Disputin - Russian Imperial Stout - Brouwerij De Molen

CrazyDavros

Australia

3.9/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Bottled June '10, reviewed March '12.
Pours black with a large, lasting tan head.
Nose show chocolate fudge, piny hops, toffee, prunes, spicy phenols, liquorice and golden syrup. Enticing.
Syrupy sweet flavours, with more chocolate, golden syrupy and toasty malt, followed by pine and a boozy, cloying finish.
Carbonation is on the high side.
A bit too much booze and a bit too sweet.

Serving type: bottle

03-20-2012 09:50:21 | More by CrazyDavros

Gueuzedude

Arizona

3.68/5  rDev -7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Rasputin; Brewed May 15th, 2008, Bottle Number 557; sampled October 2011
This is definitely a brown beer rather than a deep black one; the beer sits in my Lost Abbey Teku glass with a concentrated brown color, but uncharacteristically, when held up to the light, shows a brilliantly clear, deep ruby red color when held up to the light. It is topped by a lightly browned, tan colored head. The aroma smells smoky and roasted up front, but in a second pass a deep fruitiness really starts to come out. The fruit reminds me of plums, or perhaps even prune juice, some definite dried fig aromatics and perhaps a hint of roasted dates. After some time a foxy, concord grape like fruitiness becomes more and more noticeable; it almost has a children’s aspirin like fake fruitiness to it. In fact that last has me noticing some sweetness boosting, clove like phenolics along with a slight medicinal note. In the end this settles down into almost more of a rich, fruit driven aroma rather than a roasted grain aroma that is typically found in an Imperial Stout.

Fairly light bodied for a modern Imperial stout, it does have a firm roasted character and a substantial bitterness in the finish that is from both bitter, roasted grain as well as from an ample hop bite; a touch of burnt grain husk flavors linger lightly on the palate in the long finish too. The bitterness really lingers on the palate after each sip. Despite being somewhat light, the beer does have some sweetness to it, this accentuates an ample fruitiness that reminds me of burnt raisins, lots of sweet plum / prune notes, and even some dried fig notes; after the beer warms up a bit, the fruitiness combines with some phenolics to produce some flavors reminiscent of children’s aspirin. There is a touch of a smoky quality to the roast character, it does have a rich toasted brown bread character that leans towards being burnt at times; though interestingly enough it doesn’t really remind me of coffee at all. The beer has just enough heft to it that this is a sipping beer, it is still dangerously quaffable for a beer of this strength though; there is a very light viscousnous to this as it rolls across the palate, but it really doesn’t have the heft of a typical strong stout. If I let this beer rest in my mouth for some time it really starts to remind me of a roasted, concentrated plum.

A very European take on an Imperial Stout; light on the roast, fairly light bodied, but with a ton of fruitiness to it. The beer does have lots of alcohol in it though, but it hides it quite well. Pretty tasty, but at times the super fruitiness and slight medicinal notes can be a bit too much; it does seem need to more roasted character and lots more of a thick maltiness to balance out these notes. The totality of my experience with this beer is definitely better than either the isolated aroma or flavor might necessarily suggest.

Serving type: bottle

02-15-2012 03:07:05 | More by Gueuzedude

harrymel

Washington

3.23/5  rDev -18.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Cease and Desist
Brewed 18JUL10
Bottled 27AUG10
OG:1099; FG 1020; ABV 10.5%
Bottle 1491/1584

The ale while in bottle was easily translucent at the neck, and most of the body. I cracked and left for a good 45 minutes, allowing to warm to appropriate temp. The beer had a worm out the neck and a small ring of beer at the base. When poured, the beer required two pours separated by a good five minutes, to allow for head to fall and allow for room. The beer is dark brown, upwards of 3.5 fingers of mocha foam falls to a solid sheet of the same. Nearly no lace.

Extra roasted malts and sweet tones on the nose. A really nice nose for a RIS, IMO. I like the stone fruits mixed with a good amount of brown sugar and caramel with some praline mixed in and a good hit of natural vanilla notes.

The flavor feels a bitter notch before the sweet notes come through, but in combination with the bitterness, there is a fine, coffee character to this beer I've not previously experienced. I like it, but I'm also a bit taken back as it is so profound, it takes from the beer aspect in here. Points off for that.

Middle of the road body with moderate hi carb and a semi dry finish. Still warm with 18 months age on it.

A decent enough beer, but not one I would seek out twice. This appears to be made in small batches and I would not be one to want to spend the cash this would likely demand in the circumstance. It was nice to try though.

Serving type: bottle

02-08-2012 11:34:14 | More by harrymel

shambeano

Australia

4.25/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Shared a 750ml corked, caged and wax sealed bottle shared with a mate, poured into a Unibroe Tulip glass. 2009 vintage, still called Rasputin,
A- Pours a cola black, looks brownish and thin to begin, but gets a bit darker with more liquid, still looks a touch thin though. About 1 cm of off brown head that quickly subsides to a whisper, not much on the lacing front. Hmm, not really what I was expecting from an imperial stout, looks to thin and looks lighter bodied.

S- straight up there is a bunch of dark dried fruit, raisins and sultanas, apricot, even a tiny touch of tart raspberry, the alcohol is definitely in there, but its more a nice embrace than a slap in the face, roastiness then comes through at the end, not over the top, but works well with the fruity.

T- straight up there is a touch of nice alcohol, followed by the fruit flavours from the nose, fruitcakey, the fruit flavours hit a peak, and then the roasty, stouty bitterness comes through. A whole lot going on here, lots of the dried fruit flavours common in higher alcohol beers, with a nice roastiness, a touch more roastiness and it would have been perfect.

M- much ligher than I was expecting, not thin, but not thick. Could do with a bit more body I reckon, carbonation is a little prickly (for an imperial stout). Has a pretty good length, and an even finish.

O- a pretty pretty nice drop. Taste and smell is superb, a fruitier stout as opposed to the super roasty, I personally enjoy both. However this was a touch too light bodied for me, stopping it from being amazing. Also, im being super critical of this one as it was very expensive in Aus.

Serving type: bottle

01-20-2012 10:19:09 | More by shambeano

Jeffo

Netherlands

2.53/5  rDev -36.3%
look: 2 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

In Europe this beer is Rasputin, just like the brewer intended. People are allowed to name their beers what they want here.

This is also a re-review. My first review was from 2009 and I scored it a 2.7. I was never a big fan of this beer, but since so many things have changed at De Molen, as well as my palate, I thought I'd give it another go.

From a bottle into a snifter
Bottled 15 June 2011
Drunk next to a Hel & Verdoemenis

APPEARANCE: A clear, light brown pour yields a two finger, medium looking, fluffy, cream colored off-white head with great retention. Bistre brown body, relatively transparent, with higher levels of carbonation evident. Head slowly fades to a good wisp and foamy cap, clinging to the sides of the glass. A splotchy wisp remains and leaves some dots of lacing down the glass. Simply too light and transparent. Looks like a stout lite.

SMELL: Milder nose of roasted malts, caramel malts, and some floral and grassy hops. A touch of smoke as well. This one is quite hop forward and is missing the roasted malt backbone that this style needs. It’s also simply too mild.

TASTE: Milder flavors up front as well, as expected. Touches of roasted and caramel malts up front with a relatively hoppy finish. Floral, grassy and pine notes at the swallow and a good dose of bitterness as well. Bold and lingering aftertaste is plenty bitter with enough pine, and some caramel and lighter smoky notes. The flavors come out after the swallow and are bolder than I’d expected, but there’s not much imperial stout here that I like. It’s missing that roasted and chocolaty foundation that is so paramount to the style.

PALATE: Medium body and medium carbonation. Semi creamy on the palate, a little light unfortunately, but goes down fine and finishes slightly dry. Decent here.

OVERALL: Yup, dislike it just as much as last time. This is not my beer. It's not that it's poorly made or anything, it's just not my thing. Underwhelming, and much too hop forward for my tastes. I really missed the big, roasted, cocoa and chocolaty flavors that are so good in this style. It is also very thin and transparent in the look. Compared to the Hel & Verdoemenis, this one was the clear and undisputed loser. Will probably pass on this one every time from now on. Bleh...

Serving type: bottle

01-17-2012 12:00:55 | More by Jeffo

Brabander

Netherlands

3.6/5  rDev -9.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

We had this beer at tasting two weeks ago at my cousin Peters place. Great beers and great fun.

This beer was poured in my Essen Christmasbeerfestivalglass (what a word for wordfeud!)

I always have a bit of a problem with the beers from my friends from de Molen. They sure know how to brew a beer but sometimes they seem to forget! This time they were right on top of it.

This was one of last beers of the tasting and my light was beginning to go out. I wrote down the word 'spicy' which is a good word to describe this beer. The alcohol was fairly hidden.

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2012 14:35:56 | More by Brabander

podunkparte

Washington

4.53/5  rDev +14.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

WARNING! This bottle is a gusher! I now have the best smelling hand towel and carpet known to mankind.

Bottle 33 of a fresh 1115 bottle batch. 12oz named Cease & Desist.

A: Dark dark brown. Not quite black but I can't get any light through it. HUGE head (gusher). Big bubbles in this light brown/tan head that really sticks around. Here's a strange thing. I'm seeing some darker specks in the head and I remember seeing floaties in the beer the only other time I've had it (Disputin) at the Seattle International Beer Fest in 2010. Nice lacing as the head slowly dissipates.

S: I have this smell imbedded in my carpet now. It's a blend of dark chocolate malt and yeast. The aroma is very nice but not overly complex. That's perfectly fine with me though. I would buy the Cease and Desist candle from Yankee Candle, even at their ridiculous $15 price tag.

T: Smooth malty chocolate. Yum! Some breadiness. No hops at all. Delicious! I don't know what else to say. Just get this beer and drink it.

M: Creamy and full. The carbonation is incredible in this beer. It's not too fine but it's also not so prickly that it distracts you from the flavors. Perfect

O: Wow, I love this beer and I'm so sad it's not distributed here. Gong to have to trade for some. Wonderful flavor, great mouthfeel. Aside from the gushing, a world class imperial stout.

Serving type: bottle

01-04-2012 10:42:45 | More by podunkparte

stakem

Pennsylvania

3.85/5  rDev -3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

2010 bottle, thanks to wishuwerebeer for the share. Pours a dark brown with a finger of tan head that quickly dissolves. Lighter brown and ruby clarity is seen when held to the light. A light swirl revives the cap back to a finger.

The smell initially is chocolate with roasted grain elements. A bit of citrus bean coffee twang is also present. Tangy fruity alcohol is also thrown into the mix along with citrus and fruity notes of hops across the back.

The flavor is roasty chocolate from the dark kilned grains, it mixes with a tangy alcohol feel. A little bit of coffee and dark fruits are also present reminding me of prune and/or raisins. Some sulfur and musty aspects are felt across the back as it warms up.

This is a medium to light feeling brew with decent arrangement of flavor and alvohol warmth. The overall arrangement is like bitter brownie batter but watered down just a bit in the feel. Worth a try for sure and certainly different from it's American made nemesis.

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2012 17:09:18 | More by stakem

doughanson78

Washington

4.38/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

11.2oz bottle poured into a Chalice.

A: Very dark black pour. Two finger tan head that is very creamy and has excellent retention and beautiful lacing.

S: Sweet chocolate with roasted coffee notes. Dark fruits are present also with cherries and figs mostly.

T: Huge dark chocolate and coffee with huge roasted malts. Edging on the burnt side but totally works. Dark fruits come big in the middle with raisins, figs, cherries, and dates. Again super roasty/charred with a touch of cherry coffee bitterness in the finish. A bit of alcohol also. Chocolate lingers forever in the aftertaste.

M: Medium to full body. Super creamy due to the very high carbonation. Almost works but not quite.

O: This is definitely an awesome RIS. Everything I've gotten that is distributed by the Shelton Bros. (that I can't get) has been excellent.

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2011 21:26:07 | More by doughanson78

ghostwalker

Massachusetts

3.78/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Found on tap at the Freakin Frog in Vegas.

A: Thin white head. Looks a bit thin for an RIS.

S: light chocolate with some bitterness.

T: Rich and smooth. Bitter dark chocolate. Dark fruits and tobacco. Builds complexity as it warms.

M: Thin with only a hint of oiliness. Slight astringency, maybe from the 11% abv.

O: Nice, but not an overly intense or unique RIS. Still glad I found it on tap.

Serving type: on-tap

12-16-2011 03:51:34 | More by ghostwalker

rhoadsrage

Illinois

4.1/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

(Served in a snifter)
Brewed 18 july 2010
bottled 27 august 2010
batch 1584

A- This beer pours a big fuzz on opening that makes the glass 3/4 creamy tan foam and a jet black body with some good about of jetsam swirling around.

S- The earthy roasted malt has some dark raisins and wet concrete aromas with maple wood and soy sauce hints coming through in the finish. There is a wet diaper (diacetyl) note that comes through but it is not offensive.

T- The mellow roasted black malt has some chocolate malt flavors that grow as the beer opens and a dark cherry ester note from the yeast. There is a char note in the finish that is a bit inky with a green fading bitterness mixed in. The roasted black malt taste lingers after each sip.

M- The full mouthfeel has a thick texture due to the long lasting head and there is no alcohol heat until it is really warm and even then it is an alcohol warmth.

O- This is a nice big stout with De Molen house yeast character shining through to add a Flanders Red note to the beer but it still lurks in the background.

Serving type: bottle

12-01-2011 22:10:28 | More by rhoadsrage

KAP1356

Pennsylvania

3.85/5  rDev -3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Review catch up. Saw this bottle at the Plymouth Meeting Whole Foods and had to grab it jusy for the label. 330 ml bottle poured into a Weyerbacher tulip glass...

A - Whoa! Normal pour resulted in a HUGE 4 finger foamy head that stuck around for quite a while. When I could finally see the body, it was a dark, thick black color. The head was a whitish tan color.

S - It just smells dark! Deep roasted notes and a nuttiness is present as well. Lots of chocolate and some dark fruits make themselves known. Some burnt sugar notes and liquorice come through as well. Not super complex, but not bad either.

T - Big roasted malt flavors mixed with burnt sugars and chocolate. Lots of dark fruits come out as well with dates, figs, and some berries as well. Some charred flavors roll around with everything nicely.

M - Medium bodied beer that is very much on the edge of being heavy bodied. Pretty bubbly carbination makes for a slightly prickly feel.

O - Not a bad beer at all. I don't know if this is one I would go back for any time soon, but it was a nice enjoyable RIS nonetheless.

Serving type: bottle

11-22-2011 16:23:19 | More by KAP1356

drpimento

Wisconsin

4.58/5  rDev +15.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Phew, what a heavy hitter! Poured with the thickest slowest pouring residual foam I’ve ever seen. The tan head was amazinly foamy, frothy, billowy, thick, sudsy that seemed almost permanent and loads of clingy lace. Color is an opaque brown black. Aroma is roast, licorice, malt, molasses, dark leather, brandy, cough syrup. Flavor’s similar with sweetness in the fore, followed by bitter and tang. Very full, lush, voluputous and excellent carbonation. Finish is like flavor and very long. Absolute world class. Would love to have one in 20 years

Serving type: bottle

11-09-2011 16:13:22 | More by drpimento

oline73

Maryland

4.18/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

I had this on-tap at Max's. Poured into a sample glass.

Appearance: Pours almost black with a little bit of fluffy off white head and some mild lacing.

Smell: Roast and dark chocolate/cocoa with a bit of dark fruit in the background.

Taste: The flavor of this one is remarkably smooth. The roasted malt and chocolate flavors mix together perfectly along with a sweetness that isn't overpowering. There are some mild dark fruit notes with a roasty finish.

Mouthfeel: The body is on the thick side of medium with tingly carbonation and a slick finish.

Overall: I thought this beer was very good, better than I expected. The alcohol was hardly noticeable at all. I'm glad I went with the sampler, because this one would have been way too easy to drink more.

Serving type: on-tap

11-04-2011 20:57:23 | More by oline73

kingcrowing

Vermont

4.03/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

On tap poured into a tulip.

Pours a bit higher black color with a thin dark brown head with lots of lacing. Nose is sweet, Belgian yeast, and dark toffee notes.

Taste is sharp, a bit acidic, a big Belgian flavor for an imperial Stout, very chewy and full with an almost nitro Mouthfeel, very good. There's a nice Raisin taste as well, chocolate comes out as it warms.

Serving type: on-tap

11-02-2011 21:27:17 | More by kingcrowing

SFLpunk

Vermont

3.78/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

On draft at The Farmhouse Tap & Grill.

Pours super frothy, a thin brownish black with huge creamy tan head. Nose smells fairly light and creamy for the style. Not impressed with the nose.

The palate is rich and much fuller bodied upfront than I thought it would be. Sticky sweet and aggressively bitter with an herbal character. Tanned leather and beef steaks come to mind. Toffee, too.

Notes: As per usual with De Molen the body is kind of an odd-ball experience. Looks light, feels heavy and sticky.

Serving type: bottle

11-02-2011 18:14:23 | More by SFLpunk

Rickythejeweler

Maryland

3.93/5  rDev -1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at Max's Taphouse

A - Black, half finger khaki head, light lacing.

S - Brown sugar, belgian candi sugar.

T - Chocolate, belgian candi sugar, raisons.

M - Heavy, smooth, medium carbonation.

O - I would order this again, alot of sugar, but it is very drinkable!

Serving type: on-tap

11-01-2011 20:30:06 | More by Rickythejeweler

scottfrie

California

3.45/5  rDev -13.1%
look: 2 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

750ml bottled 17 March 2009. Bottle #564. Reviewed from notes (I thought I entered a long time ago).

A: The cork came out with barley a pop and the beer pours a flat deep brown with maybe 3 or 4 bubbles of ‘head’ that left a few dots of lacing down the glass. Highly unimpressive.
S: Rich notes of raisin, black licorice and caramel with hints of chocolate, red grapes and a touch of alcohol vapor.
T: Follows the nose with big notes of raisins, cocoa nibs and coffee. I get hints of dates, sweet prunes, and an almost berry-like sweetness. The aftertaste is full of chocolate and coffee.
M: Despite being damn near completely flat, I’ve had beer that feels worse. The body goes down thin, but there is actually a bit of chewiness to the mouthfeel.
O: If this had some carbonation to it I would put this is the A to A+ range. I loved the flavors.

Serving type: bottle

10-15-2011 15:12:40 | More by scottfrie

FreshHawk

Illinois

3.68/5  rDev -7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A - Dark black and thick looking. Small, frothy, creamy, tan head. Disappears pretty fast leaving a faint ring of lace on the edge of the glass.

S - Plenty of chocolate with cocoa being very strong. Also some molasses. Some dark fruit (figs) along with anise/licorice. Only touches of coffee. A bitter roasted/charred malt aroma is in the back.

T - Sweeter than the nose suggested. Chocolate syrup, molasses, and sweet dark fruit are all fairly strong. Pretty sweet to start. Touches of sweetish mocha. Finish has a more bitter roasted/charred taste along with a bit of a grassy hop flavor.

M - Full body with low carbonation. Thick and chewy.

D - Definitely a sipper. Nice thick body helped. The extreme shift between sweet and bitter hurts how drinkable this is.

Notes: Interesting stout. Thick and chewy. Huge shift from sweet to bitter. Some BSDA flavors in there. Overall, it's decent but probably not worth what a bottle will cost (on-tap is worth a shot though).

Serving type: on-tap

10-12-2011 07:59:43 | More by FreshHawk

bdkucharski

Michigan

2.15/5  rDev -45.8%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

Purchased a bottle (marked as 'cease & desist') on recommendation by store staff.

I wish I had read many of these other reviews first, as I would have gotten some warning about the potential for a gusher.

A - Black/Brown. Very foamy, it was all I could do to get this into a glass without it ending up all over the counter. So, thumbs up on the head retention.

S - Sweet and funky, not sure what kind of yeast they are using but it probably has something to do with the funk.

T - Sweet with a bit of roast then full-on funk and metallic. This beer has potential, but not being a fan Belgians and wilds, this comes across to me as infection vs. an intended effect.

M - Not too thick, not too thin, though it was difficult to get a good feel with the crazy carbonation until I let it warm to room temp.

O - I would not recommend this beer unless you are of the VERY adventurous type, especially considering the steep price tag ($10). I could definitely taste that this beer had potential at some point in the process, but I find the statement that this beer will be good for up to 25 years is laughable from my perspective. Thumbs down!

Serving type: bottle

10-10-2011 02:15:51 | More by bdkucharski

FosterJM

California

3.9/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

844th Review on BA
Bottle to Snifter
330ML

2011 Bottle
Bottled 4/14/11
Bottle 500/1115

Purchased from El Cerrito Liquor, Corona, CA

Served at cellar temp

App- As this erupted into my snifter and filled the damn thing up with foam at first and the bottle oozed foam this feel to a 2 finger very pulled apart bubbly head with a black/brown/purple liquid with some great cling and lace to it.

Smell- A little bit of the bitter hops, some deeper malts and some heavy cream with a grainy sugar note. On the trailing end a bit of whispy booze.

Taste- A hoppy smooth stout with a bit of a granular taste. Retains a large malt presence with a bitter smooth dark chocolate/cacao flavor. A strong booze taste than on nose. Not overly hoppy by any means but you certainly know the flavor profile.

Mouth- Medium bodied and medium carbonation. A bit bubbly and tingly after taste with a little roast and some dark chocolate.

Drink- It was pretty good minus the explosion of foam. I feel this deserves 6mo- 1 year of rest before consumption to settle and let flavors mature. I'll have to grab another bottle.

Serving type: bottle

10-05-2011 18:28:18 | More by FosterJM

TMoney2591

Illinois

3.45/5  rDev -13.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Served in a snifter at The Firkin.

I've been staring at the bottle for some time...luckily a draft option showed up, helping ease my decision-making process. It pours a deep obsidian topped by a finger of tan foam. The nose comprises darkly roasted malts, dark chocolate, molasses, and clove. The taste holds notes of bitter coffee, roasted malts, sickly sweet dark chocolate syrup, blackstrap molasses, maple syrup, fig, and burnt grass. The sweetness is overwhelming at times and is then followed up by a strange bitterness from the coffee and grass. Things just don't meld well on my tongue. The body is fairly hefty, with a light moderate carbonation and a nearly chewy feel. Overall, this could have been a pretty damn fine stout, but the flavors just don't work. Rather have a Rasputin...tee hee...

Serving type: on-tap

10-03-2011 03:06:45 | More by TMoney2591

Beerenauslese

California

4.1/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Enjoyed at the Alvinne Craft Beer Festival in Belgium, March 2011. Reviewed from notes.

Body is a very dark opaque brown. Poured with a slight head, that quickly forms a ring and no lacing.

Smells delightfully of sweet dark malts, dark chocolate, prunes, raisins, and vanilla.

Taste follows the nose, with charred malt, coffee, chocolate, raisins. I noted a hint of peat, maybe aged in some single-malt barrels?

Body is thick and carbonation is low, giving this a flat but tongue-coating viscous mouthfeel. There is a little alcohol burn on the tongue, or a combination of the alcohol and char.

This is a pretty good and different RIS. It has a strong char taste which I thought was a bit too strong. The alcohol is substantial, so it is a sipper.

Serving type: on-tap

09-24-2011 17:38:23 | More by Beerenauslese

ThreeWiseMen

California

4.2/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This bottle bears the name Cease & Desist, and was bottled on April 14, 2011.

Poured into a 7oz. snifter.

Appearance: Foam slowly came oozing out the top of the bottle about thirty seconds after opening - came as quite a surprise to me, and made a bit of a mess on the table. An extremely delicate pour still netted at least an inch and a half of loose, long-lasting, brown foam. Light bubble bath-like lacing dots the walls of the glass. The body is surprisingly transparent; looking black at first, but turning earthy brown when held to light.

Smell: Raspberries, blackberries, and cacao nibs come to mind right away, with black pepper - something spicy/prickly, anyway - emerging shortly afterward. Fruity and spicy, especially for a Russian imperial stout.

Taste: Roasted malt comes through much larger in the taste than it did in the smell, possibly weighing in as the strongest component here. Blackberries, raspberries, black pepper, and char also play large roles. Fantastic balance among the flavor components. Very interesting and flavorful!

Mouthfeel: Highly carbonated, prickly, roasty, and light in body for the style. Very flavorful with a mild, yet long-lasting, aftertaste.

Overall: While I wasn't thrilled at the onset, this beer really impressed me with its flavor profile. A delicious Belgian interpretation of the style.

Serving type: bottle

09-23-2011 06:18:27 | More by ThreeWiseMen

Mar02x

Netherlands

4.5/5  rDev +13.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

My bottle is titled Rasputin, and was bottled on ?, bottle ?, the bottle mentions a alcohol percentage of 10,4% instate of the 11% mentioned by BA.

A - A pitch-black red colored beer (is this possible?) Good head, but it fades pretty quickly leaving a decent lacing.

S - Love the aromas coming off this beer, smells like a kind of black candy, liquorice and a bit of burnt sugar. I could swear that there is some champagne yeast used.

T - The taste is absolutely different than the smell would give away. Excellent brew! I am already sure that I will buy this beer again and again, a heavenly stout thats already for sure. Is there any alcohol in this beer? Very good alcohol hiding for a beer with more than 10% ABV. A complex beer with an superb taste. The after taste is what it should be. Sorry to say, but to my humble opinion its better than what the Struise brews (only concerning to the after taste that is). This is about as wild a stout as I've had. Not sour exactly but more sweet brown sugar, caramel, hoppy, some cherries and cocoa powder. A real funky brew, very unique!

M - Mouth-feel is solid over all. It was also a little syrupy but I can't complain.

O - Overall I liked it quite a bit. But I think that was already obvious. Pretty funky for a stout and definitely very unique. Is this beer made in Holland? A reason the more to be proud on my country.

Serving type: bottle

09-21-2011 17:18:04 | More by Mar02x