Stone Imperial Russian Stout

I have to say this beer failed to meet my expectations (which granted were quite high) Pours dark as night, some licorice notes and coffee an hops in both the aroma and the flavour. A very good beer but was expecting something more expeditionesque. Have a couple more bottles so will re-rate then.

355 ml bottle thanks to deft! On January 16, 2009. Black color, brown head. Malty, sirup, grainy, dried fruits, aclohol scent. Roasted, sirup, malty, alcohol, fruity taste. Smooth mouthfeel, medium bitterness.

#400. 12oz bottle. Huge thanks to lagunitasfan for this awesome brew that I have been waiting to try forever. Pours black and oily with very thin tan head. Aroma is heavy on roasted malt with molassas, coffee, chocolate and some dark fruits. Flavor is dominated by roast malt and coffee with some chocolate, molassas, dark fruit and some light booze. Mouthfeel is good for the style. Very balanced which is what you expect from a Stone brew. Very good RIS.

This beer pours dark black and is completely opaque. What head there is disappears quickly. Aroma is mostly chocolaty. As you take a sip you are introduced to some mild carbonation and a multitude of flavors including dark chocolate, licorice, roasted coffee beans, and some caramel. The body is full and creamy. Later, an immense sharpness kicks in with smokey, hop laden bitterness. This swooping bitter component is a wonderful counterpoint to the sweet and flavorful opening act. After the bitter climax, the falling action leaves remnants of chocolate and stinging bitterness. This is truly a phenomenal creation. Like music you can not just play in the background while doing something else, this beer demands your attention and it is worth every minute.

Bottle bought at the brewery. Oily black pour, slow-to-rise firm brown head. Burnt malt aroma, very roasty, pruney, molasses. Heavy dense mouthfeel of bitter coffee and roast with nuances of anise and dark fruits. Very bitter, very hoppy finish. Very big, very enjoyable, but not overly complex.

Bottle. Black, thin head. Aroma of coffee, soy and chocolate. Taste of creamy coffee, licorice, roasted malts and dark fruits. Very rich bitter finish with a pleasant alcohol warmth.

Bottle, Beer Ritz, Leeds. Was keenly anticipating cracking this highly rated chap open. Poured a jet black colour, texas tea stylee, with a light brown head that hung about some. Sweet plum and molasses aroma. Soft yet full mouthfeel. Flavour started off quite sweet, but caalmed down a bit as the main body revealed coffee, dark chocolate, raisin, lots of malt and licorice. Lightly hoppy with a touch of bitterness in the finish. Alcohol expertly masked. A top notch effort.

Bottle from Utobeer. So this has to live up to a lot of hype, plus a lot of other impy stouts I’ve had. Drunk on New Year’s Eve 2008. Completely black on the glass, thin tan head. Subtle aroma of intense espresso coffee and bitter dark choc. Opens up as you swill the beer in the glass. A little bit of liquorice too. On the first sip, the first thing I notice is the mouthfeel. Super smooth. It is amazingly subtle for such a big beer. I kind of expected it to be big and hoppy and excessive and obvious and it isn’t. It is surprisingly restrained, elegant and sophisticated. Like a tuxedo amongst a load of business suits, just that bit classier. You almost expect it to have a butler. Amazingly drinkable. Yep, 3 sips in and it’s already won over my usual suspicion of the top 50 beers. Tad of heat. Tad of blackcurrant fruits, but mostly utterly smooth coffee and dark choc. No grainyness. Never slips into soy sauce or oilyness. As I say, rather a sophisticated beer, and I’m glad it lives up to it’s reputation. Very pleasant. Finish builds over the bottle to provide a slightly tannic coffee/choc finihs, with a touch of sourness/leather which is quite pleasant.