RateBeer
Score
10099
OVERALLStyle
Serve in Snifter

bottled
common

on tap
common

Broad Distribution

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RATINGS: 2579   WEIGHTED AVG: 4.2   SEASONAL: Spring   EST. CALORIES: 315   ABV: 10.5%
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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."


MBrausen's rating

4.6
   AROMA 9/10   APPEARANCE 4/5   TASTE 9/10   PALATE 5/5   OVERALL 19/20
MBrausen (69) - Minnesota, USA - FEB 1, 2012
Reviewed from notes. A. Pours a pitch black color, thick 1 finger head, mocha head, long lasting with lots of good lacing. S. Smells of lots of chocolate, oates and malt T. Tastes of strong chocolate, light lactose, and malty rich grains. M Thick bodied, very chewy and long lasting bold mouth flavor. O. A great beer time and time again. I have a few bottles of this same vintage aging in the cellar. I can’t wait to open them in a year or two.


most recent ratings

4.5
   AROMA 7/10   APPEARANCE 5/5   TASTE 10/10   PALATE 5/5   OVERALL 18/20
Wordsworth (82) - Austin, Texas, USA - MAY 19, 2013
Bomber poured into snifter. Pours almost totally black with a dark tan head that dissipates into a thin rim along the top. Soapy lacing slides down the glass. Aroma is roasted malt, light coffee, and notable booze. Flavor is extremely well balanced: lots of roasty notes, char, and a long boozy finish with a warming sensation. No gimmicks here, just a delicious Russian imp stout that stands among the best I've tried. Putting one in the cellar ASAP

4.2
   AROMA 10/10   APPEARANCE 5/5   TASTE 8/10   PALATE 4/5   OVERALL 15/20
dctriman (37) - USA - MAY 19, 2013
Very glad to live somewhere this is available every Spring. Loved the Espresso version too. Solid beer.

4.3
   AROMA 8/10   APPEARANCE 5/5   TASTE 8/10   PALATE 4/5   OVERALL 18/20
dpatchen (12) - - MAY 17, 2013
I had underestimated this IRS from Stone. Wow, it’s excellent. Great aroma, strong flavors, good viscosity. A winner that I’ll happily buy again. This is for the "2013 Classic Release".

4.5
   AROMA 8/10   APPEARANCE 5/5   TASTE 9/10   PALATE 5/5   OVERALL 18/20
Doofgoblin (128) - Fort Collins, Colorado, USA - MAY 17, 2013
What a treat! Pours black as lava rock with a tan/brown head. Aroma is toasted, roasted, malts, and faint nutty notes. Taste is toasty, malts, nutty, faint raisin, and faint vanilla. The finish is complex with elements of smoothness (slightly herbal), creaminess, fruitiness (raisin mostly) and bitterness that intertwine into a delicious result. It almost has a deception of being faintly smokey... really nice. Really exceptional!

4.5
   AROMA 8/10   APPEARANCE 5/5   TASTE 9/10   PALATE 5/5   OVERALL 18/20
Jerm719 (17) - Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA - MAY 17, 2013
Solid! Jet back. Dark cacao, decent hops, coffee, hint of smoke. Great IRS!

2.3
   AROMA 3/10   APPEARANCE 5/5   TASTE 4/10   PALATE 2/5   OVERALL 9/20
gonzosauce (133) - Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA - MAY 16, 2013
Black as night, solid, tightly-bubbled, deep brown head. Much less robust of an aroma than I’d like; enough booze and malt to border on medicinal. The flavor is understated, and there is some bothersome medicinal presence that maintains into the palate... a palate that is WEAK for an impy stout. Overall, not enough for me to want to cheer for, and a few detrimental qualities that knock it down a notch. Maybe an off bottle; will revisit.

3.8
   AROMA 7/10   APPEARANCE 4/5   TASTE 8/10   PALATE 4/5   OVERALL 15/20
DiarmaidBHK (2272) - Pennsylvania, USA - MAY 15, 2013
Bottle from Bruisin Ales. Pours black with a quarter inch of khaki foam. Slight roasted notes on the nose. Big dark,bitter chocolate on the tongue. Finishes clean. There’s a slight alcohol burn on the finish. Solid for style.

4.2
   AROMA 7/10   APPEARANCE 4/5   TASTE 9/10   PALATE 4/5   OVERALL 18/20
tourette (200) - Seattle, Washington, USA - MAY 15, 2013
On tap at Chuck's. Great beer as always. Funny how I normally hold it up as a top example of an Imperial Stout but compared with Parabola and Nitro Old Rasputin, it lags behind in all categories. Still great stuff. ---Rated via Beer Buddy for iPhone

4.1
   AROMA 7/10   APPEARANCE 5/5   TASTE 8/10   PALATE 4/5   OVERALL 17/20
djroehler (151) - Minnesota, USA - MAY 14, 2013
On tap, pour at bricks. Silky black with cocoa head. Aroma is big rich malt, chocolate, burnt fig, some char. Taste is burnt malt, roasted oatmeal, vanilla, toffee. Super creamy body, perfect carbonation.

4.1
   AROMA 7/10   APPEARANCE 4/5   TASTE 9/10   PALATE 5/5   OVERALL 16/20
Fukito (682) - Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA - MAY 14, 2013
Opaque black color with a small beige rim. Chocolate, liquorice aroma. Bitter chocolate taste, very rich and flavorful, almost no alcoholic burn. Full palate, but not overly cloying, very enjoyable and flavorful.


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