Stone Imperial Russian Stout

Wow, what a great looking beer. This beer had a solid and thick pour. Did not look watery at all. The head, even though I tried to get it to foam up a little did not foam up, but the head, from what I saw, was a nice and dark chocolate brown. The beer is obviously opaque; there is no chance of seeing through this black beer. Lovely range of aromas: coffee, chocolate, , wood, roast, and some sweet which I cannot describe. I have to say so far this beer is great. One comment about the aroma. It is not as pungent as I would like it be. The aroma isn’t weak, but it is not smack you in the face which is what I was hoping for. Wow, this beer has an amazing palate, it is very creamy and nice. I mean this beer is extra smooth. Not as good as my favorite imperial stout Ten FIDY, but close. Ah the beer taste great, a nice bittering hop on the back of my tongue with some great roast, chocolate, and coffee flavors just bursting on my tongue. This is a damn good imperial stout. The beer has a nice sweet finish. I would definitely drink this beer again. The beer leaves some nice lacing behind. Overall, this beer looks good, tastes good, and smells pretty good. It is a little on the expensive side for a 12 oz., but the Ten FIDY (which is my favorite imperial stout) costs 11$ for a 4 pack. I will definitely be drinking this again.

12oz bottle, 2008 release. Pours pitch black with small mocha head. Aroma and taste of roasted malts and dark fruit. Exceptionally complex with a slightly bitter aftertaste. Alcohol burn progresses nicely. So good. Update: On tap, 2009 release. More dark fruit both in the nose and on the tongue. Some bourbon, vanilla, and sweet caramel notes as well. Still love it.

black. small brown head. roasty chocolate, coffee aroma. flavor is roasty, smoky, meaty, salty, coffee, dark chocolate and hoppy while still well balanced. a bit hot on the tail end but great things are in store for this beer brewed in spring 08. full bodied. smooth palate already with a dry finish.

11/5/08 notes: popped this bomber in celebration of Obama’s victory. Pours deep brown with a medium-sized tan head. Lacing is creamy, but curiously does not “stick” to glass. Aroma is rich of coffee, chocolate malt, dark chocolate, and roasts. Classic R.I.S. Upon first sip, I notice that this brew is not as viscous as I expected. But the flavors are as rich as ever. There is, firstly the crisp notes of roasts and dark chocolate. This is followed by the introduction of a coffee-bitterness that will remain throughout the tasting experience. In the mid-palate I thought some more milky chocolates as well as hops are revealed. This imperial stout finishes on the bold note of espresso, wood, roasts and alcohol. Great, but I just didn’t get the distinctive character that I ascribe to DDC’s Peche Mortel, ST’s Oat, or GD’s Yeti.

22oz poured into a glass. Like the commercial description says, this brew is as dark as russian crude! Dark tannish colored head. Smell of deep fruit, hint of caramel malts. Very intense flavor, keeps growing on me as I take another sip. Roasted malt would definitely be the strongest flavor, good finish with a hoppy taste. I started out with this beer too cold, as it warms up the flavor improves. Very smooth on the palate, but certainly nothing you could chug. Overall a masterpiece by Stone, which will open your eyes to the possibilities of stouts.

Spring 2008 bottle, rating #350. Pitch black pour with a thin dark tan head that settles to only a messy ring around the edge of the snifter. Nose is dark molasses, dark fruits, nuttiness, light alcohol, and roasted coffee. Smooth body, not very heavy. Tastes of bitter roasted malt, coffee, and chocolate with some off putting brine, soy sauce, or astringent type flavors with a light hop bittering finish. Re-rate Spring 2009 bottle. Pours a dark black with a creamy milk chocolate head slowly settles leaving a thin sheet of lacing. The nose is nutty, full of dark fruits, prunes, roasted malt, bitter chocolate, roasted coffee, light soy. Taste is roughly the same, prunes, plums, currants, mixed berry fruitiness, anise, licorice, soy sauce, brine, then smoothing chocolate, coffee and malty roastiness. Very reminiscent of the last bottle I had and I just don’t like this beer THAT much. It is still a fine beer, but seems just a touch overrated. Original score: 8:4:8:4:16

Bottle purchased at Crown Liquors #15 in Fishers, IN. Pours as black as outer space with a finger of creamy tan head that diminishes to a thin skin of bubbles at the surface. The nose is of sweet, dark roasted malt, carob, alcohol and a touch of light ash. Medium to full-bodied, it features fine tongue-prickling carbonation but mellows to a slicker mouthfeel with time. The finish is roasty and ’warm’. Sweet, roasty and lightly bitter dark roasted malt front light hoppy bitterness and alcohol at the finish. This is an amazingly satisfying brew. I wouldn’t hesitate to snag another bottle of this one.

This beer kicks you in the balls and then comes back screaming for more. It really does pour the color of motor oil too, which is just lovely. Heavy alcohol flavor here as well as a big coffee taste. So good it’ll make you slap yo mama!