Stone Imperial Russian Stout

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

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.

Drank a 2002 and a 2008 at a tasting tonight. Both had a similar dark brown pour and a nice sweet aroma. Flavor from the 2002 was a lot better, thin mouthfeel, with sweet malts, smoky and sweet wine flavor. May try to get another bottle again and give it some time to age.

Has a rich, smoky, roast-coffee aroma with a nutty hint and just a touch of molasses. Pours a deep, opaque sable, just a shade this side of black with a thick, fine-bubbled tan head that sticks around. Flavor does not disappoint - thick, smoky, tones of malt and unsweet chocolate, ribbon of hop bitterness, nutty and coffee hints, with a satisfyingly bitter finish. It fairly dances on the tongue and on its way down the pipes.

Pours a deep black looking very thick, with a small thin tan head Extremely great taste of coffee malt and chocolate The alcohol level is high without being overwhelming Would drink this one again and again.

2008 Vintage Pours a very nice black color, nice carbonation, nice little fizzy/creamy tan head, with some nice sticky lacing left behind. The nose is malty, with some nice roastiness, coffee/chocolate/toffee notes. The taste is malty, sweet, slight roasty, nice notes of chocolate/coffee/toffee. Medium body, the alcohol is hidden pretty well with this one. Very drinkable, a joy to drink again, highly recommended. 2007 Vintage A - Pours a black in color, some carbonation, nice creamy tan head, lots of lacing throughout the drink. S - Scents of sweet/roasted malts, and toffee/caramel, slight smoked scent. T - The taste is awesome of sweet/roasted malts, with nice undertones of toffee/caramel. Nice warm feeling going down. M - Medium body. D - Very Drinkable. Another awesome brew from Stone, they have not dissapppointed yet. 2006 Vintage A - Pours a black in color, some carbonation, nice creamy tan head, lots of lacing throughout the drink. S - Scents of sweet/roasted malts, and toffee/caramel, slight smoked scent. T - The taste of awesome of sweet/roasted malts, with nice undertones of toffee/caramel. Nice warm feeling going down. M - Medium body. D - Very Drinkable. Another awesome brew from Stone, they have not dissapppointed yet. 2005 Vintage A - Pours a black in color, some carbonation, nice creamy tan head, lots of lacing throughout the drink. S - Scents of sweet/roasted malts, and toffee/caramel, slight smoked scent. T - The taste of awesome of sweet/roasted malts, with nice undertones of toffee/caramel. Nice warm feeling going down. M - Medium body. D - Very Drinkable. Another awesome brew from Stone, they have not dissapppointed yet.

12oz bottle. Super dark pour with a chocolate head. Nice sweet malty aroma. Very flavorful, dark fruits, chocolate, very nice.

Good rich aroma of sweet roasted malt, liquorice, some coffee. Deep dark with a thick foamy dark tan head. Well balanced right out of the gate. Very smooth with some good flavor changes. Sweet up front that evolves into a more bitter duration with some saltiness. Flavor is not overwhelming though and very little noticable alcohol. Thick dark malty backbone - like rich chocolate cake, but not too sweet. Palate is solid but not syrupy. Dry enough on the palate to balance. Enjoyable duration. An excellent and easy to drink rich imperial stout.

12 oz bottle. Poured dark brown, almost black, with a small tan head. Aroma of coffee, roasted malt, booze, fruit, chocolate. Taste is very roasty, coffee, alcohol, bitter, a and little fruity. Very nice and very agressive. Mouth is full and creamy. Finish is bitter and boozy. Overall, a very nice and agressive imperial stout.