Siberian Night Imperial Stout - Thirsty Dog Brewing Company

Chico1985

Massachusetts

3.49/5  rDev -16.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

This stout has always been known to me but for somehow I've managed to avoid it all this time...until now! Woof.

Pours into a snifter black as night with a solid tan head. A swirly cap and thick ring is left behind with bits of lace.

Smells of dark+roasted malts, some dark fruits, traces of coffee and caramel. Leans toward average scent for an imperial stout, could use more strength .

Taste is better but doesn't pack a big punch. of bitter dark malts, roasted grain, toast, dark chocolate, some licorice, caramel, some light hoppage. Low sweetness, bitter, dark and malty.

Mouthfeel has an oily feel, medium carbonation, and some alcohol presence. It is a bit thin for the ABV but the lightness does make this one pretty drinkable considering.

I kinda dig the simple+raw flavor and light feel, but does come off kinda bland. Not bad though.

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2013 00:51:33 | More by Chico1985

wyatt13

Illinois

3.8/5  rDev -8.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Received this bottle in a trade with Stinger80OH – thanks Andrew! Poured from a 12 oz. bottle into my Half Acre snifter.

A – Pours a deep dark black, with an appealing mocha brown head of about one finger. Streams of carbonation run up the side of the glass. The head dissipates slowly, leaving a thin ring of foam along the outside. Modeate lacing.

S – A nice chocolate roasted character meets the nose, as I bend down to take a whiff. A bit of nuttiness as well, with a slight charred note. Some vanilla rounds things out.

T – A burnt malt and vanilla at the beginning that transitions into a lingering bitter chocolate nuttiness. Hops are definitely present, adding an additional layer of bitterness. A smoky character is fairly present throughout.

M – Fairly creamy mouthfeel that is pretty thin. A higher carbonation level that I was anticipating for the style.

O – Pretty good beer here, but I felt like the individual components could have been integrated better. Also could definitely have used a fuller mouthfeel. However, still a nice beer, and one that I am happy to have tried.

Serving type: bottle

05-09-2013 03:10:51 | More by wyatt13

Hopswagger

Oklahoma

4.15/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.25

P: Dense foamy clouds of espresso set on top of a pitch black body. Retention is nice and long with filmy lacing glued to the glass.

S: Roasted dark coffee beans, bakers cocoa, milk chocolate ice cube candy, figs, raisins, dirt, and hints of roasted toffee and hazelnut. Earthy hops.

T/M: Burnt molasses, dark chocolate, milk chocolate, toasted grains, smoldered oak, bourbon soaked figs and unwashed apple peels. Subtle cherry in the background. Full bodied but thinner than expected with prickly carbonation. Provides a nice warming sensation and the grainy resinous flavor coats the mouth. Finishes wet and lingers dirty toasted grain.

O: A great RIS but I think the low point of this beer is the mouthfeel. A tad too carbonated and a touch thinner than I would like. All in all the flavor profile is right on and nicely developed. All the flavors marry well and attribute to a delicious offering. I will definitely drink this again. Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

04-29-2013 21:45:23 | More by Hopswagger

sommersb

Tennessee

4.19/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Tasted On: 04-16-2013
Freshness: Not indicated
Packaging: 12 oz. brown bottle, pry-cap
Glassware: Snifter
Purchased: Received in a trade

A: Pitch black beer with a small tan head. Retention and lacing are minimal.

S: Aromas have a heavy roasted malt tone, plus cherry wood and earthy hops.

T: Flavors include toasted grains, coffee and bittersweet chocolate. Fairly dry overall.

M: Rich and smooth, with a medium amount of carbonation. It finishes dry, with notes of coffee and chocolate.

O: A delightful stout, bold and flavorful without being overrun by burnt aspects like some in the style.

Thanks to buschbeer for this trade extra!

Serving type: bottle

04-17-2013 05:04:44 | More by sommersb

NuclearSoAndSo

Ohio

3.79/5  rDev -8.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Poured into a beer mug.

Appearance: For whatever reason, I decided to pour this one very aggressively and achieved a solid brown four finger head that stopped just short of overflowing out of my mug. The body is black, apparently inpenetrable by light.

Smell: Smells a bit like coffee, slightly boozy; dank; nice and malty.

Taste: Tastes like it smells; a bit of coffee, very malty, and a nice boozy kick. A bit of a hop presence. Not quite as rich or full as I was expecting (not to necessarily say it was lacking). To be fair this was my first imperial stout, and while I've had a fair share of stouts in general, I wasn't quite sure what to expect.

Mouthfeel: Medium to low carbonation; medium body; pretty slick.

Overall: Not bad. I was not disappointed, and I would consider grabbing this one again.

Serving type: bottle

04-11-2013 15:53:06 | More by NuclearSoAndSo

NoLeafClover44

Delaware

3.76/5  rDev -9.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

12 oz. bottle poured into a Cigar City snifter. Bottled in 2012.

A - Pours midnight black with a finger of cocoa lacing. The foam dies to a halo that sticks to the sidewalls as I drink. Some thick sludgy stuff poured out towards the end of the bottle. Not too off-putting, but worth noting.

S - Roasty chocolate, char, and dark fruits dominate. Molasses and delicate notes of heavy cream accompany, leading to a bitter, sweet, and creamy aroma.

T - Surprisingly mild flavor to start. Half and half, semi-sweet chocolate, and some toasted almond. Bittering molasses and burnt oak on the back end with char linger. Decent, but it lacked the strong flavor I crave in a RIS.

M - Medium body with mild carbonation. A bit thin for the style.

O - I was a bit disappointed by this beer. Perhaps it was the year it spent in the cellar, but the flavors just weren't vibrant. Good chocolate and toasted malt presence, but the mouthfeel did not accentuate the creamy flavors. This is not a brewery I have readily available to me, and as far as I'm concerned that's fine. It ain't bad, but there are so many better options in the Imperial stout category.

Serving type: bottle

03-28-2013 00:20:47 | More by NoLeafClover44

drperm

Virginia

4.83/5  rDev +16.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

(8/15/09)
Appearance: It's black -- deep, impenetrable black. A nice foamy dark-tan head sits atop, but fades to a thin lace before long.

Aroma: Thick and rich -- chocolate, coffee, licorice, malt, dark hops, graham crackers, honey.

Taste: Damn good. Definite wow-factor with this one. Strong and rich, follows the nose closely, with a hint of a mineral edge. Tons of dark chocolate-malt abound, and tobacco as well.

Palate: Definitely strong and proud of it. A bit sweet on the finish -- I'd prefer it a bit drier, if I were being nit-picky.

Overall: Very rich -- its only fault is in being *too* rich for standard drinking. The 12 oz bottle is almost too much for one sitting. This would be superb with dessert: raspberry chocolate something, German chocolate cake, dark mousse, creme brulee....OR spicy rich (homemade) mole dishes.

***UPDATE***
I cellared the original 6-pack from which the above review was written.
Tonight (3/23/13), I drank the final bottle from that pack.
Here's the cellared-version review.

Appearance: 4.5
Thin, brown foam that disappears fairly quickly. The liquid in the glass is impenetrably black and thick.

Smell: 5.0
Thick, heady, molasses, tobacco, whisky barrel, vanilla, cocoa, and lots of coffee. I think I could get drunk off of this just from inhaling too deeply.

Taste: 5.0
It's even better now than it was 3 years ago. Still a sipping beer, but oh so rich -- lots of bourbon whiskey notes, would be great with a tobacco pipe but my Girl Scout Thin Mints do the trick, too!

Mouthfeel: 5.0
Drinks like a thick, rich cordial. Also reminiscent of the Ola Dubh series from Harviestoun.

Overall: 5.0
I'm going out next week to buy another 6-pack to cellar for 3 years! This is an incredible beer to age.

Serving type: bottle

03-24-2013 01:27:24 | More by drperm

PaterMorse

Indiana

4.54/5  rDev +9.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A "best in show," no matter the category. Feels like an American Stout (and one of the best); technically a Russian Imperial Stout (and one of the best); tastes/smells like a Sweet or Milk Stout (and one of the best). One of very few beers that excels in all individual facets and yet ties it together for a near-perfect package.

A: Pours orangy. Toffee-colored head, holds for about 45 seconds. Then dissolves to sandy striation or pocks of lacing.

S: Boom! Leaps into an immediate "best yet" lead. If you were ever like me and snuck hits of Hershey's Chocolate Syrup straight from the tin can in the 'fridge when Mom wasn't looking, this it. A great experience relived (and yet in a 9.7% ABV package).

T: Wth the sweeter than expected aroma, I was worried it would be too sweet in taste/smell -- a flaw (in my estimation) with Samuel Smith's Chocolate or Rogue's Double Chocolate. But Siberian Night drives to the hoop, slams it down, and takes the ball home -- game over, no contest. I appreciate that that's not very descriptive but, when you try it, you'll know what I'm talking about... Very, very smooth; very, very good. Great nose to it, but what follows is a well balanced, sufficiently bitter, gutsy stout.

M: Medium body. A little bitter on the tongue, but certainly not unpleasant. In fact, it's surprising how seamlessly it masks the near-10% ABV. I had to look on the label multiple times to remind me it wasn't 5.0%.

O: A great beer that doesn't so much defy categorization; rather it fits well in many. It's smooth like an American Double Stout; its aroma/finish is more akin to a sweet/milk stout; and it kicks like an RIS. Whether you like all 3 types of beer or only one, this is very (!) satisfying.

Where Best Enjoyed? This is too versatile to be categorized: Anywhwere, for any taste or occasion.

Repeat? Yep, no question.

Two Words: Versatile Winner

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2013 21:43:17 | More by PaterMorse

yamar68

Minnesota

4.29/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

As dark as it gets with a frothy finger of medium brown carbonation that retain very well and provides clouds of beading beneath. Good looking stuff - even a bit of lacing.

Plenty of brownie in the nose... red berries and fudge. Some vinous fruits and vanilla, bittersweet.

A bit of dark bitter chocolate, overripe fruits and mellow coffee flavors, red wine type character, dark berry preserves, really interesting I think. Far more dynamic than I was anticipating. I'm struggling to think of a good comparison here... a bit similar to Yeti perhaps? It's unique in a good sort of way.

This one came as a surprise from an awesome MI trader; I'll have to seek it out sometime in the future.

Serving type: bottle

03-07-2013 01:35:04 | More by yamar68

MacQ32

South Carolina

4.23/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.25

A - Pours near black with less than a finger of chocolate colored head which quickly dissipates to just a thin outer ring, little to no lacing.

S - Lots of bitter/roasty aromas, dark chocolate, coffee, caramel, and traces of vanilla.

T - Tons of sweet but roasty chocolate transforms into more of a dry bitterness with a bit of a smokey astringency and then to a sweeter chocolate/molasses/caramel, finishes an astringent bitter roastyness. Really delicious and robust.

M - Medium/full bodied, minimal carbonation, very smooth, ideal

O - Easily one of my favorite stouts - the bourbon barrel aged version is amazing.

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2013 22:29:10 | More by MacQ32

AmitC

Indiana

4.35/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Poured from a 12 oz bottle.

Dark brown thick while pouring. Pitch dark black inside the glass. Excellent one finger thick shining brown colored head with good retention. Excellent lacing. Opaque.

Aroma is a little subdued. Thick roasted malts mixed. Burnt up character. Overall strength is just moderate. No alcohol apparent. A bit of molasses, dark chocolate and some coffee.

Taste is just superb. Excellent blend of dark roasted malts, very slight coffee and nice chocolate flavors. A decent amount of hops as well. A bit of charcoal and burnt up taste towards the end. Very nice complex flavors with a good body overall. Just about alcohol warmth.

Mouth feel is full bodied. Thick. Low carbonation. Good warmth. No astringency.

Strong and punching. A very nice brew.

Serving type: bottle

03-02-2013 01:33:38 | More by AmitC

thegodfather1076

Ohio

4.18/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Presentation: Awesome label in the TD K-9 tradition with eye-catching artwork and colors. Gives brewery info, web info, a small description of the beer, ABV info, and states “2005 GABF Gold Medalist”, “2006 Bronze Medalist”, “2003 Bronze Medalist”. Very cool. Awesome cap!

Appearance: I allowed Siberian Night to warm for 10 minutes before decanting from it 12oz bottle into a 16oz snifter. Pours out a jet black with a 1½ finger dense creamy foam head that has a light brown tint. Head retention was 2min 35sec before fading to a frothy coating and thick ring. Excellent Lacing.

Smell/Aroma: Smells a bit sweet with hints of caramel malts and a bit of dark beery fruit. Slight chocolate hints and a bit roast as well. An alcohol backbone in the nose.

Flavor/Taste: Siberian Night has a bit of an alcohol bite at first along with a sweet toasted caramel malt character that gives way to a chocolate dark berry fruit flavor. Finishes off with a roasted coffee malt finish and aftertaste. Very nice.

MouthFeel/Drinkability: On the full side of medium bodied that is smooth and a bit creamy with an above average amount of carbonation. Very drinkable.

Overall/Comments: A very good RIS that is extremely drinkable, well balanced, and highly recommended. Does and excellent job of masking the almost 10% ABV. Classified as a Russian Imperial Stout at 9.7%. Consumed 2-22-13.

Serving type: bottle

02-26-2013 10:44:50 | More by thegodfather1076

SometimesIfart

Michigan

4.53/5  rDev +8.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A - Pours pitch black with a one finger head. Left good lacing for a stout.

S - Alcohol, roasted malt, a tad bit of grapefruit, caramel, hazelnut coffee.

T - Bitter, Dark chocolate and coffee, roasted malt, cocoa.

M - Thick, creamy oily body with a medium amount of carbonation.

O - Overall, this renewed my faith in stout's. It was pretty damn good. I'd definitely have again.

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2013 04:26:00 | More by SometimesIfart

JamesShoemaker

New York

4.05/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle poured into a snifter.

A - jet black with a medium head on a forced pour. The foam was not quite as dark as an RIS, but still darker than most conventional doubles.

S - sweet, but mostly absent. I get some sweeter whiffs of chocolate and cream, but it takes a big draw to get anything out of this.

T - surprisingly toasty, big malt profile on the front. Siberian Night starts burnt tasting like a porter but finishes soft and creamy. No chocolate in the taste, but this doesn't hurt the score.

M - meh. My mouth gets overloaded with carbonation shortly after the quaff, but the consistency is good. Hardly any alcohol presence.

O - decent stout. I'd get it again in a mix-a-six or on tap. Imagine what a combination of FBS and Ten Fidy would taste like, and make that just slightly more bitter.

Serving type: bottle

01-21-2013 01:40:17 | More by JamesShoemaker

Flounder57

Massachusetts

3.8/5  rDev -8.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

12 oz bottle was poured into a snifter.

Appearance: This beer poured a small head that has stood in the glass for the whole time. It is a pitch black color with no clarity, but little bubbles can be seen coming up the glass.

Smell: roasted coffee, chocolate mocha, sweetness, a bit of boozy alcohol, and some smoke.

Taste: smoke and ash are upfront and have a lasting bitterness to the beer. There is still roasted coffee, some chocolate, a little bit of booze, some tobacco, leather, and a tad of sweetness. I am traditionally used to more sweetness and the lingering bitterness and ash flavors are killing the good qualities of this beer.

Mouthfeel: Smooth, full bodied, low to medium carbonation, bitterness, fireplace ash, and a tad of sweetness.

Overall: A nice RIS, but I have had better. More sweetness and less smoke, ash, and bitterness would be better.

Serving type: bottle

01-16-2013 05:46:17 | More by Flounder57

Goblinmunkey7

Massachusetts

3.85/5  rDev -7.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: Black, nothing else. Head has decent retention. Solid tan. Drops to a small cap before dropping to almost nothing after 10 minutes or so. Sticky and creamy. A few specks of lacing.

Smell: Huge roasted grain and dark chocolate. Some bitter cocoa in the back. Roasted grain. Some cooked sweetness. A touch of char and burnt sugar. Light smokiness. Coffee. Fresh and slightly stale in tandem. Loaded with chocolate notes. Hints of black patent? Some alcohol and a touch of chocolate cake and dark ripe fruit.

Taste: Roasted coffee. A bigger smokiness than the nose would indicate. Huge amounts of char, leather, and coffee bean. Cocoa and dark chocolate in the back. Smoky without being meaty. Caramelized malts linger underneath, but have a hard time coming over the deeply roasted and burnt elements. French roast coffee. Hints of berry fused with the chocolate.

Mouthfeel: Body pushes full. Moderate carbonation. Creamy and smooth with a lingering burnt dryness.

Overall: You can't run with the big dogs if you pee like a puppy. Good thing it's not a puppy.

Bonus points for always being available. A decent amount of flavor and depth, but nothing earth-shattering. A very good RIS for those times when you can't justify breaking something out of the cellar.

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2013 20:56:04 | More by Goblinmunkey7

PEBKAC

New York

4.03/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Bottle from a bottle shop deep in Pennsylvania.

Sam Adams perfect pint glass. Let the bottle sweat a little.

Gurgled & poured high, it struggled to build a much of a tan head. Brown on black body.

Chalky chocolate, charred bread, salted stout cupcakes. Smells nice.

Dusty, malty sweetness. Something like patent malt. Baking chocolate, solid leafy bitterness, somewhat sooty, inky rubber. Dry, earthy, bready finish.

Easy, delayed alcohol. Short carbonation, doesn't matter. It's a solid $2 single. Goes well with those cheap sugar cookies everyone cheeps out on during this time of year. ;P

Serving type: bottle

12-27-2012 09:08:50 | More by PEBKAC

tvv375ia

Iowa

3.28/5  rDev -21.2%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

poured from 12oz bottle into pint glass

A-very dark brown with less than a finger of head that faded quickly to a small ring

S-some coffee and dark chocolate, but I also get a somewhat mettalic smell that is the strongest smell of all

T-Luckly that metal smell doesn't come into the taste nearly as much. some coffee and chocolate follwed by some dark fruits with a slight metal finish

M-ok carbonation dry finish though maybe that is where I am getting the metal from in the tase

O-not bad and I will probably try again if I run across this in Iowa

Serving type: bottle

12-21-2012 10:08:02 | More by tvv375ia

DeltaGolfSierra

Tennessee

4.03/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Appearance is pitch black, with not a hint of light to be found, even around the edges. The brown head is average for the style, and leaves very little lacing. The smell has hints of dark chocolate, coffee, and caramel. The taste reminds me of a dark roast coffee, with a hint of cocoa. The alcohol is well hidden behind the strong roasty flavor. The mouthfeel is very good - thick and viscous. An all-around good imperial stout.

Serving type: bottle

12-15-2012 02:30:44 | More by DeltaGolfSierra

DrinkMoreBigBeers

Michigan

4.1/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Pours out dark as night with a rich small looking mocha head that dies down into the sides of the glass which leave nice sheets of lacing. Looks like an imperial stout. Has yeast in the bottom of bottle so careful if you do not want it in your glass.

S - Strong dark chocolate smell dominates this one along with a strong roast, coffee, sweet chocolate , creamy carmel, not a trace of the alcohol.

T - Toffee, dark Intense bitterness of coco nips, roast, burnt coffee, wood, slight alcohol, strong roasted bitterness left on the palate with a trace of a dark fruit flavor in the end.

M - Nice creamy medium full bodied, slightly chewy brew that slides down rather easy for an imperial stout.

O - A rather impressive Imperial Stout that would be great to try on any chilly night. Really easy to drink and rather tasty, a must try for any beer geek. Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

11-20-2012 23:35:17 | More by DrinkMoreBigBeers

brureview

Massachusetts

4.43/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured in a pint glass.

A different approach than other Russian imperials I have tasted.

The color isn't as rich and doesn't stand out, but it's a very attractive chocolate-coffee brown.

The aroma is great- heavy chocolate, vanilla, some lemon.

The mouth feel is not very carbonated, almost smooth.

The finish is unlike other imperial stouts I have tasted. Very chocolate, some lemon, but the prominent flavor is chocolate. The coffee is slightly imbalanced and mellows in the finish after warming.

An excellent beer and worth trying.

Serving type: bottle

11-13-2012 02:11:07 | More by brureview

augustgarage

California

3.98/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12oz bottle into a wide-mouth tulip.

Very dark seal brown liquid reveals no light, though you can see the bright brown lees surging around the glass broken free from the bottom of the bottle - quite thick with yeast dregs, this cup...the smattering of active buff colored foam recedes to a more lasting and concentrated surface slick and popped collar. Very good retention.

The aroma is nearly acrid, dense with scalded coffee, black barley, burnt molasses, and motor oil. Intimidating.

Rich, potent, dark, complex, and overflowing with malt. Unsweetened cocoa, tobacco (with more than a little cigar smoke for good measure), over-brewed assam tea, and more unfold on the palate. Moderately bitter with a dry smokey astringency in the finish. Very flavorful and earthy...though the alcohol is a tiny bit sharp.

Thick, medium-full bodied, nearly syrupy mouthfeel which combined with the burnt qualities makes me want to brush my teeth.

Tons of specialty malt (and just malt in general) in this RIS, which while a little rough perhaps is packed with flavor and not at all a bad value.

Serving type: bottle

10-28-2012 23:23:09 | More by augustgarage

smcolw

Massachusetts

4.1/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Small but stable head. It leaves a cross between web and blanketing lace. Near black color with a a modicum of light passing.

Burnt toast and burnt caramelized sugar are the predominant smells. I can detect a whiff of alcohol as well.

Very dry and highly burnt, black patent malt flavors. The swallow is a balanced bitterness from hop and the burnt malts. Long aftertaste. Good body. Low carbonation. Overall, think coffee with no cream or sugar.

Serving type: bottle

10-28-2012 22:24:37 | More by smcolw

Alextricity

Michigan

3.68/5  rDev -11.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: I was lazy and didn't pour it into a glass ... however, I can say that this thing has a surprisingly decent head, even in the bottle.

Smell: Woody. Smokey. Chocolatey. A quality RIS.

Taste/feel: Follows the nose, as most RIS's seem to do. I haven't had many, but I can easily say that this kills Samuel Adams' variation. This has a good bit of smoked, woody flavors along with the typical chocolate and coffee tastes you'd expect. The feel is medium, and super slick. Sticky as well.

RIS's aren't my style normally, but this is one I could sip on every now and then ... preferably on a chilly winter night. Best I've had from the style -- though I must remind you again, I haven't had too many RIS's.

Serving type: bottle

10-21-2012 21:39:49 | More by Alextricity

dfillius

Michigan

4.78/5  rDev +14.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a pint glass

A: Moderate pour yields 2/3 finger of brown head with good retention. The head however recedes to nothing, longer retention would be perfect. Nearly opaque dark brown that would achieve perfection at one shade darker.
S: Roast, coffee, a tad of alcohol. There's something in here that I can't quite place.
T: Roasty, slightly sour, dark chocolate, bitter. Sourness is in a bourbon way. Tasty and uniquely bitter/roast dominant. Definitely great, not very sweet. Exceptional for the style.
M: Sticky, chewy, very bitter and roasty. Sharp. Dry.
O: 1 is enough, but this is good! Alcohol is a bit much for more than 1. I will definitely buy again.

Serving type: bottle

10-13-2012 20:46:21 | More by dfillius