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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
18194.22/5.04.21/5.0Spring10.8%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?  
 GMCC2181 (856), Bear/Elkton, Delaware, USA
3.9 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/58/104/516/20
Oct 19, 2008  
Bottle. Black. Not much head. Aroma of malts. Taste is dark chocolate, coffee, lots of burnt roasted malts. Good texture, which makes it easy to drink. No trace of the 10 percent. A little to much carbonation but still a good beer.


 jmm635 (256), Havertown, Pennsylvania, USA
4.1 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/104/517/20
Oct 17, 2008    Updated: Oct 17, 2009
Pours completely black with a quickly dissipating tan head. Aromas of roasted malts, coffee, and alcohol. Flavor is strong on the coffee and alcohol with hints of chocolate. I thought the alcohol was very apparent, making the second half of the beer a little hard to drink. If the alcohol was better hidden this beer would be perfect. Second tasting on tap.... much more balanced than I remember. Flavors are really gellin’ together beautifully. Slightly chilled compared to room temp and it’s going down very smoothly.


 dpjuart (670), Indiana, Pennsylvania, USA
3.8 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/103/58/103/517/20
Oct 17, 2008  
9/17/08 - ’05 vintage courtesy of santoslhalper, shared with Exec Board. Pours black with quickly dissipating chocolate head. Nose is mild chocolate, roast, and some raisin/plum. Taste is chocolate, mild roast and caramel with raisin, fig and dates. Mouth feel is a touch lacking, but still there. Good dose of bitter with no astringency. Solid. Still some alcohol heat in the after, surprisingly. Tasty, tasty brew. I need to try it new, though.


 Naka (525), Indiana, Pennsylvania, USA
4.1 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/104/517/20
Oct 16, 2008  
Courtesy of santoslhalper. ’05 vintage. Pours extremely dark black with a small dark khaki head. Aroma is a dark bitter chocolate coffee with some dark fruit. Strong black coffee flavor as well balanced out with a nice toffee sweetness. Bitter with some alcohol soaked prunes and currants. Has a thick creamy body... absolutely excellent consistency. It definitely gets better as it warms. Leaves a nice bitter flavor on the tongue.


 dunkpigen (328), Kolding, Denmark
3.5 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
6/103/57/104/515/20
Oct 12, 2008  
Pours pitch black with a brownish head. Aroma is sweet with coffee and chocolate. Flavour of chocolate and coffee with some malty sweetness to it.


 KnutAlbert (3124), Oslo, Norway
3.8 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/105/57/104/515/20
Oct 8, 2008  
On tap at the Ginger Man, NYC. Black, coca-cola tinge. Rather soft and smooth. Cocoa, alcohol warming. Some spiciness in the finish. Pleasnt beer for sipping, deceivingly easy to drink..


 apshah99 (138), Portland, Oregon, USA
4.3 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/105/59/105/517/20
Oct 6, 2008  
Pitch black pour with tan head. Aroma of roasted malt and coffee. Delicious taste with initial sweetness, with roasted malt, bitter chocolate, anise, and some floral bitter hops on the finish. Wonderfully thick lon the palate. Great beer.


 Svesse (2613), Hässelby, Sweden
4.3 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/59/105/517/20
Oct 3, 2008  
(Bottle, Stockholm Beer Festival, 20 Sep 2008) Pitch black colour with brief, brown head. Roasted, malty nose with notes of black coffee, dark chocolate and hints of citrussy hops. Roasted, malty taste with strong black coffee, liquorice, cocoa and hints of tar. Citrussy hops in a fairly bitter finish. Balanced sweetness. Brilliantly balanced with alcohol well hidden. Absolutely stunning beer! Beautiful!



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