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Stone Imperial Russian Stout

Percentile
100
overall

bottled
common

on tap
common

Broad Distribution
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RatingsAverageScoreSeasonalABVStyle PctlServe in
18154.22/5.04.21/5.0Spring10.8%98.1Snifter
Commercial Description:
"There's no question that Stone Imperial Stout is revered among enthusiasts," states Stone CEO Greg Koch. "I know, because I'm one of 'em and I can hardly wait for it to come out each year!" Some may think that a late Spring release for a special brew of this sort is an odd time for it to come out onto the market. Koch justifies this with the rationalization "What better than a warm time of year to come out with a brew that tastes great as it warms up!" That's because "ice cold" is certainly not the appropriate way to serve the beer. Nearly without exception, the darker, richer and more alcoholic a brew is, the warmer the serving temperature should be. The Stone Imperial Stout label describes the brew as being "intensely aromatic (notes of anise, black currants, coffee, roastiness and alcohol) and heavy on the palate...expect this mysterious brew to pour like used motor oil and taste even heavier! Serve at 55 degrees."
 Most Recent Top Raters Highest Ratings Who's Rated This?  
 ben4321 (987), Rockville, Maryland, USA
4.2 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/104/58/104/517/20
Oct 27, 2009  
Location: 22 oz bottle from Gilly’s, 10/27/09, from the Limited Spring 2009 Release

Aroma: The nose is lots of roasted malts and coffee, it’s got some licorice, and some really nice bitter (dark) chocolate thrown in as well. Swirl it around a bit in the glass and the nose really opens up.
Appearance: This beers pours the thick, dark black color of motor oil with a thin brown head.
Flavor: The flavor is quite good as well, it is a nice mix of roasted malts and some nice hop bitterness.
Palate: The one is quite a nice full bodied brew with a rich, oily mouthfeel.
Overall Impression: I’m a bit surprised I haven’t rated one, but I guess I can’t remember the last time I had this beer, so it’s not that crazy that I haven’t given it my once over. It’s definitely not a beer that should be drank freezing cold, it opens quite a bit as it warms. In the end, this is quite a wonderful Russian Imperial Stout that I remembered liking quite a bit in the past, and that am pleased to enjoy again.


Fissell (7), Somerville, USA
does not count click to see why this rating of Stone Imperial Russian Stout does not count
4.3 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/104/58/105/517/20
Oct 26, 2009  
Love this softly over-hyped brew. Darker in the glass than a night gone missing and sweeter and more complex than the girl that put you on your way. There is a heavily caramelized malt on the tongue that forces back those bitter fruit hops that want to play game. An imperical sort of brew that longs to be enjoyed for decades to come. Buy two, taste one, and wait for the other to bulge around 2019 or therabouts.


IrsLuver (3), Maryland, USA
does not count click to see why this rating of Stone Imperial Russian Stout does not count
4.7 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/105/510/105/519/20
Oct 24, 2009  
I"m not a wordsmith but simply put this is the best stout I have ever drank.


 l1br4r14n (275), Washington, Washington DC, USA
4.2 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/104/58/104/517/20
Oct 22, 2009  
2009 bottle. Pours black with a one-finger tan head. Huge aroma of chocolate and some roasted malt and dark fruit. Flavor is heavier in the roast than the aroma, chocolate and a little burnt coffee. Flavor is a little rough around the edges with a touch of alcohol. I’d like to try this after a year or two, could be phenomenal.


BeerBrother1 (6), Harlingen, Texas, USA
does not count click to see why this rating of Stone Imperial Russian Stout does not count
4.8 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/105/510/105/519/20
Oct 18, 2009  
Absolutley beautiful out of the bottle. Pours like an oil slick and sits thick in the glass. Head forms up a nice tan color. Aroma brings chocolate and coffee to mind but with a harder punch. Better served closer to warm than cold as the flavors become more intense. A very substantial feel on the palate. Chocolate and coffee in the foreground with beautiful raosted background. All in all a fantastic beer.


 brenn79 (159), Idaho, USA
4.7 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/105/510/105/518/20
Oct 17, 2009  
22 oz. bomber- Pours black as tar with a chocolate colored tan head, little lacing, but thats probably because of the alcohol. Flavor is of licorice, definitely chocolate, and coffee. Note: I made the mistake of pouring this beer too cold, If it’s in the fridge let it sit for fifteen minutes or so, because the flavors opened up as it warmed in my glass, an outstanding stout.


 Kestral (198), Oslo, Norway
4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/104/516/20
Oct 17, 2009  
Pours dark brown with reddish brown highlights, settles black in my snifter with a finger of creamy light brown head. Aroma is butterscotch, chocolate, coffee, some sour roasted notes, alcohol, raisins, resin. Flavour is full, with the same notes the nose gave away, with prunes, liqourice and a good, warming alcohol finish. Notable hop bitterness in the end as well. Body is thick, carbonation quite lively. Could have been a bit creamier. Otherwise, this is a good RIS.


phildorsey (43), Fort Lewis, Washington, USA
4.2 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
10/105/57/104/516/20
Oct 16, 2009  
1 pint 6 oz. Bottle. pours Black with a thick long lasting frothy head; Brown in color. Bitter sweet smells of toasted resin; light hint of alcohol (10.5%). Also, chocolate whiffs are present. Flavor is profoundly bitter and the alcohol takes over during the swallow. Texture is creamy and the carbonation is lively. definitely a first class beer. really nice.



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