Iron Hill Russian Imperial Stout

Brewed by Iron Hill Newark
Style: Imperial Stout
Newark, Delaware USA

Thanks to Eyedrinkale. BCTC. Solid black, rich tan head. Nose is very hoppy, some molasses, burnt malt, plum, dark fruits, chocolate. Flavor is bittersweet chocolate, fruit, burnt malt, alcohol, very hoppy. Damn nice. Like the cask of storm king I had but not as sweet.

Bottle thanks to someone at the HW open house. Thick black color with a small, creamy tan head. Aroma of dark roasted malts, coffee and dark chocolate. Flavor was dark roasted malt, mildly sweet, with some hop bitterness after. Also some coffee, vanilla and chocolate flavors as well. Not as big and in your face as some impy stouts can be, which was great being it was sampled on a hot 90 degree day.

At the last Heavyweight Open House. Typical Imperial Stout appearance, with a dark, thick body, light tan frothy head. Strong cocoa and coffee aroma, with hints of caramel. Bitter and powerful flavor. Well-roasted malts compliment the mild sweetness. This isn’t syrupy at all. The mouthfeel is somewhat chewy and thick. Yum!

Wow, this one was beautiful upon arrival, nice concave up crown on a somewhat thick and dense head. The lacing left behind very nice rings around the glass, showing each sip’s consumption. Near black coloring with slight brown edges. The aroma was initially bittered coffee and light hops, no alcohol. The flavor was also initially fantastic, a roasted and bitter-sweet coffee at the front with a perfect hop finish (wow, I could easily taste this sucker, as it was not served at near-freezing temps in Newark). As it further warmed, the chocolate came out a bit, although not as strongly as the coffee. A very nice balance of rich malt base and alcohol (not very prominent in the flavor) with bitter malts and some unoffensive (light pine-like or resinous) hops. Mouthfeel was thick and somewhat oily. This must be the best Iron Hill brew I’ve had to date.

Sampled at 4th Boulder Strong Ale Fest. Beer poured an opaque, dark brown-black color with a small, creamy/frothy, light brown, mostly and quickly diminishing head. The aroma was malty with light notes of roasted grain, burned cookie and caramel, light notes of molasses, chocolate and coffee; hoppy with moderate notes of herb; yeasty with light notes of dough. The flavor was moderately sweet, moderately bitter with a long, moderately-to-heavily bitter finish with a husky, garden soil aftertaste. The body was medium-to-full, the texture is velvety-bordering-on-syrupy with a soft-to-flat carbonation.

Boulder Strong Ale Fest 2006. Body is dark brown. Aroma is moderately malty (roasted/burnt grain, chocolate), moderately hoppy (resin), with a note of alcohol. Flavor is heavily sweet, lightly to moderately acidic, lightly bitter. Finish is moderately sweet, lightly to moderately acidic, moderately bitter. Full body, creamy texture, lively carbonation, lightly alcoholic. Rated this a little higher at GABF last year, but the hops and citric bite came out more at this fest. Not a fan.

Bottle courtesy of hopdog. Thanks Steve! This would be a 5.0 w/ a little more chocolate malt and a little more alcohol. Reminds me of Memphistopoles w/out that crazy raisin sweetness. A little drier finish than most imp stouts. Very good. I have never has a bad Iron Hill brew.

750ml bottle via trade with hopdog! - Thanks Steve! - Pours black with a creamy and pretty large initial head that faded relatively quick to a film and laced some from there on down the glass. Aromas of chocolate, roasted malts, and some definite hops. Flavor is a nice blend of chocolate, coffee, liccorice, roasted and even some burnt malts. Some dark fruits there too. Black currant and plum.. Very complex, unique, and delicious. Smooth drinkable palate with just a touch of astringency but nothing offensive. Not much carbonation and I didn’t find much alcohol either. Pretty tasty and worth seeking out!