Sprecher Russian Imperial Stout

Brewed by Sprecher Brewing Company
Style: Imperial Stout
Glendale, Wisconsin USA

Bottle (500ml). Via trade with Degarth. Poured opaque brown-black with a solid foamy brown lasting head (4+). Solid roast malt aroma, light molasses, sour cherry, chocoalte, herbal, almost celery-like hops, hint of tea and milk, not much alcohol - smooth and balanced. Taste is heavy with molasses, cherry syrup, herbal hops and more alcohol than the aroma - really syrupy and thick, mild carbonation, roast in the aftertaste, sweeter up front, a bit tongue-coating - pretty solid imperial, not too strong but full-bodied. Big thanks to Degarth for sending me a bunch of "Stoutie" eligible brews!

Vanilla and chocolate aromas, roasted malts, burnt coffee. Pours black. Coffee and bittersweet chocolate flavors with vanilla notes and rich roasty flavors. Very smooth and good mouthfeel.

Bottle. Had to save it for the artwork. Pours black with creamy thick tan head that disipates into the beer. Flavor is chocolate, malt, coffee, and licourish. Alcohol is well masked.

Bottle from Discount Liquors, WI. After many disappointments I don’t expect much from Sprecher but I’m always interested in trying an Imperial Stout. Pours a dark brown black with a tall fluffy tan head that collapses slowly. Aroma is lots of roasted malts toffee chocolate caramel and vanilla underneath that roast. Surprisingly layered. Roasted malt flavors with lots of coffee, molasses, caramel, some chocolate, vanilla, and currants. The thin body is really one of the only disappointing factors here. Although not as imperial as other stouts, quite tasty still.

11/15/2007: Sprecher Russian Imperial Stout looks black and opaque and has a dense and lasting brown head. Chocolate, roasted malt, and a hint of smoke are contained within the aroma. The flavor has roasted malt, chocolate, caramelized sugar, and a nice meaty smokiness. This full-bodied beer feels soft on the palate and is super smooth.

16 fl. oz. bottle (7.9% Alc. by Vol. / 17778 FL 070320954). Rating #255 for this beer.

Initial aromas of pineapple and flowers. Obsidian black, dense, shiny and oily. Gritty coffee grounds and buttery graham cracker crust arrive in the nose with time. Tastes a little sour to start. Molasses, lemon, and coffee past its prime. A domineering but courteous mouthfeel, certainly assertive but not violently so. A strange hint of hollow acidity fades into the thick body as it warms. An unassuming, quality imperial stout.

Bottle. Pours black with a small tan head that quickly disappears. The aroma is roasted malt, chocolate, dark fruits, and vanilla. The flavor is heavy on the roasted malts with light coffee, chocolate, and vinous character. The finish is a little dry. Medium-full mouthfeel with a velvety texture. I don’t know if it is necessarily an Impy, but a very good stout none the less.

Pours black with a nutty head. Aroma is very sweet and sugary (licorice), lightly roasted with a good touch of coffee. ABV at 7.9% is slightly low for a Russian Imperial Stout. A good beer none the less.