Courage Russian Imperial Stout

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

Serve in Snifter

send corrections   |   shelftag   |   edit barcodes   |   add pic

1993 vintage: A pretty big disappointment, since I spent a lot of money on this tiny bottle only to find that it was showing its age. Winey characteristics and sort of a musty smell. Looks horrible in the glass, like some sort of purple/brown used engine oil. The taste was truly bizarre - sour and pretty bitter with some syrupy molasses. No head whatsoever. I think I was perhaps a few years too late in drinking this.

1983 bottle. Pours a brilliant, light brown half-inch head atop a beautiful, black body and thick, black bottle conditioning. An amazing aroma that is simply mind-blowing. Raisins, anise, chocolate, lightly roasted coffee and a healthy dose of alcohol. The mouthfeel is soft and velvety smooth (probably 20 years of bottle conditioning). Sweet, lightly roasted, vinous, and extremely tasty. There may be a significant bit of hype surrounding this beer, but I was still not let down. Just a fantastic beer and an amazing experience. I wish my feeble mind could produce adequate words to describe it.

1993 Vintage: As much as I wanted to try this beer, I have to say that I was let down. I paid $15 for a bottle of this at Elmer Sudd’s and thought it would be heaven. First, the pour, dead flat with all sorts of black "floaties" of yeast. The aroma was a mixture of a red wine and coffee. The taste was similar to both, exhibiting a winey character, but at the same time, hidden coffee undertones. The mouthfeel was very thin for an Imperial Stout and that let me down a little bit. Also, the finish was rough because I was almost forced to swallow a great deal of the excess yeast which was very wierd in the mouth. This beer is one that a person should have once in a lifetime just to try. There are many better Imperial Stouts out there, and the favorite are the highly carbonated ones. This was just didn’t cut it in my book.

This deep dark maroon colored beer is very smooth in color. It has a smell of a wine, sort of a merlot. It taste smooth and powerful, man I cannot believe I had one on there, what a night, and what a way to start off the holiday season.

rateing the 1972 vintage found at the kulminator in antwerp. what a beer lots of espresso aromas and flavors a head that was thin but lasted the whole time leaving behind some lacework this was truly a enjoyable bottle of beer

What a great beer this is. My girlfriend accidently opened this bottle for me (1982) but I cant say I am sorry she did. The beer have an offerwelming full flavour and taste. The burned malt flavour is very mellow. What I like best about this ber is the slightly salt aftertast. I cant wait to open up the 1992 bottles.

UPDATED: JAN 31, 2008 Bottle from 1982, kept in my cellar for 18 years or so. Some extra points overall added for ageing so well. Almost black color. Rich aroma of porto, roasted malt and raisin. Roasted malt in the taste. Very vinous or sherry-like, still very dry with an alcohol burn. The carbon has almost disappeared. Very long bitter and roasted malt finish. Full bodied, almost thick and not a sign of tiredness. This beer can easily be stored for another 10 years. Re-rate fresh from cask at GBBF 2003. At last!! Opague with a big lasting head. Near pecfect lacing. Strong aroma!! Roasted malt, licorice and coffee. The taste is even bigger with loads of malt. Full bodied, syrupy and sweet, but never sticky. Raisin and mango. You can’t notice the alcohol, except for a slight burn in the throat, but it is there alright! Great beer, the best of the festival I’ve had. 1983 version: tasted September 9, 2006 in the Kulminator Antwerp. Raisinny aroma. Porto, hops, raisin and alcohol in the flavor. Sweet, complex and warming alcohol. Great stuff (7 4 9 4 15 = 3.9)

Sweet, strong, tar-like, excellent!

A tad over-rated! Michael Jackson was in a generous mood when he tested this one. I don’t get it. It’s perfectly acceptable, hell even great, but in what way does this qualify as the ’World’s Best Stout’??? Yes, it is very complex. Yes, it’s as smooth as a baby’s ass. Yes, it’s got an amazig aftertaste, but... Michael Jackson says he won’t part with the few cases of the 1983 in his collection, despite numerous offers. WHY!? Ok, to each his own. If you can find it, take out a small home equity loan, buy it, drink it and buy some extra for later. I paid $40 for this?!

Rich, intense, fruity - you’d hardly know it came from such a big brewer. A wonderful aging beer. I just had a bottle from 1983 and it was one of the top 5 bottles of beer I’ve ever had. The rating is for this beer under normal circumstances.