Iron Hill Russian Imperial Stout

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

Serve in Snifter

UPDATED: JUN 5, 2008 Bottle. Pours a dark brown color, with a decent head and nice lacing. Aroma has some soy sauce, with some elements of bourbon. Slight caramel, too. Smells barrel-aged in some way. Some chocolate in the aroma, some soy sauce, also some slight oxidation. Finishes well though. Sharp bitterness, feels a bit old, but gets better after warming up.

Black body with no head. Aroma is chocolate, coffee, roasted malt. Flavor is chocolate, coffee, roasted malt, toffee, vanilla notes.

Bottle at hallinghansen grand tasting. Pours jet black with a medium tan head. The aroma is chocolate, hard roasted malt, ash, light hops and coffee. The flavour is quite roasted with a good amont of chocolate notes. Light coffee and dark fruits like raisins. Long duration of chocolate and roasted malt in the finish.

Tap (Growler from Wilmington) Pours a rich black with a thick tan head that left a solid coat of lacing on the glass. Aroma is strong of coffee and chocolate, and the taste is very strong of the same. It is sweet without being over powering, and no hint at all of hops or strong malts. Very well balances and the 9.5% is also well hidden in this very creamy drink. Definitely a beer for sipping -- take your time with this one!!

On tap at release party Iron Hill Newark. Dark with minimal head. Chocolate and coffee are present, no hop aroma or flavor detected. Not a sweet beer you’d expec at 9.9 ABV but a great sipping brew. Was offered a 22 oz mug but wisely chose a 12 oz pour. It seems the GABF medals are deserved for this beer. Enjoyed it tremendously.

I had this on nitro last night at Iron Hill Brewery in Maple Shade, New Jersey.

A: Huge creamy thick tan head, expected from the nitro. Body is pitch black. This looks wonderful, especially through nitro.

S: A bit faint, possibly because of the nitro (first nitro beer), but there’s roasted coffee notes with some dark chocolate. A bit mellow compared to what I was expecting, but inviting.

T: Absolutely wonderful. Very mellow, again I’m assuming due to the nitro, but there’s the roasted coffee with the dark chocolate very mellow but very balanced throughout. Wonderful beer.

M: Thick and creamy, absolutely wonderful.

O: A great beer on nitro, I’ll be trying it on normal tap next, but this is wonderful.

Tap - Wilmington. dark brown, thin cream ring with considerable lace. Sweet Nose shows brownie, fudge, some plum, considerable roasted malt. Flavor is more bitter, chocolate and heavy roast imparting a 60% dark chocolate flavor. Bitterness derived from roast, few hop contributions, ends quite dry, sticky, leaves salty, chocolate coat on lips with a fruity finish lasting. Though two-note flavor, very nice roast and chocolate balance.

Tap - Wilmington. Pours opaque with a light, creamy brown head, medium retention with excellent lacing. Aroma is chocolate, coffee, and roast malt, light smoke, prune and licorice, dates, earthy hops, and leather yeast. Flavor is heavy roast, chocolate, and coffee malt with medium bitterness, dark fruity esters, leather yeast, lightly sour and a dry finish. Full body, medium warmth and carbonation.

Draft @ brewpub. Pours extremely dark brown with thin tan head. Aroma is strong chocolate and roasted malts, with a small hint of coffee. Flavor is extremely smooth with the chocolate notes found in most stouts well balanced with the additional coffee and caramel notes. Slight bitterness at the end provides a strong finish. Good beer.