Emelisse Imperial Russian Stout - Bierbrouwerij Grand-Café Emelisse

thierrynantes

France

4.05/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Beer bottle (33 cl.) purchased from Chez Clem's, and tasted in 2013.

Appearance : dark color, with tan foamy head.
Smell : heavy malty, roasted caramel and licorice aromas.
Taste & mouthfeel : roasted malt, with coffee notes leading to a dry bitter finish.
Drinkability : a nice beer in the Russian Imperial Stout.

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2013 19:04:32 | More by thierrynantes

LestatSabastian

Alabama

3.84/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

The appearance was black with no head on the pour
smell was nice but could smell the alcohol
Taste was better than expected coffee, prune, and chocolate notes.
alcohol hidden better than I expected too.
mouthfeel was to thin for a stout for me
overall liked the beer. may buy again for a friend.

Serving type: bottle

04-12-2013 07:29:33 | More by LestatSabastian

stcules

Italy

3.81/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Almost pitch black. Dark cappuccino colore foam, quite compact.
In the smell cocoa, hazelnut, toaste and lightly burnt, Not too intense, but complex. Some vanilla notes, too.
Full and round in the mouth, complex, smooth. Cappuccino. Important beer, but not too overwhelming.
And a good hop bitterness, too.
Intense, well hidden alcohol, good bitter and toasted aftertaste.
Good.

Serving type: bottle

04-03-2013 18:48:28 | More by stcules

woemad

Washington

3.21/5  rDev -17.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3

11.16oz bottle purchased at Jim’s Homebrew in Spokane for $6.74. The label seems to indicate that it’s meant to be consumed by March, 2013. The wording is in Dutch, however, so all bets are off. Speaking of the label, it’s different to the one in the photo on BA.

Poured a viscous looking deep dark brown color that seemed almost a crude oil black. Things became a little browner looking when held up to the light, at which point some floaties could be seen drifting around the edges. Minimal, mocha colored head that quickly receded to a thin collar - not surprising given this beer’s 11% abv.

Initially, there was a big brown sugar aroma. Once things began to warm up, some chocolaty scents emerged as well. What did not seem to emerge were the more bitter elements associated with the style, nor was there any nasal inkling of the high alcohol content.

The taste starts out with the sweet elements noted above. A minor bitterness then makes itself known, but it’s nowhere near adequate for providing any real balance. The taste ends on a very mild dry note at the swallow.

While carbonation is low for the style, don’t expect a heavy, leaden mouthfeel, as things are actually rather watery in that department.

This seems like an incomplete beer, like an unfinished Imperial Stout, or a regular stout that happens to have a huge abv percentage. It's drinkable, but only just, and why would you when there are lots of better examples available?

Serving type: bottle

02-25-2013 00:46:33 | More by woemad

jmdrpi

Pennsylvania

4.05/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

330 mL bottle, label is notched as best before 12/2013.

pours jet black, with 3/4" thick khaki colored head. head is creamy, and has excellent retention, lasts to the bottom of the glass. smell is extreme roasted malt - burnt coffee, unsweetened cocoa. more of the same in the taste. big espresso flavors. acidic, a bit astringent, dry. thick, full bodied. oily, slick. low carbonation.

overall- definitely unique, probably the the "roastiest" beer I've ever had.

Serving type: bottle

01-04-2013 03:21:59 | More by jmdrpi

snaotheus

Washington

4.13/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

11.16oz bottle poured into a pint glass

Pours black with no head. Some fine carbonation is struggling slowly up through the murky depths, but it doesn't appear likely to survive. Smell is black licorice, whisky, and tar. Smokey with coffee.

Taste is initially sweet, and then burnt bitter. More of the black licorice, some more of the coffee, a slightly tart flavor.

Mouthfeel is a bit thin, pretty surprisingly so. Overall, this is a pretty nice beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-10-2012 04:55:28 | More by snaotheus

Bierman9

New Hampshire

4.33/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This was the last of three Emelisse biers I tried at Cafe Frape on 06Oct12. The 0.33l bottle cost me €5.50.

This brew was an opaque, dense, oily black color. The short, tan head was creamy and fine, with decent lacing. Nose was of inviting, roasty choco and coffee. THis one was smooth and velvety, with a medium body that wasn't quite in the chewy range.

Nice roasty coffee and dark choco and cocoa flavors appeared. Was not really bitter at all, though; more semi-sweet. Also found some rasin and date action lurking in the background. Real nice, indeed! Zum Wohl!!

4.33/5 rDev +12.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

1527

Serving type: bottle

10-22-2012 17:33:28 | More by Bierman9

brentk56

North Carolina

3.68/5  rDev -5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: A hard pour produces half an inch of beige foam that squats atop the black liquid; somewhat leggy, with dots of foam tracking the legs

Smell: Roasty and charred, with chocolate and espresso dominant

Taste: Very roasty, almost burnt, up front, with the chocolate and espresso developing in the middle; fruit tones add a subtle balance, but the burnt flavors dominate the finish

Mouthfeel: Full bodied with moderate carbonation

Overall: This has the makings of a good RIS, but it needs more fruity complexity (including better hop balance) and less char

Serving type: bottle

09-16-2012 22:50:41 | More by brentk56

rudzud

Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Picked up at Hunger Mountain Co-Op. Poured into my Duvel tulip.

A - Pours a deep, dark almost oily black with a nice quarter inch mocha head that has great retention but not much lacing.

S - Lots of dark, deep roast aromas but also a fair amount of sweet malts. not really jiving for me.

T - Taste is alright. Not getting much chocolate. Lots of slightly salty sweet malts, faint roast. Hmm...Theres no alcohol atleast, just not getting alot of good flavors here.

M - Mouthfeel is nice and creamy with the alcohol hidden wonderfully. Good and silky.

O - Overall this was a nicely executed stout. The flavors/aroma arent anything special but that mouthfeel is great.

Serving type: bottle

09-12-2012 20:13:58 | More by rudzud

drpimento

Wisconsin

4.75/5  rDev +21.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Boom boom; out go the lights! This is one serious beer. Poured at a good temperature with an medium size, tan, foamy, frothy, sudsy head with brown highlights and a little lace. Aroma is a little mild and has malt, coffee, cocoa, roasty, dark ripe fruit, molasses. Flavor's like nose, Bitter, sweet, and mild tang are very well balaanced and marry in harmony with just the right body and carbonaton. Finish is like flavor, of average length, and has a little boozy warmth. Understated greatness.

Serving type: bottle

06-03-2012 01:10:33 | More by drpimento

jdhilt

New Hampshire

3.98/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pours with a four finger khaki head that fades slowly to a thin layer, leaving a good lace. Black color, no highlights, yeast left in bottle. Medium carbonation and medium-heavy bodied. Chocolate and grapefruit nose and flavor is roasted to burnt chocolate with a grapefruit finish. Unusual tartness for a RIS. High ABV is hidden. $5.99 for a 330ml bottle from Beverage Warehouse Winooski, Vt.

Serving type: bottle

05-04-2012 22:03:12 | More by jdhilt

Flounder57

Massachusetts

3.7/5  rDev -5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

12 oz bottle was poured into a tulip glass.

Appearance: The beer poured a one finger mocha head that has reduced and left some nice lacing. Pitch black with sights of tiny bubbles at the top of the glass.

Smell: mocha, vanilla, oak, and earthiness. Other aromas are too difficult too tell.

Taste: mocha, chocolate, roasted flavors, oak, vanilla, oats, earthy tones, smokiness, and bitterness towards the end too.

Mouthfeel: very dry, smooth, medium to high carbonation, full bodied, and some bitterness too.

Overall: Not a bad RIS, but I have had better ones over the years. It was a good experience to have enjoyed this beer after a hard nights work. 11% is hidden very well too.

Serving type: bottle

04-15-2012 06:38:06 | More by Flounder57

DARIVA

Netherlands

3.65/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Very dark beer (say black) with no head.

S: Lots of licorice, chocolate and fishermands friend.

T: Licorice, macaroons and also chocolate with hazelnuts.

M: Light carbonation with a delicious bitter aftertaste.

O: Good beer and good drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

04-01-2012 17:16:43 | More by DARIVA

LiquidAmber

Washington

4.28/5  rDev +9.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Review from 6/2011 notes. Poured into a Gulden Draak tulip. Pours a very dark brown amber, appearing black in the glass with dark red highlights at the edges. Half finger light brown head dissipated, leaving light lacing. Pleasant aroma of toasted and sweet malts, a bit of fruit. Taste is toasted malt, coffee and chocolate. Hops show up quickly. Finishes with dark toasted malt and a hop kick. Starts a bit sweet, finishes dry. Interesting progression and well integrated. Nicely done.

Serving type: bottle

03-18-2012 21:44:35 | More by LiquidAmber

Phyl21ca

Quebec (Canada)

3.83/5  rDev -2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Bottle: Poured a pitch-black color stout with a medium size brown foamy head with good retention and some lacing. Aroma consists of dry roasted malt with light black chocolate notes. Taste is also a well balanced mix between some black chocolate with dry roasted malt notes. Body is about average for style with good carbonation and no apparent alcohol. Another one of this brewery beer which I find to be brewed exactly per style guideline with no flaws though lacking a little bit of soul or something to distinguish itself.

Serving type: bottle

03-04-2012 03:54:39 | More by Phyl21ca

eslemarc

Ohio

3.48/5  rDev -11%
look: 2 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

11.16 oz bottle in a snifter.

The beers pours a dark roast coffee color, no real head comes to life, just sparse little bubbles clinging to the edge of the glass. Agitating the beer brings a little life to the beer, but it quickly falls down.

The nose is very rich with dark chocolate and anise, a real creamy sweetness is present. With more agitation comes a little cool booziness and even brings hints of coffee around. But this time some of the flecks of head have started holding to the glass.

The beer feels alive up front with light carbonation but quickly smoothes out into a wonderfully creamy texture and semi-full mouthfeel. The body is between medium and full; there is now a little caramel coming through. The finish hangs a little with coffee on the palate and an interesting (hop?) bitterness. It's certainly very warming and changing with each sip. I would say this beer is worth a go if you come across it but I wouldn't be cashing in any favors to get it.

Serving type: bottle

02-21-2012 22:46:53 | More by eslemarc

Ruds

United Kingdom (England)

3.33/5  rDev -14.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a bottle to a snifter style glass

Colour is approaching black, but dark brown when held to light

Minimal head after pouring, less than half a finger and this vanished within a few minutes, leaving a tiny head around the edge of the glass

Smells slightly chocolately/toffee, and alcohol

Tastes slightly hoppy, chocolate - bitter style dark, roasted, and alcohol is predominant, too much so detracting a little from my enjoyment

Mouthfeel - OK, better than average, smooth and silky

Overall I was a little disappointed, I was expecting more from this beer!

Serving type: bottle

12-25-2011 22:39:35 | More by Ruds

lanbewardin

Belgium

3.85/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle picked up from Dranken Geers.

Looks black , little bit of dark tan head but it goes away after a while.

WOW, this smells hoppy. I have never smelled this amount of hops in an RIS, I get a lot of really citrusy hops, maybe some toasty chocolate under it, but the hops dominate, wish I could know when this was bottled. Bottle says best before 9/2013

Taste is hoppy on the front, I get some roasted coffee chocolate on the end, quite bitter, citrusy.

Mouthfeel is good, mouthcoating bitterness, lowish carbonation, just what I look for in an RIS, alcohol is warming but not overpowering.

Overall I am really enjoying this, tastes more like a Black IPA than an RIS to me. Probably going to age my other bottle to see if the hops mellow out.

Edit, I'm going to lower my rating a bit because I think its actually too hoppy , which is not what I normally look for in an RIS and makes it a bit 1 dimensional, hides the chocolates and the coffees. It is really interesting though.

Serving type: bottle

12-03-2011 17:28:35 | More by lanbewardin

chrisrose30

California

4.43/5  rDev +13.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This beer pours out of the bottle a very dark brown with no head, and is slightly fizzy. Espresso aroma, some berries, and definitely a whiff of alcohol. Very smooth with a sweet, sticky mouthfeel. A very mellow, warm IRS overall. I would definitely have another.

Serving type: bottle

11-16-2011 22:59:30 | More by chrisrose30

BranfordBound

Connecticut

3.88/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

First review in a while. Bottle into snifter, not too cold to start. Best before date is in Dutch: "tenmiste houdbaar tot einde" and is March 2013. (Thanks Google Translate!)

Pours dark, dark brown. At first it appears flat, dead flat, then from the abyss a thick, one finger head of tan bubbles rise. Leaves mild lacing.

Smells of espresso first, then a strong whiff of fruits soaked in brandy.

Wow, this stuff is pretty thick. Starts with a pronounced blend of chocolate and malt, which then transitions into a gentle dark fruit note. Finishes with a light gracing of char that lingers with some earthiness. Sometimes a quick burn of alcohol.

Thick and wet mouthfeel, very smooth.

I'm not sure how I feel about this beer. The head is a little weak, but for a Dutch Brewery this is pretty darn good.

Serving type: bottle

10-29-2011 19:10:30 | More by BranfordBound

IPA35

Netherlands

4/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours black with a coffee coloured, tan head.

Smells of dark fruits, coffee, dark choclate, citrus (zest), liquorice and dark malts.

Taste has lots of roasted malts, dark fruits giving it sweetess, bitter chocolate, liquorice prehaps, some alcohol and hops.

Mouthfeel is rather creamy and the carbonation is low.

Nice sipper but too flavourfull for me to really like it.

Serving type: bottle

10-13-2011 17:24:39 | More by IPA35

Filosoof

Netherlands

3.88/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This is my first Russian Imperial Stout. With an open mind...I will have to learn to appreciate this. Nevertheless, I think this is a good, but heavy beer.

L: almost black; no light through it; caramel brown top (one finger);
S: chocolate, vanilla, citrus, caramel, coffee;
T: though I love hops, they come through in a way I don't like. Citrus and caramel stay interesting though; cola element plus honey; the finish doesn't invite....
M: lovely, but I miss something; it is just too less inviting.
O: nice beginning.

Serving type: bottle

10-11-2011 15:24:26 | More by Filosoof

nrbw23

Ohio

3.53/5  rDev -9.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A- Pours a dark brown almost black color with a huge foamy tan head. Head has really good retention forms a layer of bubbles onto of the brew. Head leaves some great retention.

S- Picking up bitter sweet chocolate, coffee, smoke, charcoal, and oats.

T- Follows the nose well. A fairly strong bitter sweet taste. Roasted malts, coffee, oats, chocolate and charcoal. Alcohol is hidden well.

M- Fuller side of medium and low carbonation.

O- Not too bad there's just something off with the taste that is turning me off.

Serving type: bottle

09-14-2011 11:12:27 | More by nrbw23

Mar02x

Netherlands

4.47/5  rDev +14.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On the evening before my grandmothers funeral I had to drink a special brew. I was looking for a tasty stout. I drunk this one before but didn't review it yet.

A - Pitch black and a ring of foam against the glass. The foam is beige colored.

S - Oak wood, dark fruits, some sweetness in the scent.

T - Brown sugar, dark fruit, complex body, cherries, raisin, its all in there but it is not overwhelming.

M - Low carbonation, alcohol is present and some medium bitterness in the end.

O - A good stout, nice taste, a bit bitter with a sweet swirl. I think it would be nice with a good supper because there also some wine like tones present.

I am having a fresh one right now (1st of December 2011), and o boy this excellent stuff. I am raising therefore the tasting point by a half and the overall by a half. This beer tastes fresh, the hop is really fruity and present. The wine tones are gone now.

Serving type: bottle

09-11-2011 07:50:59 | More by Mar02x

Thickfreakness

New York

4.4/5  rDev +12.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

One of the first beers my girl bought for me when we first started dating almost two years ago. It's been cellaring ever since. It was probably a year old when she bought it!

A- A two finger dark tan head that hangs around for a decent amount of time. This pitch black ale is what dreams are made of! Little bits of legs hanging on, but mostly it just settles into a puddle of murky goodness. Touches of carbonation pop and break like kahki sea foam on the surface of this Hell dark Imperial Stout!

S- Dark 60% Belgian Chocolate, bitter coffee, dried raisins, figs, subtle citrusy hops. Sweet caramel, vanilla, and cocoa. This reminds me of some belgian style stouts that I've had... perhaps a little bit less yeast tho. This is really awesome and complex!

T- Chocolate, dark dried fruits, anise, and sitting around the fire wood smoke! It has a nice spicey nuttiness that follows the sweet/sour cherry, mocha burst! The sourness from the fruit hits your mouth and gets opened up from the alcohol! It's a subtle 11%, but it creeps in there. Still lively with hops and yeast! Puckering yet sweet, creamy, and smokey! Insane depth of flavor! It really opens up as it warms up!

M- Creamy and such a wonderful mouthful! Tangy fruit, sweet, bitter roastiness, and a chewy complexity! I wish it was just a touch more sticky and thick! It's not thin, but it's not full of syrup stickiness like I was hoping for. Ya know what... I was wrong... This brew envelopes the tongue like a python on a deer! The caramel/vanilla/coffee/chocolate/dark fruit all grab a different part of the tastebuds, and scream "You're My Bitch!"

O- I need to get some more of this! This is damn close to brilliant! As good of an Imperial Stout as I've ever had! This one needs to be drank almost warm to really apprieciate! Sticky, bitter, sweet, and tons of love in this one!!! Highly recommended!!!

Serving type: bottle

09-06-2011 01:58:59 | More by Thickfreakness