B.O.R.I.S. The Crusher Oatmeal-Imperial Stout - Hoppin' Frog Brewery

JEdmund

Kansas

2.95/5  rDev -30.8%
look: 2 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Pure black color, but sadly no head formation. Aroma is somewhat mild, but I do get the normal RIS notes of dark chocolate, coffee, and even a light cherry/raspberry fruit. Big flavor with a really big blast of alcohol heat in the finish. Mouthfeel is disappointing; not only is it somewhat thin for the style, but I’m not getting any of the creamy/silkiness you normally get when oats are added to the mash. I was really looking forward to that component of the beer. Those complaints aside, the flavor was still good and I enjoyed the beer. It just didn’t live up to the hype and my expectations.

Serving type: bottle

01-14-2013 19:21:44 | More by JEdmund

zeledonia

Minnesota

4.05/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 3 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Surprisingly, this is the first beer I've had from Hoppin' Frog. Doesn't help that they only sell big bottles. On to the beer.

Pours black in the glass, deep coffee brown at the edges. A vigorous pour yields about 1 millimeter of head, the color of hot chocolate. Gone in a second, leaving the tiniest smidge of lacing. Not the best.

Smell is big, sweet, and chocolatey. I'm loving the oats, adding a slick full sweetness to an already sweet beer. There's a rich roast in the back, but it doesn't really penetrate the sweetness.

Taste is good, but not amazing. Very rich and very sweet. Chocolate, oats, molasses, a touch of coffee. Sugary, dessert-like. Smooth.

Mouthfeel is stellar. Big and heavy, very smooth thanks to those lubricating oats. Just the right amount of carbonation - low, but enough to lighten that heaviness.

A very tasty big stout. I find it to be a bit too sweet, and not complex enough, to really wow me. But it's tasty. A little like drinking chocolate milk. Chocolate milk that gets you drunk.

Serving type: bottle

01-12-2013 04:49:42 | More by zeledonia

MadScientist

New York

4.3/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Black as night with a thin head of espresso colored compact bubbles that dissipate into a collar after a minute. The head retention is less than average.

S: The aroma is soft and inviting with deep rich roasted malt aroma with lots of coffee and dark chocolate. There is a moderate fruitiness that smells like fresh figs although raisin esters come through as it warms. There is a bit of molasses and a faint coconut like aroma. The alcohol brings a faint floral aroma and there is a light citrus hops aroma.

T: Dark chocolate, coffee and roast with a smooth moderate sweetness dominate the flavor followed by moderately-light oat flavor and a moderately light hops bitterness. There is a slight graininess to the malt. There is moderately-light amount of dark fruit mostly plums and a bit of fig. The balance is somewhat sweet with a slightly sweet finish with a cocoa aftertaste.

M: full bodied with a moderate alcohol warmth and moderate carbonation. It's kind of thick with bit of slickness from the oats.

O: An intense dark and roast malt amusement ride for the palate. The sweetness is restrained and they even made a light touch of molasses an enjoyable component

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2013 01:26:17 | More by MadScientist

haddon

Kentucky

4.23/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

pours a viscous and black with a small brown head forming, which dies down rather quickly.

aromas of dark chocolate, roasted malt, and licorice. hints of vanilla and molasses, and some coffee in the background. believe there is a bit of alcohol lingering in there somewhere.

Sweet caramel malts and molasses to go along with the sweetness of the licorice notes. Plenty of dark, roasted malts, coffee and bitter hops.

Full in body & medium carbonation.

Great beer. I don't usually care for oatmeal stouts but this hardly categorizes since it is an imperial stout. Will gladly kiss this frog again to get to the gem of a beer that's inside.

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2013 19:10:37 | More by haddon

smonice

New Jersey

4.4/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

So I have been waiting on drinking this one until the time was right and I think tonight was the perfect night to kick back, relax, and open this bad boy.

A - Motor oil color and look, about a half inch of caramel colored head, minimal lacing

S - Sweet coffee and chocolate

T - Dark chocolate, little bit of bitter coffee, roasted malts; didn't pick up on the oatmeal though

M - Thick, just the way I like my RISs

O - Really great bang for the buck. Definitely a beer that I will be buying more of to try at different intervals.

Serving type: bottle

01-05-2013 01:31:19 | More by smonice

NilocRellim

Minnesota

4.08/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured cold from the bottle.

This beer poured very dark brown with a very dark brown head. The smell is pretty strong, but average for an imperial stout. Very strong burnt smell with oats and sweet-malt. The taste was slightly sweet and malty initially, with a roasted finish.

Would I buy it again? Yes.

Serving type: bottle

12-17-2012 03:50:50 | More by NilocRellim

SkeeterBoganski

Colorado

4.23/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bomber to tulip-pint

A - dark, viscous looking; quarter-inch deep mocha head; significant lacing and retention

S - dark, sweet chocolate; some maple and vanilla notes too; lots of coffee and roasted malts

T - oatmeal; baking chocolate; dark coffee; caramel and roasted malts; malty as shit actually; nice hoppy flavors too

M - slick and chewy; rich; heavy as oil; it's like chocolate syrup in oatmeal stout form

O - this is a damn fine beer with a lot of solid flavors without being unnecessarily complex; deep, heavy, dark, malty goodness; this beer is quite nectar-y and delicious; looking forward to trying BA BORIS and DORIS.

Serving type: bottle

12-16-2012 22:41:04 | More by SkeeterBoganski

BeerNFoodDood

Colorado

4.38/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

B.O.R.I.S pored from a bomber into a tasting glass.

Pours jet black with little to no head. The slight caramel head that appears resides to the sides quickly.

Beer smells of toffee, maple, coffee and chocolate. The nose it pretty light but what I can smell is complex.

The beer is very smooth and incredibly easy drinking at near 10% abv. I taste some smoky notes as well as coffee, maple and chocolate. This beer drinks great for what the nose lacks the taste conquers.

Great Beer.

Cheers

Serving type: bottle

12-13-2012 02:36:54 | More by BeerNFoodDood

ZirconTweezer

Alabama

4.08/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Bomber poured into my Tucher Helles glass.

A: Thick, opaque with a creamy 2 finger head that dissipated fairly quickly and left little lacing.

S: Nice, earthy smell with dark fruit aroma.

T: Smooth up front with full flavor developing near the finish. Notes of coffee and dark chocolate and a near perfect amount of hops round out the taste.

M: Smooth as silk and creamy.

O: This is a very well balanced stout with a big, malt-forward flavor and just right hoppiness. Be careful though: it goes down easily so don't get ahead of yourself...

Serving type: bottle

12-09-2012 03:32:57 | More by ZirconTweezer

RuckusDu

Colorado

3.85/5  rDev -9.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

No date on the bottle, but I think it is about a year old. 22oz into Duvel tulip. A pretty good looking beer. Over a finger of dark mocha colored head which stays for a bit. Body is pitch black and nobody is seeing through this thing. Aroma wants to hide from me. Some milky chocolate and a little sourness. Very roasty mixed nuts. Flavor is too much bitter chocolate for me. A little bit of dark roasty almonds. There is a sweetness too that turns into sour milk. Body is right where I enjoy my stouts. Some good carbonation but not overpowering and a solid body.

Overall a nice beer, but too roasty and bitter for me. The other aspects of the beer are very good however.

Serving type: bottle

12-06-2012 00:19:30 | More by RuckusDu

negroobserver

New York

4.58/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

22oz bottle

Appearance - Deep Dark Rich Black color. Almost no light passes through the glass.

Smell - Chocolate, Coffee,

Taste... Malty,

Mouthfeel - Smooth and rich texture.

Overall - A very smooth and enjoyable beer. It doesn't have any spectacularly distinctive qualities, other than being a highly well balance and enjoyable beer. This is particularly true with respect to the mouthfeel of the beer. That is clearly the highlight.

Serving type: bottle

12-03-2012 00:35:59 | More by negroobserver

themind

New Jersey

4.05/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Picked up a bottle because I am a stout lover. This brew is very good. Has a creamy texture to it which is why I gave it an excellent mouthfeel rating. If you like big stouts this beer is right up your alley. Has an very good aroma and is not overly boozy. I would buy this again for sure. Worth the money! I can down this bomber without a problem, well besides walking to the fridge to grab another.

Bottom line-if you like stouts this is worth your time.

Serving type: bottle

11-29-2012 05:04:48 | More by themind

PicoPapa

Connecticut

3.93/5  rDev -7.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

22oz bottle. Pours a viscous black color with 1/4 inch of medium brown head. Lots of sticky brown lacing. Aromas of roasted malts, dark chocolate, cinammon, and black coffee. The taste is of bitter dark chocolate, roasted malts,vanilla, and some burnt coffee. Hints of cinammon at the end. Very malty and roasty taste. Nice warming alcohol presence. Rich and heavy mouthfeel. Overall, this is big stout worth having again.

Serving type: bottle

11-23-2012 04:56:59 | More by PicoPapa

vandemonian

Maryland

3.55/5  rDev -16.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

B.O.R.I.S. The Crusher Oatmeal-Imperial Stout is a big imperial stout that spent a bit too long in the fermentation vessel for my taste.

A: Deep black colour and a good brown head that lasts quite well. 4.5

S: Malty and strong yeast autolysis. 3

T: Malty with a sharp coffee flavour and yeast autolysis. This puppy was a little overcooked for my taste (i.e. spent too long fermenting). 3.5

M: Foamy and smooth. 4.5

O: 3.5

Serving type: bottle

11-18-2012 05:44:44 | More by vandemonian

TheBrewo

Michigan

4.1/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

We pop the top and pour a syrupy drink glowing the richest, deepest nut brown. It holds a brief half finger tall mocha colored head, showing low retention, but leaving sticky lacing around the glass. This recedes to a milky sheet across the top, with aggregates of bubbles hither and thither. Carbonation appears moderate, and no haze or sediment is noted. The snout roars with fire-roasted coffee malts, rich buttercream, fresh vanilla bean, light banana esters, and big heat from the booze on the back. Sweetness comes in the form of raw dark chocolate, black cherries, and plums. The creamy, buttery, milkiness is outstanding, and steals the show here, and even form a bit of a diacetyls, almost bourbony scent.. Our first impression is that the flavoring is super rich, with a deep saltiness to balance any sweetness. As we sip into it, soy sauce salt comes first, riding in with charred coffee malts. There is immediate balance of those dark fruits from the nose, while booziness also strikes instantly, adding bittering depth. The roast comes through with heavy bitterness at the peak of the swallow, with sweetness in the form of white sugars, molasses, and vanilla cream. The finish is big and boozy, with hot fumes, bittering charcoal, that continued buttery sweetness, souring apple wine vinegar, cherry fruitiness, and a light twist of further bittering citric hops. By the very end things are nicely balanced, and neither the sweetness nor the bitterness outboxes the other too much. The aftertaste breathes of chalky dark chocolate flakes, baker’s yeast, roast of coffee malts, charred wood, light butters, booze that mimics bourbon, and general bitterness of grain. The body is full and sticky like syrup, and the carbonation is medium. The lips are coated and sticking to one another, while the mouth’s initial wet coating fades to an astringent dryness down the hard palate. There is slow but nice slurp, smack, cream, and pop, with little froth to the mustache, The abv is appropriate, but catches up to you surprisingly quickly, and the beer is a definite sipper.

Overall, what we enjoyed most about this brew was the aroma. With the intense mix of booze, vanilla, creaminess, char, and fruit, one might surmise, by smell alone, that this was a barrel-aged beer. The depth is certainly there, and the nose is extraordinary with the buttery, creamy, milky sweetness to it. The taste and feel follow nicely, but this thin up slightly towards the end. The taste remained solid throughout, but tended to stray from the aroma in all of its saltiness, and general robustness and uniqueness. Still, this was a delicious beverage, making us even more excited for the real barrel-aged version, as well as the beastly D.O.R.I.S.

Serving type: bottle

11-10-2012 17:36:52 | More by TheBrewo

beergoot

Colorado

4.33/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Coal-black body with a relatively thin but creamy brown head. Mocha and coffee grounds dominate the aroma; supplemented with bitter chocolate, nougat, and raisin. Burnt bread, espresso, bitter chocolate; bold bitterness combined with a warming alcohol glow. Rich, heavy, smooth mouthfeel.

A powerhouse Russian imperial stout! Bold flavors, nicely balanced, outstanding complexity...well worth the plunge into its dark, inviting depths...

Serving type: bottle

11-09-2012 23:30:32 | More by beergoot

JoEBoBpr

Missouri

4.23/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a tulip glass from a 22oz bottle.

Pours a very very dark pitch black beer. Midnight color with some intense jet black notes. There is a nice thin light tan head that is dense and slightly sticky. Pours quite viscous and oily.

Aroma is deep dark chocolate. Sweet milk chocolate. SOO much chocolate. Dark, dark malts with some nice roasted notes. Slight coffee and some chocolate. The aroma is delicious with some awesome black malt notes and some slight dark fruits. There are some nice slight vanilla spice notes and some slight cinnamon as well.

Flavors follow the nose but is a bit more roasty. It is slightly thin and not as fulfilling as D.O.R.I.S. Some nice dark chocolate bitterness and some sweetness. Slight milk chocolate notes as well with some coffee. The beer is smooth and slick. Not as big and full as DORIS. Still very delicious.

Overall this is very delicious. Roasty and dark coffee notes. Still not my favorite form Hoppin' Frog but a very delicious Imperial Stout. Well done.

Serving type: bottle

11-07-2012 00:07:08 | More by JoEBoBpr

Roose13

New Jersey

4.13/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

22oz bottle poured into a glass

A: A deep, dark black with a nice chocolate head

S: Sweet, dark chocolate, cinnamon, coffee, oatmeal

T: Pretty sweet, especially with the dark chocolate, but not too sweet. After the initial sweetness, there is some nice roasted malts, the oatmeal backbone and some other sweet and bitter flavors.

M: Very thick and creamy. Little carbonation. Goes down easy.

Overall: Excellent stout. This was my first offering from HF after a friend from the area suggested them. I definitely recommend this for anyone who wants a darker, heavier stout that's on the sweet side, but not too sweet. Definitely a sipping stout and I made it last.

Serving type: bottle

11-05-2012 19:48:19 | More by Roose13

williamjbauer

West Virginia

4.48/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bottled served in a shaker pint glass

A - motor oil black with 1 finger thin bubbly brown head with moderate retention and Moderate thin lacing

S - dark chocolate, cocoa, espresso, oatmeal, malt, booze, copper very pungent and enticing

T - sweet dark chocolate and malt followed by a refreshing smooth flaked oats backbone and a bit of robust coffee and some dark fruits and a nice moderately bitter finish with a nice helping of booze. Well balance, more chocolate than oatmeal and quite rich.

M - full body, low carbonation. Smooth, oily.

O - Boris is one Mac daddy of a oatmeal stout with a more robust choc presence than many in the style this beer is fairly complex and a touch bitter and would serve great as a nice dessert beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-03-2012 23:59:43 | More by williamjbauer

Rutager

British Columbia (Canada)

4.18/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

2011 bottle. Thanks Yeahnatenelson!!

Appearance. Pours thick and black with just a ring of dark brown foam.

Smell. Dark chocolate and some sweet black licorice with a little dark coffee and some booze.

Taste. Sweet dark malts, bakers chocolate, a drop of molasses and a hint of dark fruits. A little coffee and black licorice in the finish.

Mouthfeel. Medium-full body, slightly sticky. Medium-low carbonation and some boozy warmth.

Overall. Great tasting, big stout. A bit of a sipper to say the least.

Serving type: bottle

10-31-2012 02:38:23 | More by Rutager

RussBecker1

3.8/5  rDev -10.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

What a peculiar stout. For someone who has been drinking a good deal of stouts lately BORIS completely colored out of the lines and changed the way I look at stout potential. The flavor is sharp as a knife and gets more and more pungent as the tasting goes on. Surprisingly, the sweetness of the oatmeal is not used to cut the alcohol which instead makes the flavor profile come off as a very harsh raisin. It looks just beautiful however, which was the most impressive part of this stout. Frankly this beer is better for just a tasting as the flavors tire out the palate towards the end making it not nearly as enjoyable as it was towards the start. BORIS is necessary to try due to the creativity displayed, and I am sure I will have it again no matter the finish.

Serving type: bottle

10-23-2012 15:37:47 | More by RussBecker1

ToasterChef

Maine

4.2/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This bottle has been in my cellar since August, 2009. I'm pouring it into my Smuttynose Big Beer Series goblet.

Poured into the center of the glass, the beer produces a small brown head. The body is opaque and colored a dark shade of brown—it's nearly black. The foam is disappearing quickly, but a good sized ring around the edge remains. A slight hiss was heard when I opened the bottle, one not a forceful as a non-cellared beer, so I am not surprised the head isn't lasting long. Swirling leaves a film and some clinging foam on the walls of the glass.

A strong chocolately aroma comes off of this beer. I am also picking up some roasted malt scents.

The beer has a very good flavor. Chcocolate is strong, but isn't sweet. I wouldn't call it baker's chocolate though. Oatmeal can be tasted as well.; it provides a nice contrast to the chocolate malts. Bitterness is very mild and alcohol flavors are non-existent.

My lips feel sticky after consuming a portion of the beverage, but inside my mouth it doesn't leave too much of a film. Carbonation is very low after three years of aging, and it remains full-bodied (but without being thick).

I like this beer. I'm not blown away by it, but perhaps drinking it fresh would have produced a more favorable review. I don't regret aging it. Cellar experiments are always fun.

Serving type: bottle

10-17-2012 00:24:21 | More by ToasterChef

Danny1217

Florida

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

Pours black. Very black, with a brown head that dissipates quickly, but has some nice lacing.
Smells of dark chocolate, roasted malts, and coffee. The booze comes through a bit here.
Incredible smoothness from the oatmeal and low carbonation. Extremely rich and decadent. bitter and sweet flavors balance out nicely. Nice roasty chocolate taste. Slight alcohol warmth. Nice.

Fantastic RIS (though I'm not sure why this isn't categorized as American imperial stout) with an oatmeal addition. I'll be getting this one again next time I want something extremely thick and... crushing.

Serving type: bottle

10-13-2012 20:21:36 | More by Danny1217

phiberoptik

Ohio

5/5  rDev +17.4%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

2011 Vintage pours like used 5-W20, but in the best way possible. This is a rich, black beer with a mocha trace of a head. Thick and viscous with molasses legs. This bottle is going to last me all night!

Very complex nose almost port or marsala wne like. Bourbon, vanilla, tobacco, coffee, dry dark chocolate, anise... wow, everytime I put it to my nose I smell something new.

Intense is an understatement for the flavor if this.Sweet maltiness up front with hints of vanilla, dark fruit, and a balanced hop bitterness. Tobacco, charred oak, and bitter dark chocolate finish with a roasted peanut shell aftertaste. At 9.4%, the alcohol is remarkably hidden but then again the is over a year old as well.

Thick, viscous, full bodied, little carbonation, almost like a bordeaux with a hint of tongue tingling fizz..

Call me an amateur, or a band wagoner, or what have you but I simply cannot fault this beer. If I nicked it half a point anywhere, it would be just because I dont want to rate something all 5's, but if a beer exceeds all of my expectations, why doesnt it deserve all 5's? This one does. If you like BIG, rich, sipping beers that warm your soul, this is an absolute experience for you.

Serving type: bottle

10-07-2012 01:27:34 | More by phiberoptik

JWU

Pennsylvania

4.03/5  rDev -5.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22oz. bottle poured into a snifter

A- dark, used motor oil look, with the dark, dark tan head to match. Head dissipates quickly.

S- Sharp hop note, booze, cocoa, coffee, and char.

T- Follows the nose. The hops start things out, a bit boozy right from the jump, and transitions to the cocoa, coffee, with a big smooth char note. The hops hold on pretty much thoughout the sip.

M- Oatmeal lends more to the mouthfeel than anything else. The boozy/hoppy profile lends to a pretty dry overall mouthfeel.

O- It's well done, and very tasty, but there are others I'd certainly rather turn to. (Stone IRS comes to mind)

Serving type: bottle

10-07-2012 00:17:40 | More by JWU