Sprecher Russian Imperial Stout

(bottle thanks OSLO) Pours out black with a tan head that leaves nice lacing and a ring around the glass. Aroma is very dry with roasted/charred malts, slight coffee, a suggestion of smoke, chocolate, cocoa, and some subtle hops as well. The taste is really just all bittersweet chocolate, with maybe a hint of coffee, and a decent roasty finish. The mouthfeel is medium. This is a decent brew.

[Bottle] Pours black with a dark tan head. Aroma is charred malt, chocolate and a little anise. Taste is chocolate dominant with the charred malt somewhat hidden and a little coffee also present. Fairly thick with a pretty decent length finish. A well-done imperial that may be just a little on the simple side, but has no glaring flaws that I can spot.

Bottle 500 ml
Appearance: Dark brown ale with light creamy light brown head.
Nose : Slightly acidic roast of coffee, dark chocolate malt and hint of beech smoke. Aromatic softer fruity side noted.
Flavor/Palate : Full mouthed ale. Soft with roasty coffee like touch. Flavorful Bavarian black cake like. Delicate Imperial (?), roasted character was proper, soft floral hop ending. Imperial stout during peace years.

Aroma is liquorice, chocolate/malt, and coffee, absolutely pitch black, small espresso head, a bit of lace. Taste is coffee, liquorice and cocoa powder. Full bodied, boldly bitter, dry,roasty and warming. Terrific! Though nearly a month into spring 08, this would be a wonderful winter nightcap. Thanks Radek Kliber.

Had this at the Sprecher tour... yummy. This has a 7.9% alcohol content, yet you would never know it. Dark roasted malts and a little fruitiness were evident. A little less hoppy than most imperial stouts, but very drinkable.

Bottle courtesy of mgumby10 -- thanks!

Pours thick and inky, tan head with long-lived microbubbles. In addition to expected chocolate and coffee on the aroma, I get quite a bit of burgundy wine and toasted marshmallow. Gently sweet and coffee-roasty, like thai iced coffee, a hint of berry.

Unfortunately, the mouthfeel is somewhat watery with warming alcohol late. It’s plenty drinkable, even enjoyable, but just not in top 50% of imperial stouts that I’ve had.

Had this at the brewery. When heard the alcohol content on this and then I tried it. I was blown away that you cannot taste the alcohol in it. Lots of flavor.

On tap at the brewery. Holdenn shared a bottle of this with me a while back and the beer seems to be tasting a lot better now (change of recipe or maybe more fresh, I’m not sure). Opaque black with large tan head. Aroma is a lot of roasted malt, smoke, some hops, dark fruit, very strong. Flavor is medium sweet roasted malt, some anise, hops, a hint of alc, coffee, very nice and well rounded. Full creamy body. Very nice, I hope to have the same beer in the bottled version next time.