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

pmarlowe

California

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

Tulip glass.

A: Pours a thick, viscous black, with a nice cap of fine dark brown head. A ring remains after a minute or so. No lacing.

S: Chocolatey with sharp roastiness, a little dark fruit (grape) and coffee.

T: Roasted malt in the forefront, supported by chewy dark chocolate.

M: Full bodied, thick and chewy, with light carbonation.

O: Pretty tasty RIS. Hits a nice level for the body. On the roastier side rather than chocolatey.

Serving type: bottle

10-05-2012 05:40:57 | More by pmarlowe

Mebuzzard

Colorado

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

NOTE: This is a 2-year old bottle from my cellar

Pours a reddish black. Big tan head, rocky. Some lacing. Looks promising.

Aroma is a great blend of chocolate, coffee, prune and baked caramel. Nothing strong like a RIS under normal conditions, but delish nonetheless

Flavors follow the nose. Chocolate, mocha, coffee and soft prune. It's like a regular RIS (but with alcohol a bit softer from aging) and the oats make is smooooth. Easy drinking. You get the robustness of a RIS with the smoothness of an oatmeal stout.

Very nice. I have the BA Boris "on ice". Can't wait for that one.

Serving type: bottle

09-30-2012 17:25:23 | More by Mebuzzard

NumberNone

Maryland

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

A: Pours a thick inky black with a cocoa-colored head that dissipates quickly. Mild carbonation present with decent lacing.

S: Chocolate, coffee, caramel, chili pepper, oatmeal, smokiness, toastiness.

T: Cocoa, hops, slight malt, dark chocolate, oatmeal, slight chili pepper, smoky, toasty, caramel.

M: Smooth, well-balanced, good strands of bitterness and dryness coming through. Creamy with bold, definite flavors.

O: This is a bold, tasty RIS with a solid profile of flavors. Nice touches of bitterness and dryness. I picked a bottle of this up at Jungle Jim's in Fairfield, Ohio, while visiting friends in the area in June. Unfortunately, along with the rest of the Hoppin' Frog line, it's not available in my state. Should've grabbed at least another bottle.

Serving type: bottle

09-28-2012 10:56:38 | More by NumberNone

JamesShoemaker

New York

3.75/5  rDev -12%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

I've had this one on the shelf for a bit, so I was pretty excited for it. 22 oz bottle purchased for $10.

A - very pretty. Jet black with very little head.

S - the alcohol begins, chocolate, coffee. Subtle.

T - there is a lot going on with this brew. Plenty of tastes to go around. The barley and the alcohol actually make it a little too much though. Almost tastes like a barleywine.

M - not great. The myriad flavors leave you with an unpleasant tingling.

O - I'd be interested to try this one on tap. The best comparison I can think of is Bell's Expeditioner's Stout, which isn't a great compliment.

Serving type: bottle

09-22-2012 04:14:28 | More by JamesShoemaker

StonedTrippin

Colorado

4/5  rDev -6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

a much more drinkable, and frankly more likable stout than the destroyer they make. this one still has all the viscosity and alcohol kick, just in slightly less offensive form. it pours impossibly dark, syrupy thick, with a small cocoa colored head on top. its got powerful aromas of dark chocolate and heavy roasted coffee. its also got a lot of booze, so the nose tells me. it almost stings to breath this in deeply. the flavor is very intense, nothing subtle about this beer at all, it really hits you in the face. bitter coffee and unsweetened chocolate are the most obvious flavors, but the residual sugar from the oat addition is also quite bold. the feel is majorly thick, and a whole bomber to the head could kill the inexperienced. a definitely slow sipper that evolves as it warms. its sticky in the mouth, leaving a lot behind, and the alcohol is warming. a great fireside brew in the winter. perhaps a bit too much for this time of year, but this is a monument to what is possible in the big stout category, a massive beer for those so inclined.

Serving type: bottle

09-17-2012 23:16:51 | More by StonedTrippin

WeedKing4

Ontario (Canada)

4.15/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Picked this up in Buffalo. Pours a jet black with caramel brown head. Tastes of roasted chocolate with the oatmeal and almost raisin like finish. Pretty smooth mouthfeel overall and the big booze with this beer doesn't come through in the taste. A pretty good stout overall.

Serving type: bottle

09-17-2012 02:18:08 | More by WeedKing4

SGDJosh

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

Hoppin' Frogs BORIS The Crusher Oatmeal imperial Stout. Poured from a 22oz bottle on 9/14. No date on the bottle but purchased on 9/13 from the Proof Brewing bottle shop in Tallahassee, FL.

A - dark brown/black with a dark Khaki colored head on top. Dissolves quickly and leaves a heady ring around the edge. 

S - lots of coffee, milk chocolate and dark fruit. No noticeable alcohol on the nose.

T - Loads of rich dark malts, milky chocolate and brown sugar oatmeal. Finishes with a licorice like qualities. Oatmeal smooths it over and finishes great.

Mouthfeel is great. Heavy and palate coating with a smooth finish. The alcohol cleans it all up for the next drink.

Overall, it's pretty awesome. Lots of nose and layers of rich flavors make this beer a great drinker. I'm really looking forward to trying D.O.R.I.S.!

Serving type: bottle

09-15-2012 01:43:37 | More by SGDJosh

nppeders

Minnesota

4.6/5  rDev +8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Appearance
Jet black with a dark brown head. Very little head

Smell
Dark chocolate, espresso, a little dark fruit.

Taste
Follows through on the smell but more of a milk chocolate flavor. Middle of the sip is creamy, velvety, Graham cracker and finishes liKe a s'moore.

Mouthfeel
Medium and very low carbonation

Overall
Tis is frickin fantastic. Reminds me of Brooklyn chocolate stout but bigger and creamier. This may be mynfavorite RIS because I love the chocolate in stout and when dark fruits are barely there. A+. I will definitely seek more of this!!!

Serving type: bottle

09-09-2012 01:33:01 | More by nppeders

libbey

Washington

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

22oz poured into a HotD tulip.

A: The beer pours a jet black with a small cap of coco brown head, with decent retention, leaving a nice sticky trail of lacing.

S: The nose is all dark chocolate malt with hints of crushed espresso. Lovely depth to the flavor profile.

T: A good deal of the bitter dark chocolate on the front end layered with touches of dark fruit and roasted malts. ABV is present but is masterfully integrated. Really good.

M: The overall mouthfeel is great. Perfect carbonation carry this full bodied imperial stout with a velvety layer lingering on the pallet after every sip. Exceptional.

O: Overall this is a fantastic RIS and certainly worthy of the praise and awards its garnished over the years. World class pursue accordingly.

Serving type: bottle

08-20-2012 02:20:47 | More by libbey

Strix

Wisconsin

4.53/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Pours thick and near black with reddish-brown edges, chocolate head, fades to nothing.

Smells of roasted coffee, chocolate, malt, dark fruit.

Roasted coffee, malt, dark chocolate, dark fruit, cocoa, a subtle lingering hop bitterness.

Super smooth and creamy mouthfeel.

A very nice RIS. No off-flavors. Killer mouthfeel. I'm a sucker for coffee and dark chocolate, so I thought this was great.

Serving type: bottle

08-13-2012 02:53:25 | More by Strix

McNealc31

Ohio

4.68/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Widely regarded as both one of the best Oatmeal Stouts as well as one of the best RISs, this Bodacious Oatmeal Russian Imperial Stout is not for the weak-palated.

Pours a creamy deep coffee that looks silky smooth. Floating on top is the darkest head you'll ever see with incredibly tight, Guinnessesque froth. Smells of bittersweet chocolate, charred oak, and sweet toffee. Remarkably smooth as it coats the mouth. So many interweaving flavors including currants, sweet malt, deeply roasted malt, some char and smoke. Exceptionally well balanced. Oatmeal comes more in the texture than it does the flavor. The 9.4% ABV is surprisingly restrained. Not hot at all, just a pleasing warmth after the swallow. 60 IBUs, as well, but it doesn't feel like nearly that many.

Amazing flavors, outstanding balance and complexity, delightful texture. It's not a wonder Hoppin' Frog B.O.R.I.S. is a multiple GABF Gold Medal winner

Serving type: bottle

08-11-2012 01:56:52 | More by McNealc31

claspada

New Jersey

3.95/5  rDev -7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a viscous black color with a small brown head forming, which dies down into a thin foam cap leaving minimal lacing.

Aromas begin with dark chocolate, roasted malt and licorice. Some burnt sugar notes, hints of vanilla and molasses and some espresso in the background. Searching for some of the oats but not getting much to be honest.

The tastes begin with sweet caramel maltiness and loads of molasses to go along with the sweeter licorice notes. Plenty of dark, roasted malts with a hint of char and burnt sugar, as well as a little bit of coffee and bitter hops. Again searching for some sort of toasted oat flavor to balance the intense bitter darker malts but finding little.

The mouthfeel is full in body with a smooth, medium level of carbonation. Oats impart a sublte creaminess to balance the bitterness but not as substantial as I would have liked.

Overall this is a solid Imperial Stout but with the inference that this is an Oatmeal Imperial Stout, I was left wanting more. I enjoyed this more than the barrel aged version as that totally stripped the Oatmeal Stout theme.

Serving type: bottle

07-25-2012 17:26:45 | More by claspada

denver10

Colorado

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

Pours black with a dark mocha head that quickly recedes. Alright lacing. A rich, roasty aroma of dark chocolate, roasted barley, some oats and a some alcohol. Flavor follows suit; a very sweet but rich oatmeal stout. A nice thick hit of sweet and bitter chocolate alongside some roastiness and mild coffee notes with a hit of alcohol showing itself. A thick, creamy mouthfeel that is quite awesome. Overall, a bit too sweet an oatmeal stout for my personal tastes. That said, its good for what it is and still an enjoyable brew.

Serving type: bottle

07-15-2012 22:03:04 | More by denver10

martyl1000

Wisconsin

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

From a bomber into tulip glasses. A booziness in the nose, with some complex rose petals and molasses sweetness.

Sweet at first sip, dark stone fruit dark chocolate. Quiet coffee in the mouth. A bit of metallic acid, much more like a porter than an imperial stout. Too bad about that last bit, was expecting the oatmeal to make this much smoother.

Medium-heavy in the mouth. Tannic and coppery on the tongue.

Serving type: bottle

07-13-2012 04:30:47 | More by martyl1000

tut2528

Illinois

3.18/5  rDev -25.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 5 | overall: 3

A: deep yet black on the pour, about ½ fingers worth of dark-tan head formation, moderate film remains on the outside of the glass. Head dies down rather quickly.

S: roasted malts and coffee notes are the first aroma notes I notice. Behind it lies mild notes of dark fruits, molasses, and just a enough alcohol to be noticeable. Nothing else really coming to mind

T: Chocolate, big grains, and mild dark fruits. Moderate coffee lingers there in the background. Finishes with a vanilla creaminess but this is immediately pulled from the palate due to the dry hop finish (60 IBUs).

M: big, very chewy.

O: Unimpressive to be honest. I thoroughly enjoyed the BA BORIS in the past, so I decided to give this one a try. I love hops, but the hops are completely off in this one creating an unbalanced aspect. I find myself only noticing chocolate, coffee and hops.

Serving type: bottle

07-11-2012 03:04:46 | More by tut2528

cvm4

Mississippi

3.98/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A - Pours black, leaves an inch of tan head that leaves within a minute to a ring around the glass.

S - Coffee bean, roasted malt and faint dark chocolate.

T - Huge roasted malt hit followed with coffee. There's a lingering, cloying sweet taste like dark fruits or the like.

M - Heavy, low carbonation. Somewhat syrupy.

O - Such a rich beer, I didn't do it justice.

Serving type: bottle

07-08-2012 02:32:26 | More by cvm4

One2Remeber

Florida

3.9/5  rDev -8.5%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

First time having BORIS, have heard great things.

A: Pours slow, black syrup of a body. Thin bubbly head fades after seconds to leave a thin ring on edge. Not tons of activity.

S: Rich chocolate with tons of grain aroma. Crisp and clean.

T/M: Smell carries over to the taste with a powerful oatmeal backbone. Tastes more like cooked oats than fluffy. Resinous mouthfeel with hints of dark fruits (chocolate covered berries). Big yeast flavor as it warms up, banana/fruity esters. Hint of booze afterwards.

O: This did not live up to the hype. It is incredibly delicious and spot on for style. I would still prefer a TenFidy which has the same flavors yet more potent or a Yeti that is on the same line as Boris just a bit more complex. Still I would recommend this stout and will be drinking more of Hopping Frog in the future.

Serving type: bottle

07-06-2012 01:19:08 | More by One2Remeber

rodlavers

Pennsylvania

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

Poured from a Bomber into a Founders snifter

A. Black. About an inch of really bubbly and foamy, tan/chocolate head, disappears pretty quickly, no lacing.

S. Roasted coffee, chocolate, and malt. It gets better, and more defined as it warms.

T. More Coffee and malt than chocolate, but everything from nose is there. Oatmeal certainly involved. As it warms, the taste smoothes and allows each feature to present itself more clearly. Very tasty.

M. Smooth, with a bit of carbonation, but it gets better and better. I poured this cold and consumed it over the course of about an hour an a half.

O. Very good beer. Glad I bought two bottles.

Serving type: bottle

06-24-2012 22:41:58 | More by rodlavers

BruceBruce

Texas

4.15/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A. Jet black, I love it

S. Might be my allergies, but cant get enough scent off this one. Some roasted malts and coffee/chocolate.

T. Again what I am guessing are roasted malts, then coffee then a hint of chocolate with roasted malts on the end. Having a bad day for tasting, but the beer deserves my best shot.

M. Is really good not to thick defiantly not thin, I dig it.

O. I love this beer it is great, I have had the BA version and it was better, but this is amazing. I love it, I am on a huge dark beer kick right now and this one is topps, GREAT BEER!!! Try it, if you can get it, because I can't get this readily available here in Texas....

Serving type: bottle

06-19-2012 03:20:47 | More by BruceBruce

marlinsfan4

Maryland

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

A great, all-around beer. Pours a jet black color and reeks of roastiness. Taste is full bodied with notes of chocolate, nuts, whiskey, roasted malts, and oatmeal. A bit strong, but a great blend of flavors that finishes smooth. One of the better oatmeal stouts I have tried and worth seeking out.

Serving type: bottle

06-15-2012 21:16:49 | More by marlinsfan4

B33R501

Pennsylvania

2.83/5  rDev -33.6%
look: 2 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

i dont know. this was just not as good as i was expecting, gold medal gabf 2011? what do they know? hehe.

black, maybe the most black beer ive seen, real dark brown head. i liked the smoothness of the oats but my problem with the appearance and mouthfeel is the beer quickly went to a still, lifeless state in the glass. not any better in my convenience store coffee cup either. same thing i dont like about southern tier stouts. if you look like this, you better be samichlaus and up around 15% abv. sorry, no excuse for that.

big aroma of chocolate, the best part of the beer. thought i would absolutely love this, oh well.

my issues with the taste are, can a beer be too dark roasted, black malted? i didnt think so, but i know better now. this beer is way over the top with the darkness, the hops tried to break thru, but failed. really just tastes like bad, burnt, black coffee or espresso.

oh no, the darkness, the blackness. come to the light. come to the light.

i never need to try this again, obviously.

Serving type: bottle

06-15-2012 17:41:46 | More by B33R501

BWHD

Illinois

4.68/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Hoppin’ Frog B.O.R.I.S. the Crusher Oatmeal – Imperial Stout

Poured into a generic brandy snifter.

A: Noticeably viscous in appearance… even more so than Oskar Blues Ten Fidy, I reckon, but my brother disagrees (going to have to do a side-by-side!). Pours a deep, solid, dark brown with some burt orange peering through the edges. Has a medium kahki/sandy head that never quite gets going, but stays ever present in the glass, like a galaxy of stars amidst the black of space. “Galaxy” retention seems to fade the longer the beer sits in the glass, but comes back with a good swirl.

S: Thick and creamy with bitter and milk chocolate and some definite dark fruit sweetness, slight oatmeal graininess and some booziness, especially as it warms up. Fairly complex.

T: Creamy, sweet with that dark fruit and some amazing dark and milk chocolate notes. Creeping, almost cloying, dark fruit sugariness. Definitely some subtle coffee in the taste, too. Slightly stinging acidy at cellar temp, mellows as it layers. 9.4% ABV is barely noticeable.

M: Creamy and viscous, medium-heavy mouthfeel; wonderful for the style. Starts slightly acidic on the tongue and mellows and rounds out as the beer warms and layers into a fabulous, deliciously warming experience. Like slightly acidic, carbonated melted chocolate.

O: Amazing. Not just one of the best non-barrel aged, readily available stouts out there, it is simply one of the best brews out there, period. Hoppin’ Frog has a real winner here. I feel so lucky that, even in Peoria, IL, that I can somehow get this one year-round. Fabulous. Comes in just ahead of Oskar Blues Ten Fidy and just shy of the barrel aged Old Raspy for me. Also, believe it or not, this standard version is better than the barrel aged version, too.

Serving type: bottle

06-13-2012 19:30:42 | More by BWHD

rtaps

California

4.35/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours black with a small brown head that doesn't hang around very long with minimal lacing

Nice ostmeal around with some of the whiskey coming through, roasted chocolate

Taste fallows the nose with a lot more of the whiskey barrel character to it that's very good.

Full bodied light-medium carbonation. Pretty viscous.

Overall this was a tasty little treart with a lot more of the whiskey barrel elements to it than I expect and it makes this beer as good as it is IMO

Serving type: bottle

06-11-2012 04:48:45 | More by rtaps

DovaliHops

California

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

Pours a pitch black color with small-medium dark brown head. Scent is more dark fruit forward than I was expecting. A bit of raisin with some date and plum, also some molasses. More dark fruit with some chocolate and coffee. Taste is sweet toffee at first, immediately followed by a ton of dark fruit character. Kinda like a cross between an imperial stout and a Belgian quad. Nice vanilla with smooth chocolate and strong coffee finish. Drinkability is high. Mouthfeel is full bodied and smooth. Overall, this was not what I was expecting, but a great take on an imperial stout.

Serving type: bottle

06-06-2012 06:27:15 | More by DovaliHops

BrownNut

Florida

3.95/5  rDev -7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A - Black, finger of light brown head that dissipates quickly

S - Not a big smell. Caramel, malty, chocolate, leather, minor char, vaguely vegetal in that molassessy way.

T - Something in the toffee neighborhood, but really closer to the background taste in chocolate ice cream, which pushes right up to the edge of mocha. The alcohol is very well masked. It manifests only as pleasant mildly warm fumes wafting up after the swallow.

M - Medium-heavy, somewhat viscous

O - Satisfying, rich, and nice. I might favor a little more complexity in other areas such as char or wood notes, but it's still distinct. I might buy it again.

Serving type: bottle

05-30-2012 22:36:19 | More by BrownNut