head at all, thick & oily body, lots of roasted notes in the aroma, hints of toffee, chocolate, dark roasted coffee & molasses in the flavors, smooth & drinkable, slight hint of alcholic flavoring in the finish, overall a great impy stout