Russian Gun Imperial Stout - Grand River Brewing

jaz58

Ontario (Canada)

3.53/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

The first time having this beer. Enjoyed in a pint glass.

Thin head which dissipated quickly.

A good dark espresso colour. You couldn't see through it.

Nice toffee, coffee flavour with a small hint of hops. Silky malt.

Bitters were rough and excessive.

I've had a lot of smoother stouts.

Serving type: bottle

11-24-2012 21:53:05 | More by jaz58

TheBeeraholic

Ontario (Canada)

3.5/5  rDev -4.9%

06-16-2013 15:22:47 | More by TheBeeraholic

BigGruntyThirst

Ontario (Canada)

3.75/5  rDev +1.9%

04-29-2013 01:04:54 | More by BigGruntyThirst

AddyCanuck

Ontario (Canada)

3.46/5  rDev -6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A - Can't say much other than I couldn't see through the bottle.

S - Roasted malts and slight chocolate where all I could pick up.

T - Really bitter dark chocolate taste. Has a slight burnt taste to it. Bitter follow through. The alcohol taste is a bit overpowering.

M - Dry and very easy to drink.

O - It's a good stout. I don't recommend drinking it by itself. Have a heart tomato based meal with it.

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2013 04:00:08 | More by AddyCanuck

DaPan

Ontario (Canada)

3.75/5  rDev +1.9%

02-13-2013 04:05:54 | More by DaPan

bigox420

Ontario (Canada)

3.5/5  rDev -4.9%

01-27-2013 03:52:13 | More by bigox420

JMBSH

Colorado

4/5  rDev +8.7%

01-13-2013 03:47:21 | More by JMBSH

korguy123

Ontario (Canada)

3.63/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bottled Dec 5th, 2012
Consumed while homemade bread was rising Jan 6th, 2013.

Oily black, totally opaque pour with a 3 finger dense tan head. Gobs of lacing on the side of the glass.

Dark chocolate, burnt coffee and the molasses added really stand out in this. It smells much better than I remembered from the first time I had it years ago. Slight sweetness of raw sugar with a touch of licorice.

Burnt coffee, dark bitter chocolate (85%+) very little sweetness coming from the molasses. Good sipper with zero alcohol present.

Medium body, low carbonation. Really sticky on the lips.

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2013 20:10:54 | More by korguy123

lwadd

Ontario (Canada)

3.83/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Picked this up from the local lcbo over the Christmas holidays. Poured very black, with a thin head that dissipated quickly. The initial flavourful was rich with, I think, burnt coffee and toffee. The after taste was a little on the bitter side for me.

All in all, I would drink this again, but I feel I've had better. I had it on it's own though, and it might have been better paired with a nice holiday meal.

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2012 00:02:22 | More by lwadd

KrisDLSmith

Ontario (Canada)

4.25/5  rDev +15.5%

12-29-2012 02:27:06 | More by KrisDLSmith

kjyost

Manitoba (Canada)

4/5  rDev +8.7%

12-26-2012 01:33:31 | More by kjyost

thehyperduck

Ontario (Canada)

4.08/5  rDev +10.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

500 mL bottle from the LCBO; bottled on Nov 13 2012. This is one of the few 'major' Grand River brews that I haven't managed to get my hands on until now. I've never had anything truly disappointing from this brewery, so hopefully the aggregate review score bodes well for the continuance of that streak. This bottle was listed at 8.0%, and served only slightly chilled.

Pours an opaque black colour, with only a few brown highlights under the light. Atop the liquid is seated slightly more than one finger's width of silky, creamy, beige-coloured head - almost looks like a melted marshmallow, but with a little more tan colouration. Retention is very good; it takes well over 10 minutes to seep away, leaving behind a thin, foamy cap, collar, and a few rings of sticky lacing. The aroma is enticing, and is comprised mostly of molasses, roasted nuts/barley malt, butterscotch, and a few hints of dark fruit. A pleasant smokiness and some spice underlies this bouquet, adding an additional layer of depth.

Tasty stuff, though perhaps not as complex as the aroma suggested to me - it starts off with a solid dose of roasted, biscuity malts, molasses, cocoa, and some scant undertones of charred coffee grinds and smoke. Earthy, herbal hop notes and spiciness come through toward the finish, with the roasted character of the malts combining with these factors to produce an exceptionally bitter finish. Lingering bitterness and roasted character hangs around on the palate after each sip. On the heftier side of medium-bodied, but not quite full, with restrained carbonation that helps cut through the bitterness without becoming a distraction. The booze never really comes into play. Not as thick on the palate as it could be, but the creaminess (thanks to the long-lasted head) gives it a silky, luxurious mouthfeel that I absolutely love.

Final Grade: 4.08, an impressive A-. One of the best beers in Grand River's portfolio, their 2012 Russian Gun Imperial Stout is a satisfying, full-flavoured brew that I wouldn't hesitate to pick up more of in the future. It's not easy to find a good RIS around here, but this is a solid choice that falls right up my alley - with its relatively low abv, smooth mouthfeel and pleasant, drying finish that contrasts nicely with the big malt flavours. I would definitely take this over Wellington's RIS, and will probably pick up a few more bottles before 2013 is upon us. Well worth trying for anyone seeking out a 'bigger' stout that won't have you slurring your speech after the first bottle.

Serving type: bottle

12-17-2012 19:43:21 | More by thehyperduck

RedAleMan

Ontario (Canada)

3.75/5  rDev +1.9%

11-25-2012 07:13:51 | More by RedAleMan

cfalovo97

Ontario (Canada)

3/5  rDev -18.5%

11-06-2012 18:01:48 | More by cfalovo97

kinguy

Ontario (Canada)

4.25/5  rDev +15.5%

11-03-2012 21:18:54 | More by kinguy

Molson2000

Ontario (Canada)

4.5/5  rDev +22.3%

09-20-2012 22:16:00 | More by Molson2000

Jeffo

Netherlands

2.15/5  rDev -41.6%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Got this one in a trade last summer, though I can't remember for the life of me who it was. Cheers to whoever you are!

From a 500ml bottle into a snifter
Bottled 5 January 2011

Note: Put this one up against Wellington's RIS in an epic Battle of Ontario!

APPEARANCE: Clear, thin brown pour yields a large, three finger, looser looking, foamy, light tan head with good retention. Bistre brown in color with higher levels of carbonation evident. Head slowly fades to a thick cap, then a good wisp remains until the end and leaves lots of chunky lacing down the glass. Too thin a body, and the chunky lacing isn't all that appealing.

SMELL: Yeasty notes, dark fruits and a hint of cocoa powder. Spicy more than anything. Starting to oxidize as well.

TASTE: Yeasty and spicy once more, with a hint of caramel malts. Some spicy pepper, herbal notes, and a touch of bitterness at the swallow. Milder and shorter aftertaste is slightly oxidized, but some bitter cocoa powder and spicy yeast notes do show up, while cardboard hangs around the whole time. Not very nice.

PALATE: Medium body and higher levels of carbonation. Light on the palate but still creamy enough, goes down fine and finishes slightly dry on the palate.

OVERALL: This was lousy at best. If it's not already starting to oxidize, which would be amazing after a year and a half, then it was simply a bad beer from the start. Drain didn't even like it all that much. Nothing to see here folks. Massive loser in the Battle of Ontario...

Serving type: bottle

08-27-2012 20:25:13 | More by Jeffo

SebD

Ontario (Canada)

3.73/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Appearance: It has a nice jet black color to it. It has a nice bubbly tan head that dies down moderately and leaves nice lacing.

Smell: The aromas definitly give out hints of roasted malts, coffee, chocolate, dark fruit and piney hops.

Taste: Like the aromas, it has a nice roasty character to it with hints of coffee and chocolate, some dark fruit and piney hops. Moderate bitterness.

Mouthfeel: It has a medium carbonation with a nice overall balance and feel but it's a bit watery for a RIS.

Drinkability: It's a very smooth drinkable beer accompanied with good flavors and aromas.

Serving type: bottle

04-25-2012 19:21:47 | More by SebD

ygtbsm94

Virginia

3/5  rDev -18.5%

04-24-2012 04:35:30 | More by ygtbsm94

traumaqueen

3.75/5  rDev +1.9%

04-03-2012 04:37:36 | More by traumaqueen

MattPS

Ontario (Canada)

4.5/5  rDev +22.3%

03-03-2012 23:27:52 | More by MattPS

ThinkAgain

Ontario (Canada)

4.5/5  rDev +22.3%

02-28-2012 04:48:48 | More by ThinkAgain

sliverX

S. Georgia & S. Sandwich Isls.

4/5  rDev +8.7%

02-19-2012 00:39:22 | More by sliverX

WeedKing4

Ontario (Canada)

3.68/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours jer black with a small amount of caramal foam. Tastes quite roasty, with some smoke and chocolate notes coming through. Its not to thin, and it drinks down pretty good for being 8.5%. Considering this is from Ontario, its not that bad of a imperial stout. This brewery can make some decent beers.

Serving type: bottle

02-18-2012 00:47:35 | More by WeedKing4

NightINgale

Quebec (Canada)

3.5/5  rDev -4.9%

02-05-2012 09:03:06 | More by NightINgale