Brewmaster's Premium Reserve Russian Imperial Stout - Sprecher Brewing Company

swhitt

Texas

2.93/5  rDev -20.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Poured from a 22oz. bomber, with a wax sealed bottle cap opening. Label says Russian Imperial Stout. The cap was interesting to get off, I had to use my fingernail to peel off some of the wax in order for the opener to get the right angle on it. This bottle is _really_ sealed - there's no way any air is going to get in. A nifty idea.

Poured into my brand new Alesmith Anniversary Glass. Nice and dark, completely opaque when held up to the light. Virtually no head except around the edges with a light wispy dark brown fuzz. Looks like most RIS style beers do with their high alcohol content.

Held this one up to my nose and the first thing I thought was 'wine'. Wow, that's surprising, I thought. Took another whiff and that smell went away. Now I get an espresso, chocolate malty smell. Not a sweet chocolate, mind you, but a bitter, bitter one. It smells like a RIS, just not a great one.

First thing I tasted was the bitter chocolate I mentioned in the smell. Chocolate, followed by very bitter espresso. It seems very unbalanced in comparison to say, Stone's IRS. Last taste is the carbonation mixed with the espresso flavor. Not sure that I like this one.

Serving type: bottle

07-23-2006 21:45:33 | More by swhitt

eliz108

Wisconsin

4.5/5  rDev +22.6%

05-17-2013 15:29:53 | More by eliz108

twenty5

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -4.6%

05-17-2013 14:56:44 | More by twenty5

vfgccp

New York

3.55/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3.75

2010 bottle opened 2013.

A - Nice creamy cap of dark khaki head. Great retention and nice lace. Dark brown, almost black body with cola highlights.

S - Super sweet. Plum, molasses, dark caramel, whoppers, tobacco.

T - Medium roast ice coffee, coca cola, molasses, blackened toast, burnt caramel. Great finish.

M - Medium-light body is surprisingly thin for the style.

O - Drinks like a flat cola with charred edges - which isn't necessarily a bad thing. It's a shade sweet, but it's got a nice roast character and great integration.

Serving type: bottle

05-09-2013 00:43:09 | More by vfgccp

akttr

Michigan

2.5/5  rDev -31.9%

04-05-2013 04:40:00 | More by akttr

sajaffe1

Alabama

3.68/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Poured from bottle into a pint glass

A- Very dark brown, light brown head that disappears fairly quickly, some lacing on sides of the glass

S- Charred oak, smokey, maybe a hint of coffee and dark fruit, hoppy

T- A bit of coffee, dark fruit, heavy hops presence

M- Somewhat creamy, medium carbonation, goes down quite easily

O- Not a bad beer at all, but there are better RIS out there.

Serving type: bottle

04-04-2013 03:59:27 | More by sajaffe1

sendbeer

Georgia

1/5  rDev -72.8%

03-15-2013 16:48:06 | More by sendbeer

t0rin0

California

3.75/5  rDev +2.2%

02-20-2013 01:34:25 | More by t0rin0

Rand_ale_Thor

Wisconsin

3.75/5  rDev +2.2%

01-28-2013 15:38:13 | More by Rand_ale_Thor

mendvicdog

Maryland

4.25/5  rDev +15.8%

01-22-2013 01:33:20 | More by mendvicdog

mkh895

Arizona

3/5  rDev -18.3%

01-20-2013 02:36:54 | More by mkh895

TonyTalon

Wisconsin

3.75/5  rDev +2.2%

01-20-2013 01:16:23 | More by TonyTalon

FishFrank

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +15.8%

01-03-2013 03:23:27 | More by FishFrank

Mosca

Pennsylvania

3.05/5  rDev -16.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Nothing wrong with it, but nothing outstanding, either. Dark, hoppy, beery. You know how, when you try new beers you taste and think, "That's ok." And you taste another, and you think, "That's okay." And another, and you think, "Yeah, that's OK." Well, this is okay. It's good enough. If you bought more than one, you'll drink the others, but you probably won't buy it again.

Serving type: bottle

12-28-2012 02:03:01 | More by Mosca

Kunstman

Wisconsin

4/5  rDev +9%

12-22-2012 03:19:39 | More by Kunstman

tourdot

Wisconsin

3.5/5  rDev -4.6%

12-21-2012 23:19:56 | More by tourdot

TastingRoomCharNtony

4/5  rDev +9%

12-12-2012 00:27:07 | More by TastingRoomCharNtony

martyl1000

Wisconsin

3.75/5  rDev +2.2%

11-25-2012 19:48:58 | More by martyl1000

Jman_01

3/5  rDev -18.3%

10-12-2012 16:59:47 | More by Jman_01

righthereisay

Pennsylvania

2.95/5  rDev -19.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

Purchased for $2 at Harrika's Brew Haus in Swansboro, NC (A great place)

Poured dark black, dark brown head. Smells of bittersweet chocolate, coffee, maybe a little raisin, not sure about that though.

Doesn't taste that great. Nothing worth noting really. Chocolate, roasted coffee maybe. Doesn't remind me of an Imperial Stout, almost like a lame attempt at a dark Belgian beer.

No question, I would consider the label a little misleading. Would never have even thought it was from Wisconsin....I guess that is their strategery.

Anyways, not impressed.

Serving type: bottle

09-30-2012 00:19:58 | More by righthereisay

bigred89

Maryland

3.5/5  rDev -4.6%

09-19-2012 02:19:08 | More by bigred89

RiggerStyle

3.75/5  rDev +2.2%

09-18-2012 01:24:23 | More by RiggerStyle

AleWatcher

Illinois

2.98/5  rDev -18.8%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 3

Bottle into Founders tuliped snifter.

Very dark body... Kinda brackish and murky looking with some serious rust color in the edges and legs.
Smells hugely of bitter chocolate and roast coffee. Very big roasty character with an acrid bitterness.
The flavor has just a little sweetness up front that rather remind me of plums before it turns bittersweet cocoa, dark cocoa, roasted coffee, and very bitter. The bitterness reminds me more of chocolate/coffee bitterness than it does of the usage of bittering hops, but perhaps I'm just projecting that.

Feels a little light of full, very oily, and a bit overcarbonated.

Overall-- far from terrible, but also far from good.
I wouldn't turn this one down, but I won't buy I again. I'll take Pleas the 5th, Expedition Stout, or Founders Imperial over this any day of the week.
The best thing this beer has going for it is that it is always available on shelves here in IL, unlike the ones I just listed. I was hoping I could stumble upon a secret, but alas, foiled again.

Serving type: bottle

09-14-2012 03:24:24 | More by AleWatcher

BrownAleMale

Wisconsin

2.58/5  rDev -29.7%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

12oz bottle poured into a Capital Maibock pint glass.

Appearance- A very dark brown with nice 3 finger head that does dissipate rather quickly.

Smell- Faint nothingness. There was very little there and I won't justify trying to explains these faint nothingness for a bold style such as an Imperial Stout.

Taste- Not many flavors that I associate with an Imperial stout. Almost like drinking a pop with the slightly bitter hops and carbonation level.

Mouthfeel- Watery and highly carbonated for an imperial stout.

Overall- Very sad especially for the style. Looks nice but that is about it. Really like drinking a shitty porter.

Serving type: bottle

09-03-2012 04:40:41 | More by BrownAleMale

brewdlyhooked13

Ohio

4.05/5  rDev +10.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Appearance - pours black but a bit splashy. Nice mocha head, a little on the conservative side but attractive. Disappears kinda fast, making some lace legs along the way.

Aroma - nice big roasty sweet first impression. Notes of chocolate and coffee. Smells great!

Taste - roasty malts, quickly turning sweet with notes of licorice. Very nice footprint of coffee on the swallow and aftertaste. Long finish with some of the roastiness returning. Not a full-on imperial experience, but a good one nonetheless.

Mouthfeel - lots of crispness, good smoothness, not the biggest body.

Drinkability - pretty good stuff at the 7.9 level. These age wonderfully, this is the final of the set from three or four years ago.

Serving type: bottle

08-24-2012 16:26:49 | More by brewdlyhooked13