Imperial Russian Stout - Stone Brewing Co.

pmcadamis

Illinois

3.73/5  rDev -14.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

My wife picked this up for me in Fort Collins while visiting her sister. She knows the stuff I can't get in central IL and gets some for me while she's out that way (she always calls me from the liquor store and says "have you had this?" and "can you get this in Springfield?" She's great!

A - Thick and black like motor oil, with a trace of the purplish-rainbow sheen that you can see in old nasty oil that leaks onto the ground underneath old beaters. Held to the light, not a trace makes its way through. The head is initially four fingers of deep tan to light brown cream, and retention stays at about two fingers for the duration. Lots of really thick and creamy lace sticks to the glass, forming big sheets of super-dense foam.

S - Double chocolate chip cookies and German chocolate cake. Fudge brownies, melted dark chocolate chips, French vanilla coffee creamer (liquid), and lightly toasted marshmallows. This is smells ridiculously sweet and chocolaty; smells really nice and sweet but smells like it's overly chocolaty and sugary.

T - Much more well-rounded than it smells. The chocolate brownie, fudge, double chocolate chip notes are still there, but a bitter dark baker's chocolate and almost sour lactic note come through. This is much like a cafe mocha in that it's slightly bitter from espresso and dark chocolate, but sweetened by steamed milk, sugar, and cocoa powder. There is also a high level of hops that gives away it's west coast origin, and a lightly smoked flavor adds complexity.

M - Thick, viscous, but oddly simultaneously chalky. Reminds me of a handful of ash soaked in water and placed in the mouth. The sweet super-chocolate notes up front and the bitter hops and roasted flavors on the back end confuse the palate.

D - I'm surprised by this one. I thought it would be an outstanding brew, but while not bad it's no where near as nice as expected based on everyone else's ratings on this site. Chalk it up to personal preference, but I think that this is a confusingly complicated beer that I think might improve DRASTICALLY with age (mine is a Spring 2009 batch, so it's super-young).

Serving type: bottle

05-26-2009 19:22:25 | More by pmcadamis

Spaz7

California

4.75/5  rDev +8.4%

05-24-2013 19:44:25 | More by Spaz7

creal92

Kentucky

4.5/5  rDev +2.7%

05-24-2013 19:10:19 | More by creal92

duceswild

Maryland

4.5/5  rDev +2.7%

05-24-2013 02:56:23 | More by duceswild

MarkJBurch

New York

4/5  rDev -8.7%

05-24-2013 01:39:30 | More by MarkJBurch

Tacoboomerang

Virginia

5/5  rDev +14.2%

05-24-2013 00:27:10 | More by Tacoboomerang

IrishColonial

Virginia

3.5/5  rDev -20.1%

05-24-2013 00:17:51 | More by IrishColonial

Billz187

Ohio

4.5/5  rDev +2.7%

05-23-2013 23:41:44 | More by Billz187

CATVDK

Maine

5/5  rDev +14.2%

05-23-2013 22:40:09 | More by CATVDK

DRTBrewster

Arizona

4.25/5  rDev -3%

05-23-2013 21:33:30 | More by DRTBrewster

visionaries

California

4.25/5  rDev -3%

05-23-2013 17:17:01 | More by visionaries

BigBarley

Texas

3.98/5  rDev -9.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Pours like motor oil, jet black, with a respectable khaki-brown head that recedes quickly to a light ring. Looks like an RIS if I've ever seen one..

Aroma is almost 100% licorice, behind it are very faint notes of chocolate and roasty malt goodness. If the nose is any indicator, this will be a stout for lovers of Anise.

Hmmm. Up front there's an extreme anise attack, with underlying notes of roasted malt. It's almost 2-dimensional, but still pleasing and fitting of the style. If you aren't a fan of licorice dominating your RIS, you need to try this beer's Espresso counterpart, but this one is definitely an anise-bomb. Hints of dark fruit are noticeable, and there's a bit of alcohol warmth, but it adds to the flavor instead of being off-putting. Without the alcohol notes, there'd be just licorice. This has enough thrown in to keep it interesting.

Thick, though not the muddiest of the muddy. Enough carbonation to drink well, enough body to keep you satisfied. Filling, and holding on to a nice bite from the carbonation. Enjoyable drinker for sure.

All in all, I'd prefer to have discovered a little more complexity in this beer, but even so, the anise is not as off-putting as some reviews lead me to believe. However, if you aren't into the licorice stouts, this is not going to be up your alley.

Serving type: bottle

05-23-2013 15:54:15 | More by BigBarley

AaronBricking

Kentucky

4.25/5  rDev -3%

05-23-2013 05:02:43 | More by AaronBricking

mbw314

California

4.25/5  rDev -3%

05-23-2013 03:34:58 | More by mbw314

firecrack0r

California

4.5/5  rDev +2.7%

05-22-2013 22:54:42 | More by firecrack0r

smitty5245

California

4.5/5  rDev +2.7%

05-22-2013 22:34:18 | More by smitty5245

DangerDawg

Ohio

4.75/5  rDev +8.4%

05-22-2013 20:42:41 | More by DangerDawg

BKBassist

New York

4.25/5  rDev -3%

05-22-2013 16:25:19 | More by BKBassist

jklecko2

Missouri

4/5  rDev -8.7%

05-22-2013 15:41:34 | More by jklecko2

SmellsofMahagony

Texas

4.25/5  rDev -3%

05-22-2013 03:27:34 | More by SmellsofMahagony

Hopmodium

Washington

4.5/5  rDev +2.7%

05-22-2013 02:44:45 | More by Hopmodium

richj1970

Alabama

4.41/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Poured from 22 oz bottle into teku glass.

A: Pours pitch black with nice one to two finger head.

S: Coffee mixed with bitter chocolate and roasted malts. Maybe a bit of smoky scents here also.

T: Lots of roasty flavors with chocolates and coffee up front. Flavors definitely more prominent as it warmed up. Don't drink this one cold. It was supreme as it approached room temp.p

M: Nicely thick as you would expect from an IRS.

O: Very nice. One of my favorite stouts. I think I prefer this to the espresso version, but want to drink another of each before reaching final conclusion.

Serving type: bottle

05-22-2013 01:10:33 | More by richj1970

tviz33

New York

4.75/5  rDev +8.4%

05-21-2013 23:15:46 | More by tviz33

Claytonbrewsby

Virginia

4.25/5  rDev -3%

05-21-2013 23:10:23 | More by Claytonbrewsby

tadmuchowski

District of Columbia

4/5  rDev -8.7%

05-21-2013 22:31:35 | More by tadmuchowski