Imperial Stout - Rogue Ales

TheRealBigC

Nevada

2.95/5  rDev -27.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Pours a thick jet black with creamy dark brown head. Looks great, but then, what the hell is this? This is the hoppiest, most bitter imperial stout I have ever tried, by far. Everything I love about this style is hidden behind those hops. It probably has more in common with a strong black ale than a typical Imperial stout. The feel wasn't that smooth, even for a nitro, but that could be an effect of the bitter flavor. I don't know, some people will like it (apparently - it's got an outrageous score on BA) and maybe a bottle will age well, but I'm really disappointed with it and frustrated that it cost so much.

Serving type: nitro-tap

10-04-2012 22:42:24 | More by TheRealBigC

Beernoisseur

Utah

4.88/5  rDev +19.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Had on nitro tap at Marcellars (I'll be going back for more)

A - Gorgeous huge hazlenut head on the pour. Like watching visual poetry. VERY dark. Lots of subtle movement.

S - Coffee, Dark Chocolate, Toasted Malts. A little bit of the hop character gets through, but the majority of the nose is dominated by the delicious other aromas.

T - Oh. My. God. Where do I begin? Do I describe the gorgeous array of flavors, and how well they work together, or do I describe them individually? Tons of chocolatey sweetness with elements of carmelized sugar, a toasted molasses. The hops are off the charts. ka-BAM. There they are. One of the best tasting beers I have ever had.

M - Maybe it was the nitro tap, or maybe it was the beer, who knows, but it felt like I was drinking Angel nectar.

D - 100%. Yes. Drinkable.

Serving type: nitro-tap

01-11-2009 02:06:23 | More by Beernoisseur

fitzy84

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This time I had this drink on a nitro-tap at Moan and Dove. The appearance did not really alter that much. I felt though that the nitro-tap allowed it to become much darker than when I had it on a normal tap. It had much lighter aromas this time around, explicit on a chocolate theme. It was light and creamy with a bitter aftertaste. It was almost frappe-like even. A low body, the drink was lighter and airier than last time. This was practically a light desert via the nitro-tap.

Serving type: nitro-tap

11-26-2007 22:49:30 | More by fitzy84

soupyman10

District of Columbia

4.03/5  rDev -1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Got this one hand-pumped at Ashley's in Ann Arbor, MI. Pours a deep brown-black color, with a delicious looking tan head on top. Solid lacing throughout. Looks how an RIS should. Nose is interesting; lots of malt, some alcohol hints, molasses, raisins and a hint of lemon as well. Taste was good, although not quite as outstanding as I had hoped. I guess people are saying that this one has slipped recently. Strong caramel malt, some chocolate, a lot of dried fruit. Hops show up there as well, with some breadiness, and lots of coffee both at the start and end. Good, but not great. Feel was as expected: very full-bodied, almost syrupy, with medium carbonation. Overall, a solid beer, but not quite up to what I had hoped from both Rogue and an RIS. Not quite up to the (admittedly very different) Bell's Third Coast Old Ale I had in the same sitting. A little disappointing.

Serving type: nitro-tap

04-04-2007 19:02:32 | More by soupyman10

Seanniek91

New Hampshire

4.61/5  rDev +13.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Served from a 7oz bottle into a St. Bernardus baloon glass. Vintage 2009. Served at cellar temp.

Appearance- Black with zero head. Mild mocha lacing near the rim of the glass.

Smell- Bitter chocolate mingles with port-like booze characteristics. Coffee and faded hops come into play along with some light stone fruit. Truly, very nice.

Taste- Wow. Very bitter chocolate and coffee dominate this. Mild booze comes through, but mostly in the feel and not so much the taste. Faded hops mix well with the dark chocolate malts. Bitterness lingers long after the first couple sips.

Mouthfeel- Lighter bodied than expected. Mild carbonation with a little heat at the end.

Overall- Very happy that this beer came out so good. This was more or less my first attempt at "cellering" a beer (bought it around this time last year). Very nice flavor. Nice night cap.

Serving type: bottle

04-10-2013 03:59:38 | More by Seanniek91

Dope

Massachusetts

4.38/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

2011 vintage.

A: Pours pitch black with a dense, dark cocoa brown head. Fades at a moderate pace. Head awakens easily, great retention. Thick continuous patchwork of lacing everywhere

S: Lots of cocoa and char with some roasted coffee to boot. Quite a bit of anise. Kind of creamy, maybe some oatmeal?

T: Chocolate up front with some coffee and char mixed in. Sweet grainy taste in the middle, I assume oatmeal? Some anise in there too. Bitter coffee and sharp baker's chocolate in the finish. Resinous, oily hops add to the bitterness in the finish, surprising after a couple of years. Zero sign of the 11% ABV.

M: Heavy, thick, viscous and a bit creamy.

O: A really nice RIS. It's big, heavy and slick. Just the way I like an RIS, with pure heavy roasted malt character. Lots of black patent malt and chocolate for sure. A lot can have dark fruits in them but not this one. Only addition is a little bit of hops to break it up. Probably a lot hoppier when it's fresh, if I'm honest. Not sure if that would be an improvement or not - will have to seek one out someday. Very tasty overall, I found it very similar to brooklyn BCS but with a little less chocolate.

Serving type: bottle

03-26-2013 02:14:57 | More by Dope

JDerner88

North Carolina

4.09/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Bought myself a Cask at Bruisin' Ales in Asheville with my lovely girlfriend!

A- This stout is dark as night and you need a dewalt flashlight to see through it

S- there seems to be a distinct roasted coffee aroma

T- A smooth roasted taste with a dark coffee backend

M- crisp and doesn't linger

O- a tasty Russian stout with a mean kick, Thank you comm-rad

Serving type: cask

03-05-2013 04:16:02 | More by JDerner88

Braz

Washington

3.9/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Got a 7oz bottle of this from Tacoma Boys. It's called 'Russian Imperial Stout' on the label. Pours almost like motor oil. Incredible appearance. Very lively and inviting. Big light brown head that sustains for the entire beer, and leaves nice lacing down sides of glass. Dark brown color. Sweet earthy fragrance with an almost light fruitiness. THICK feel. Beer could be a meal I believe. Coffee and dark chocolate flavors. Little alcohol in the flavor as well but it's not overpowering. Pretty bitter aftertaste that lingers. Lightly carbonated. Great beer. Only flaws for me were it could be a little sweeter, and that its syrupy.

Serving type: bottle

01-20-2013 02:06:11 | More by Braz

N3rdM3t4l

Oregon

4.15/5  rDev +2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

2011 vintage in 750ml ceramic fliptop bottle. Into standard pint.

A: small mouth forced a fairly agressive pour. Came out SUPER thick and black. Got 2 fingers of frothy rich mocha head. Head is falling to a thick cap and leaving sheets of lace. May as well try to look through a wall, I bet more light gets through than this beer.

S: a tad fruity actually, odds are from the high alcohol. Dark fruits and rich roasty notes. Not much chocolate though. Some coffee notes in there too.

T: roasty toasty goodness. big coffee flavor, a little sweet, a little bit of that dark fruit (raison and currant). Finishes mighty bitter with a big hard hit of hops.

M: thick and rich but thinned down by the high alcohol. Just right on carbonation.

O: good stuff, glad its in a big bottle. Glad I got this. All around a good stout.

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2013 07:01:17 | More by N3rdM3t4l

jrenihan

Ontario (Canada)

3.95/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

2011 vintage.

Beer is black, perhaps a hint of dark brown. Small to moderately-sized tan head. OK retention.

Nose contains a lot of roasted malt, as well as a bunch of dark chocolate and coffee. Some vanilla and caramel as well.

Taste contains lots of roasted malt and caramel, as well as bitter chocolate. Coffee in the finish. Quite bitter for the style. Booze is noticeable but it is a strong beer.

Full bodied. Moderate to high carbonation, particularly for the style. Astringent.

Overall, a little on the bitter side for me, but certainly good.

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2013 02:51:38 | More by jrenihan

GarthDanielson

New Hampshire

4.03/5  rDev -1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a bottle into a snifter, the beer is an extremely dark black-ish coloring with a towering, foamy, dense, tan coloring that doesn't appear to be going anywhere. Clings all over the glass as you quaff. Aromas of molasses and old world fruit sweetness, brown sugar, coffee, oak and earth, and a hint of booze. Very rich, dynamic nose. Flavors are very rich, with a coffee and bourbon-like blending initially. Very sweet and roasted, with rich, darkly sweet undertones supporting a touch of bitterness from the coffee notes and a solid booze component. Smooth and heavy in mouth, with a rich, velvety feel. The aftertaste is a bit more boozey, with heavier presence from the wood and earth components to balance out all the sweet and rich. Avoids cloying throughout the entire palate. Very heavy, very big beer. Very good beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-19-2012 01:56:43 | More by GarthDanielson

ToddT

Pennsylvania

3.68/5  rDev -9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

L- Black topped with a thin tan head. Head faded quickly to a ring but left little lace on the glass.

S- Chocolate and coffee notes are the most prevalent ones, hints of floral hops and caramel come through as well.

T- Coffee and chocolate right away, a bit of roasted malt and pine hops cut through and make their presence known at the middle. The finish is a wash of alcohol heat, more coffee and semisweet chocolate.

M- Smooth and creamy, full bodied and low in carbonation, spot on for the style. Finish is dry with a lingering note of coffee and alcohol.

O- This started off as being a truly great beer, too bad the boozy characteristics hurt this at the end. It would have been a sipper anyway at 11.0% ABV, but the finish made me sip it extra slow.

Serving type: on-tap

10-22-2012 18:16:13 | More by ToddT

twiggamortis420

Texas

3.58/5  rDev -12%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

2008 ceramic bottle version, one of the few original ageing brews I bought. Pours black with a surprising cap of brown head. Awesome retention still.

Nose is peanut butter chocolate and roasty sweetness. Interesting smell and I am surprised by the lack of oxidation after 4+ years.

Tastes decent, this has aged nicely...loads of chocolate, plenty of roast and a leafy hop presence that is really nice, yet unexpected after 4 years. Interesting beer, glad to have it, but at $16 a bottle, dont think Id buy it again.

Serving type: bottle

09-17-2012 00:51:09 | More by twiggamortis420

ediaz

Florida

3.63/5  rDev -10.8%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Vintage 2010 into a glass

A: No head, little lacing that thins quickly. a dark muddy brown in the glass, think dark chocolate yoo-hoo.

S: sweet yeasty nose with anise, sweet chocolate, vanilla, and a touch of dark fruits.

T: I taste a lot of yeast, finishes with a sharp taste of dark chocolate.

M: smooth, carbonation has a sharp but light feel.

O: 4.0 Its a decent beer and purely bought it on its age but for the $4.75 for a 7oz i think i got caught up in the date and the style. I would seek it out again but its an interesting experience.

Serving type: bottle

08-08-2012 03:31:48 | More by ediaz

MichaelinFishers

Indiana

4.43/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

2008 vintage from ceramic flip-top bottle.

I found these on sale for $8 each a couple of years ago and bought four of them. This is the last one.

Poured into shaker pint glasses because that's all we have at the lake cottage. Pours thick and black. The narrow neck of the bottle causes some "glugging" as it pours. A decent head sticks to the glass quite well. Big chocolaty aroma entices. The taste very much follows the aroma. Chocolate malt flavors, roasted barley, and yes, even after four years, hops, dominate. This is very smooth. Drinks extremely well. I opened a bottle a year ago and it was not near this good. The extra year has been a good thing. If anyone has any more of these, they are drinking very well. If I had another, I would hold on, just to see what one more year does, but this is really good right now.

Serving type: bottle

07-17-2012 03:03:36 | More by MichaelinFishers

mountdew1

New Hampshire

3.5/5  rDev -14%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Broke down and bought one of the fancy XS 2011 bottles. Poured a completely opaque black color, with a generous 2 finger light brown creamy head. Smell was a bit of brown sugar sweet, with a hint of lactose. Flavor was a bit on the bitter side. Not overly so, but enough to have a bit of a bite. A bit of a smokey grain undertone as well. Felt great in the mouth. Coated extremely well, with just a hint of carbonation. Overall the price killed this. A good beer at maybe 5-7 for a bomber, not worth the price and markup for the ceramic bottle.

Serving type: bottle

06-25-2012 23:18:26 | More by mountdew1

ehammond1

California

4.15/5  rDev +2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On Tap

Churchill's Pub & Grille
San Marcos, CA

Black throughout with a small brown head that leaves the glass oily and spotted.

Rich, evolving aroma of roast, coffee, a touch of alcohol, and chocolate.

The flavor is nice too and incredibly well integrated. There's great chocolate character along with roast, mild coffee, and just a hint of booze. I like it a lot.

Medium to full bodied with moderate carbonation.

This really was damn good. Bravo, Rogue! I didn't know you had it in you!

Serving type: on-tap

05-25-2012 17:08:57 | More by ehammond1

Darkmagus82

Montana

3.9/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from 7 oz bottle into snifter

Appearance – Pours a deep black color with a large brown head. Tiny carbonating bubbles created a thick head overall that had wonderful retention with very slowly faded to leave a wonderful level of lacing.

Smell – The aroma is actually kind of light. There is a dark bread and chocolate flavor that are the base. These are mixed with some vanilla sweetness as well as aromas of espresso, caramel and some bourbon aromas.

Taste – The taste is big and malty up front. A dark bread flavor meets the tongue. It is mixed with some roasty cocoa flavors and an ever so light caramel sweetness. The caramel sweetness fades and gives way to a light vanilla flavor. Soon after this a nice big roasted espresso flavor rolls into the taste. These tastes all last to the end where they mix with a lighter alcohol flavor that leaves a roasty warming flavor on the tongue.

Mouthfeel – The body of the brew is on the creamier side with a slightly lower level of carbonation. These are good for the more bitter-dry flavors of the brew and really complement the nice roasty and boozy flavors that linger on the tongue.

Overall – A nice drier imperial, although not the best out there. While it could use a touch more sweetness and the aroma is a little lacking is does have some nice flavors and is well worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

05-22-2012 23:48:07 | More by Darkmagus82

kojevergas

California

2.68/5  rDev -34.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Mine is labelled "Rogue XS Russian Imperial Stout". Acquired at Wades Wines in Westlake Village, California for $4.79 plus tax.

7 fl oz brown glass bottle with standard pressure cap served into me Guinness goblet in me gaff in low altitude Los Angeles, California. Reviewed live. Expectations are above average. I appreciate the bottle size; beers of this high an ABV should always come in smaller bottles so a typical beer drinker can enjoy it without having to commit to a massive quantity. I don't understand some of these thick strong stouts that come in 750 ml bottles; it doesn't make sense.

Served refrigerator cold and allowed to warm over the course of consumption. Side-poured with standard vigor as no carbonation issues are anticipated.

A: Pours a one finger head of dark khaki colour, great cream, good thickness, and rather impressive retention (4+ minutes) for the 11% ABV. Colour is a solid black. No yeast particles are visible. No bubble show. Lacing is nice.

Sm: Rich chocolate, coffee, dark malts, roast, cocoa bean, and toffee. A moderately strong inviting aroma. No yeast comes through.

T: Dark malts comprise the foundation. Cream and chocolate are present but restrained. The malts are poorly handled, with some buried astringency. Too malty all around. The notes don't work well together, but rather compete and ring distinct. Poorly balanced all around. No alcohol or yeast comes through. Badly built for the style. Not complex or subtle.

Mf: Smooth and creamy. Too thick. Wet where it should be dry, though the roast does lend it some degree of dryness.

Dr: A poorly conceived imperial stout. Hard to drink on account of its low quality. It does hide its ABV quite well, to its credit. I wouldn't get it again. A disappointment from Rogue.

C-

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2012 01:51:33 | More by kojevergas

facundoCNB

New Jersey

2.78/5  rDev -31.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

2008 bottle poured into a tulip.

a flat dark pour with barely any head. aromas of bourbon, vanilla, coffee.. very boozy. tastes of coffee and booze.. not much else is present due to the overwhelming alcohol taste. medium bodied, minimal carbonation.. definitely a sipper, due to the booziness of it. i was honestly disappointed in this one. maybe it was aged for too long? barely any flavor aside from the booze, appearance was very blah. the only thing i think i like is the smell.. and the ceramic bottle it came in.

Serving type: bottle

05-06-2012 11:58:53 | More by facundoCNB

jdhilt

New Hampshire

4.05/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a two finger brown head that fades quickly to ring leaving traces lace. Black color, no highlights. Light-medium carbonation and heavy bodied. Chocolate and caramel nose, flavor is similar, chocolate, caramel and coffee. Burnt coffee finish. High ABV is hidden. $4.35 for a wussy 7oz bottle from Bert’s Better Beers Hooksett, NH.

Serving type: bottle

05-03-2012 22:13:22 | More by jdhilt

korguy123

Ontario (Canada)

3.88/5  rDev -4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Undated ceramic 750ml bottle into snifter.

A- Totally opaque black pour with a finger width dark chocolate milk colored head. Lacing is spotty, alcohol won't let go.

S- Dark chocolate, molasses, licorice and a copious amount of coffee. There is a touch of vanilla with a bit of burnt toast. It almost has a barrel aged aroma to it.

T- Huge amounts of coffee and full on char. Sweetened by chocolate syrup and a good amount of licorice and molasses. The finish is just bitter astringent burnt toast or coffee. Burnt, burnt, burnt is the easiest way to describe it. It's not off putting just wasn't expecting that at all.

M- Full bodied, heavy and velvety.

O- I know a lot of people hate on Rogue, I tend to enjoy all their offerings. They are overpriced and this is no exception but this is a home run. My only beef is the super burnt taste, not really necessary.

Serving type: bottle

04-23-2012 23:22:26 | More by korguy123

BlurryVisi0n

New York

3.53/5  rDev -13.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Served in a snifter. 2011 bottle release.

Appearance: Pitch black, dark as night with a tan head coming off roughly an inch plus off the body.

Smell: Smells damn good, wine meets chocolate.

Taste: Ok after finishing the first glass I see the complexity of it
But not impressed. I was expecting more a little more though full flavoured lacks punch.

Mouth: med-full a crispy texture.

Overall: I have had many imperial stouts and this beer barely made my too ten. If you have money to burn drink it, if you have you're favorites imperial drink that instead it would be hard for this to live to that standard.

Serving type: bottle

04-22-2012 02:48:40 | More by BlurryVisi0n

ckollias

Maryland

4.45/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Enjoyed this 750 bottle out of a large snifter glass. Bought it from Head Keepers in Greensberg PA.

A: Pours a pitch black hue with a thin dark brown lace which dissolves in to a wispy lace leaving a semi trail down the glass.

S: Strong roasted malt and chocolate aroma with hints of coffee and coca powder. Alcohol aroma present and finishes slightly hoppy.

T: Smooooth chocolate and roasted flavor. Well balanced with the hops. Alcohol definitely present and dominates the middle of this beer. Finished slightly dry side of sweet.

M: Very strong and boozy. Heavy body and minimal carbonation.

O: Awesome imperial stout. A nice sipping beer @ 11 % alcohol by volume. This might be my favorite beer my Rogue – but at $25 a bottle it more of a luxury than a regular beer I would drink.

Serving type: bottle

04-08-2012 23:32:56 | More by ckollias

thetastywort

California

3.15/5  rDev -22.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Had this in the XS bottle in a Bruery tulip glass. The 2011 batch.

A: Pours almost black. Not too thick. Had a nice tan head with thick lacing.

S: Roasted malt with a bittersweet chocolate smell. I can slightly smell the booze.

T: Malt and bittersweet chocolate comes first. Ends on the back of my tongue with a coffee-bitterness finish.

M: Above average thick and chewy. Not quite as thick as a Speedway or Marshall Zhukov, but good. Average carbonation.

O: Not a bad RIS, but not my favorite. A nice opportunity to try this bottle on the West Coast. I haven't seen this around too much. If you are looking to drink an RIS, this would sit somewhere in the middle.

Serving type: bottle

04-08-2012 04:16:52 | More by thetastywort