Stone Imperial Russian Stout (Bourbon)

Brewed by Stone Brewing Co.
Style: Imperial Stout
Escondido, California USA

Serve in Snifter

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UPDATED: MAY 12, 2008 On tap at Pizza Port Strong Ale Festival. Shared with too many ratebeerians to list (see event attendies)Wow. Incredible aroma. I loved smelling this. I shared the smell with everyone who hadn’t got to it yet. My favorite of the festival (and of all time). I think I should change my rating to 5.0. Hmmmm. Some hints of oxidation in a most pleasant way. Los of chocolate in the aroma, but no unpleasant roastiness. Creamy thick microbubble awesome dark tan head. Pitch black liquid is thick. Sweet and incredible rich malty dark fruit complex flavor. I love Stone RIS. I really love aged Stone RIS, and I really, really love Barrel Aged Stone RIS. Nothing’s perfect, but this deserved a 5. Tried again on tap today at Stone. Picked up a growler as well. Awesome! Same rating.

Sampled the 2008 vintage at the "Stoned for Six Days" event in Houston, TX. Smells of sticky sweet raisin and coffee, leaving the suggestion of oils in the nostril. Tastes dark, thick and oily, though much softer and rounded in flavor than the non-bourbon aged ’08 IRS vintage. Hints of hops on the finish and a long lingering aftertaste of malt and bourbon make this a delight. Awesome.

finally getting to my notes from charleston brewvival 2010. ratings based on a number of 5oz samples, the first drank side-by-side with greg koch. pours a massively thick, jet black with a huge, creamy dark beige head leaving sticky lace. aroma is absolutely fantastic with huge notes of fine bourbon, wood, vanilla, and oak with sweet cocoa, light earthy hops, and a touch of coffee. flavor is out of this world good with massive notes bourbon, wood, dark chocolate, and burnt malts with a nice balance of dark fruits, roast coffee, herbal hops, and toffee malts. palate is smooth, thick, sticky, and well carbonated with a lingering woody, chocolatey, bourbon finish. overall, one of the most aggressive bourbon barrel aged impy’s i’ve tasted. damn near perfect.

Thanks to all my friends at Stone! 2007 IRS aged three months in Heaven Hill Bourbon Barrel. Black with quickly dissipating tan head. Aroma: chocolate, coffee, alcohol, bourbon. Thick, syrupy full body palate with a silky smoothness as swallowed. Initial taste of sweet caramel, chocolate, and vanilla transitioning to a remarkable bourbon taste with very subtle oak notes and finishing with an enjoyable bitterness and a lingering alcoholic warmth. An extraordianry beer!

(Critique chaotique du extreme beer fest 2013): Cuvee 2008! Tout ce que j’entends dans mon recorder c’est cream jeans! Cream jeans! Cream jeans!

I look forward to the release of this every year, it is as always a favorite of mine. I enjoy the thickness of the beer and the finish is delightful.

UPDATED: FEB 25, 2009 On tap at the bistro a little while back. Poured an obsidian black with a two finger brown head. Aroma of oak, bourbon, chocolate. Flavor had vanilla notes along with the aromas from above. Full bodied with soft carbonation and a creamy mouthfeel.

This poured black in color with a think brown head that faded rather quickly. The nose is filled with crème, hazelnuts, coconut, milk chocloate, vanilla and some woodiness at the end. In the mouth it was full-bodied and quite rich with a sweetness that is wonderfully balanced by just enough grip. The finish lingers on and on with flavors of chocolate dipped hazelnuts. In fact, especially in the finish, this reminds me of a wonderful mignardises to end a great meal...and this can be treated the same!

Tasted on tap at the 2007 Bistro West Coast Barrel Aged Beer Festival. This Imperial Stout pours a eclipse black color. Small sized tan head with great retention and amazing long lasting lacing. Aroma is bourbon, chocolate, brown sugar and oak. WOW. Full bodied Russian Imperial Stout. The malts are chocolate and coffee. Hints of vanilla and oak and dark fruit blend well in this beer. The hops are earthy. The bourbon flavor is pronounced but not overbearing. Extremely well balanced. Very smooth tasting. The 10% alcohol is not that noticeable. Complex yet very drinkable. As good as Stones regular Russian Imperial Stout is this one is way better. Incredible beer. Mouthfeel is full and round. Finish is clean and smooth. Aftertaste is slightly bitter.

UPDATED: NOV 11, 2007 (sampled @ bistros barrel aged fest)black body with no head.light oak in the aroma followed byall the complexity you get out of the regular stone impy.although everything is more balanced and melts together.the flavor is much of the same.again everything melts together almost perfectly.i love the regular stone impy and this is even better.