White Label Imperial Russian Stout - Ardbeg Barrel Aged
Brouwerij Emelisse

White Label Imperial Russian Stout - Ardbeg Barrel AgedWhite Label Imperial Russian Stout - Ardbeg Barrel Aged
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From:
Brouwerij Emelisse
 
Netherlands
Style:
Russian Imperial Stout
ABV:
11%
Score:
82
Avg:
3.56 | pDev: 23.88%
Reviews:
13
Ratings:
35
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Jan 12, 2021
Added:
Mar 26, 2012
Wants:
  8
Gots:
  4
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
 
Rated: 4.54 by DvdP from Netherlands

Jan 12, 2021
 
Rated: 4 by Hayley_86 from Netherlands

Oct 19, 2016
 
Rated: 4.31 by dougbreathe from France

Jan 03, 2016
 
Rated: 3.4 by k3ve from Switzerland

Jul 27, 2015
Photo of Mercarood
Rated by Mercarood from Netherlands

4.33/5  rDev +21.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
A fantastic Russian stout with a real Ardbeg feel. Recommed
May 18, 2015
 
Rated: 2.83 by LakerLeith from California

Feb 25, 2015
 
Rated: 4.25 by olradetbalder from Sweden

Dec 05, 2014
Photo of dcmchew
Reviewed by dcmchew from Romania

3.9/5  rDev +9.6%
Pours pitch black, at first seems without any head, but in a few seconds half a finger of a nice mocha head bubbles up, quickly turning into a thin layer on the surface and a small bubbly lace afterwards.
Peat pummels the nose, along with a warm Scotch whiskey vapor. Vanilla and chocolate underneath, smoked malts, faint dried dark fruit character, but the peat dominates entirely.
Taste brings some balance. At first peat dominates the palate, making you strain looking for some other flavors, but they pop up in the next sip, gaining ground bit by bit. A juicy dark fruit zing along with the rich whiskey from the start, like alcohol-drenched raisins. A bit of creamy chocolate, with some faint licorice and nicely paired with some woody vanilla. Smoked roasted malts are the second most obvious here, with salty dark bread that's been kept a bit too much in the oven. A black coffee splash shares the finish with dry wood chips, warm booze and a big peaty band-aid note.
Oily, rather light body, low carbonation. Aftertaste filled with peat, smoke, lingering burnt malt, coffee dregs and scotch alcohol. This last one tends to pile up, along with the peat, a bit too much even for my taste (and i love peaty beers), each new sip feeling more and more like a small whiskey shot.
Never had Ardbeg, but it seems it imprinted A LOT on this imperial stout, covering up lots of the other tasty stuff. I enjoyed it, tho it seemed a bit too rough at times. And i still have a bit less than half a bottle to go through. God help me.
Nov 11, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by leitmotif from Romania

Jun 22, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by Ciocanelu from Romania

Jun 22, 2014
 
Rated: 3.25 by ygtbsm94 from Utah

Mar 16, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by ACarp from New York

Mar 13, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by Beer-Ed from Netherlands

Feb 08, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by Ed37 from Netherlands

Feb 03, 2014
Photo of biegaman
Reviewed by biegaman from Canada (ON)

3.91/5  rDev +9.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
On-tap at Proeflokaal Arendsnest, in Amsterdam.

Of all the barrel-aged beers I've tried, Emelisse Imperial Russian Stout (Ardbeg) is the first and only thus far to have sea water in its aroma. The auras of the scotch and the wood, sure those are transposed easily enough, but briny ocean spray? Impressive. Naturally, smoky and peaty notes abound as well. If you've had anything from Islay you're already familiar with this bouquet.

This jet-black beer has a prevalent 90% cocoa flavour that tastes as dark as the appearance. Though bitter chocolate dominates, coffee is noted too. There is also a markedly sweet hazelnut character just beneath the surface that serves to soften the intimidating scotch flavour. Make no mistake, however, the barrel bent this beer over and had its way with it.

The reviews from draught (like this one is) are significantly higher than those from bottle. My belief is that the keg makes for a better mouthfeel by providing adequate carbonation; my sample was fairly thin but just dense enough to keep the rich, malty flavours from drowning in a pool of medicinal, iodine-infused alcohol. I imagine this could become solvent-y and cloying; even fans of smoky, peaty scotch wouldn't enjoy it macerated in a malty syrup.

It's easy to understand both the terribly low and tremendously high reviews for this beer, and the obvious reason for the discrepancy between them. It won't be everyone's cup of tea; ultra peaty, smoky scotch is an acquired taste and is absolutely required to enjoy this beer (which is aged in the barrels of one of the most notoriously peaty, smoky scotches around).

I don't think you need me to tell you whether the Ardbeg Emelisse is something you'd enjoy. But for whatever it's worth, I love and prefer Islay scotches (as well as Russian Imperial Stouts) but wasn't enthralled with this offering. I found the intensity of the alcohol to be a bit problematic and the scotch and stout flavours to not fully meld. Still, it was (slowly) enjoyed.
Aug 01, 2013
 
Rated: 3 by Knapp85 from Pennsylvania

Jul 11, 2013
 
Rated: 3.5 by Gonzoillini from Illinois

Jun 29, 2013
Photo of rudzud
Reviewed by rudzud from Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 2 | overall: 3.5
Recently stumbled across my notes from The Festival 2012. Lets do this!

A - Poured a nice thick oily black with a very thin tan head that fades rather quickly to leave super fine wisps. Definitely looks like a high ABV stout.

S - Lots of strong peat aromas, smoke, dark chocolate. Definitely Ardbeg.

T - Taste is delicious, good peat, smokey malts, dark chocolate. The peat is balanced nicely here, it is not overpowering. I do get a faint tinge of brine though.

M - Mouthfeel is easily the worst part of the beer. No carbonation here, just smooth but syrupy.

O - Overall, a solid offering from Emelisse. Wouldn't mind having a bottle of this in my cellar.
Jun 16, 2013
 
Rated: 3.75 by drabmuh from Maryland

Jun 11, 2013
Photo of Huhzubendah
Reviewed by Huhzubendah from District of Columbia

4.21/5  rDev +18.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
On draft at Churchkey in D.C.

The beer is black with a thin beige head. The aroma brings a grandiose serving of Ardbeg. For you single malt scotch aficionados, especially those who favor those great whiskeys from Islay, you will likely enjoy this. Those less inclined to sip a peaty scotch on a rainy night may find this offering harsh and offensive.

The flavor offers notes of chocolate, oak, vanilla, peat, smoke. A young Ardbeg character really dominates every aspect of the beer.

Some searing alcohol heat in the finish with lingering sea salt and maritime character, medium to full bodied, fairly viscous.

I really enjoyed this, though this is certainly not for everybody.
May 31, 2013
White Label Imperial Russian Stout - Ardbeg Barrel Aged from Brouwerij Emelisse
Beer rating: 82 out of 100 with 35 ratings