Stone Imperial Russian Stout

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

Bottled. Vintage 2003. Almost black with a reddish shine. Liquorice and coffee in the aroma with fruity notes. Sweet and roasty flavour with dark fruits, coffee and liquorice. Full bodied. Very nice.

Bottle, 22oz, thx to thewolf. Pours a black, oily body with a medium-sized tan head. Burnt, roasted aroma with chocolate, coffee and maltyness. Not much room for fruity hoppy aromas. Chocolate, coffee, alcohol, roasted and burnt malt and quite sweet. Full, oily mouthfeel with a long, sweet and roasted finish. There’s a nice hoppy and fruity touch to the beer as well, but it’s left in the background. Lovely. Rating: 8-5-8-4-17-4.2 (080301)

Bottle, 22oz. Pours a really black body, maybe slightly hazy, that’s hard to say, but it looks so, and a minimal tan head. Soy sauce, salt, roasted and burnt malt and mocha in the aroma. Nice, but not world class so far, but when in the mouth, it shows its class. The soy, salt, roasted and burnt malt, and mocha is here as well, but it is much more evident and potent. Rather unusual I think, but sure lovely. Full body and a long, roasted finish with coffee-like bitterness. A big thank to the_epeeist for providing this black beauty. (071228)

The gaping gaze of a fierce dark chocolate bull mastiff paralyzed my tastebuds...With clenched oak teeth, colossal oily limbs and long blackberry molasses drool runs, it approached me with quizzical rage in its eyes and lunged forward to assail me...Grapes tumbled and roasted coffee beans rumbled until logic gambled and a hopstruck moan escaped my sweating visage...The beast had finally recognized its friend and proceeded to moisten my startled cheeks and forehead with humid anise and silky balsamic vinegar...A beautiful moment laced with sighs of relief...

I usually like Stone’s offerings and this one’s no exception. Pours black with a tanish head. Notes of currants, allspice and cookie dough initially dominate followed by some mellowing coffee and licorice notes. Peppery finish. Rich and complex mouthfeel. The alcohol’s pretty well disguised on this one so it has a tendancy to creep up on you without warning.

I can’t help but think that this style is overrated since I hardly ever find anything bad to say, but I’m about to do it again... 2004 release. Black as midnight with a thick dark dark brown head. Aroma of dark fruit, figs, dates, coffee, malted milk, cherry and a big blast of roasted grain. As the temperature rises, a hint of beech smoke become obvious as well. Flavour is very good, sweet dark fruits up front, especially dates and black cherries. Lots of coffee and heavy roastiness in the finish. There is a touch of saltiness here as well. Body is thick and creamy. Long warming finish. A great brew, despite my reservations on the style.

2003 - Black. Dark brown head. Musty, smoky aroma filled with firewood, charcoal and licorice. Extremely thick and rich, sickly syrupy, with a very good alcohol cover. Flavors jumping out throughout the drink include maple, smoke, and espresso. Too thick, and actually too mellow, feels like triple bock or something similar. Missing the characteristic sharp bite of imperials. Good cover, but these things aren’t supposed to be covered so well.

2004 - holy hell this improved... the new batch is a rich smoky demonic motor oil... doesn’t have that lactic sweet chemical flavor anymore.

2006, fresh:
Milky, creamy charred wood scents in this one, though it seems the nose is more soft that previous years, but it’s hard to tell when every beer is impacted by set and setting. Flavor is very sweet, with even a plastic cayenne flavor in there, only sugary and very sweet... some maple as well. A little different than what I’ve had from previous years, and I’ve had a lot of the 02-05 bottles.

Vintage 2005: Pouring thick and oily with a brown tan film for a cap (which quickly vanishes), this is a delight to the nose. Dark sweet malts, chocolate, coffee, dark berries, anise, bitter almonds, alcohol... oh, yes, alcohol. Very thick mouthfeel, soothing to the tongue despite a light, peppery alcohol burn. The flavor is an even richer blending of what is experienced in the aroma, with the alcohol amazingly fading into the background. A BIG drink, and a satisfying one. Mayhaps Stone’s best.

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Definately black. Small creamy tan head. Light aromas of chocolate, coffee and rich dark roasted grains, nothing over the top, just rich ans satisfying. Smooth near oily feel from the start. Start with thick caramel coated blackberries, then the tar kicks in. roasted malt, espresso, dark chocolate. Sweetness comes back and coats the tongue almost cloying. Rich and filling. This one does really need to be a bit warmer to fully enjoy and with 22 ounces the last 12 are near perfect. Kudos to CaptainCougar!