Marshal Zhukov's Imperial Stout - Cigar City Brewing

Etan

Illinois

4.23/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

750ml generously shared by Marco. Thanks!

A: Pours black and inky with a creamy dark tan head.

S: Heavy blackened barley, dark chocolate, burnt coffee beans.

T: Coffee, milk chocolate, some booze, thick roasted grain, plenty of bitterness.

M: Thick and creamy.

O: Very good imperial stout, especially in the mouthfeel area.

Serving type: bottle

10-26-2012 06:56:11 | More by Etan

mendvicdog

Maryland

4.8/5  rDev +10.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Sampled this at the DC bottle share at the Smoke and Barrel on October 14, 2012.

Appearance is exactly what you expect in a big stout, dark with a little creamy head.

Smell not that intense, but very pleasant, a little smoke and a tiny tart fruit

Taste is similar to smell; no surprises. The alcohol is hidden well in this beer. Mouthfeel just so smooth.

The whole beer is just what I would call smooth deliciousness.

Serving type: bottle

10-19-2012 19:38:20 | More by mendvicdog

smakawhat

Maryland

4.73/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Poured from the bottle into a snifter glass at Smoke & Barrel in DC for the bottle share. Personal review #1500, woah it's been that many already? Off we go, much thanks to InfinityonTrial for bringing it.

It is a bit dark downstairs to truly see but the most impressive thing is a super dark mocha chocolate head that is created. Settles slowly with a whispy top, some speckled like lacing gets stuck in some of the legs, on a classic opaque walnut black body.

Nose hits with what seems like very solid roast coffee, with a mild chocolate sense. Good solid roast body, light bitterness and not burning my nostrils. Pretty solid, not earth shattering, but feels and sense quite decent.

On first sip I feel in love instantly. Wonderful dark rich bitter chocolate, with a creamy ganache like sense in the palate. Roasting warming coffee on the aftertaste. A real fascinating play on the bitter as well, there's this wonderful lime juice on the tongue of hop astringency while finishing. All miraculously melds together even after multiple sips, a warming roast quality of piping coffee, but no boozy character either.

Great beer, truly memorable.

Serving type: bottle

10-16-2012 22:48:53 | More by smakawhat

FATC1TY

Georgia

4.68/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 750ml into a Snifter/Tulip. Fresh 2012 bottle.

A: A blacker than night color with a huge red hue'd mocha head that goes, and goes and goes. Insane cascading carbonation, with unreal lacing that sticks to the glass the ENTIRE time you drink it. Great thin line of head last to the last drop. Looks gorgeous in the glass.

S: Roasty, burnt wood. Vanilla, licorice, tar, chocolate... a bit of booze even.. Smells like a typical imperial stout. Not much else going on, but enough to make me want to drink it.

T: Winner, winner chicken dinner. The taste is everything here. Roasty malts, espresso out the ass end. It's a pleasant roast, not acrid, but nice and roasted and full body. Caramel, and toffee come into play, slight vanilla and sweet chocolate pop here and there. A Floral hop bit comes at the end and finished thick... enough to coat the palate, asking for more! A hint of alcohol comes in at the finish, but nothing to deter from the finish. It's sweet enough to drink more, and bitter enough to balance it out. Perfect.

M: Milshake. It's full bodied, plenty of roasty flavors coat your mouth. Perfect carbonation to help clean it up a bit and move it along. Slightly warm finish deep in the end of the sip. They really hit it perfect here.. Love the mouthfeel. Best of the best.

O: One of my favorites. I'm not close enough to get it easily, but not far enough it's not easy to get. A great stout that fills all the voids you want in a good stout. Balanced and tasty, great roasty flavor with enough sweetness to make you enjoy it. Top rated beer for a reason.. Glad I have more on hand!

Serving type: bottle

10-06-2012 01:29:07 | More by FATC1TY

Kadonny

Pennsylvania

3.63/5  rDev -16.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 750 bottle into a snifter glass. This bottle was aged at least a year, maybe a little longer.

A: Wow, this is a deep black color with some red tints to it. Two finger reddish brown head leaves massive glass lacing the never goes away.

S: Tons of dark roasted smells with dark chocolate, smoke, licorice and some sweetness.

T: Wow, so roasty. Roasted malts just dominate with deep flavors of smoke, licorice, dark chocolate, hints of tar and coffee and some caramel and toffee sweetness. The dark roasted flavors mix with the sweet but never go away. Burnt woody tones make it chalky on the finish with a decent alcohol kick to it.

M: Full, coating, lasting roast flavors, higher carbonation and some alcohol.

O: A good stout, but not a great stout. I think maybe I hurt this with the age because the coffee is pretty non existent and the dark roasted flavors pound the mouth. I thought some more hops could have helped balance, but as I said it's possible the hops were muted from age.

Overall I enjoyed it, but it is not a top tier RIS or Imp stout IMO. I had this then the Voodoo BBVD on consecutive nights and the BBVD is a much more complex and enjoyable beer. Summation? Good, but not great.

Updated 10/1/12. Tried this beer again over the weekend. 750 bottle poured into a snifter glass.

S: Getting just a ton of roasted smells with much more charred and burnt wood. Still no hop notes.

T: The dark roasted flavors of this beer seem one dimensional to me. Very charred, burnt, roasted and tar really take over. No hints of fruit, hops, coffee or even chocolate. It all seems dark and dank.

This is my second bottle and it pretty much is the same. I guess this beer is just not for me.

Serving type: bottle

10-02-2012 13:47:25 | More by Kadonny

rodkin

Missouri

4.15/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Pitch black, with a really dark brown head. Quite large head for 11%, with decent lacing. Looks very thick.

Milk chocolate, coffee, roast, bit of dark chocolate, some dark fruit, hint of vanilla.

Taste is similar. Milk chocolate, roasted bitterness, dark fruit sweetness, vanilla, dark chocolate. Really sweet, like a melted chocolate bar.

Mouthfeel is really smooth, creamy, nice carbonation.

A very fine stout. The alcohol is entirely hidden, which is scary. Maybe slightly sweeter than I'd like, but overall very good. Now if only it had some cinnamon, chili, vanilla, and cocoa mixed in...

Serving type: bottle

10-01-2012 02:29:16 | More by rodkin

NoLeafClover44

Delaware

4.45/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

22 oz. bottle poured into a CCB snifter. The beer, as well as the glass, are courtesy of smokinoak in a recent trade. Bottled August 31, 2012.

A - Looks like motor oil on the pour, black and viscous. Tan carbonation rises through the body, almost like a nitro pour. Not much head on this one, but the halo around the edge is thick and long lasting. Spotty droplets clings to the wall of the glass; apparently a cross between lacing and legs.

S - Rich, roasty aroma full of dark fruits. Plum, dates, and dark cherry dance with chocolate and bitter char. Hints of sweet marshmallow and molasses pull it all together. The aroma is complex and delicious.

T - The flavor is an immediate shot to the palate. Strong and complex with a great balance. Initially sweet with the dark fruits of the nose, milk chocolate, and smokey vanilla. The slightest amount of charred bitterness on the back end. Nice mocha finish. Smooth as hell.

M - Thick with a nice subtle carbonation. Coats the tongue and the best way to describe the feel is "soft." Velvety smooth with no alcohol , despite the 11% ABV. One of the best feels to any beer I have had.

O - Cigar City is a tease of a brewery that only distributes (to PA/DE/MD) the beers that I am not very interested in and none of the beers I want. Thank god for trading because Marshal Zhukov is excellent. This is one of the fullest stouts I have had in both flavor and mouthfeel. Easy drinking with great sweet and roasty balance. I got two, so I am really looking forward to opening the other in a few years. If you have access, grab this one. Up there with FBS and Pt5 among the best non-BA stouts, in my opinion.

Serving type: bottle

09-26-2012 01:35:21 | More by NoLeafClover44

azdback

Arizona

4.15/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

2011 750ml bottle poured into a Bruery tulip. Deep dark black ink black color. Edges are just as black. Head is a huge three fingers of dark chocolate color and a silky pillow soft appearance. Reminds me of Brooklyn Black Ops. Lace is sticking in a raining pattern. Quite nice!!

Smell is dark roasted espresso beans, dark chocolate, dried cherries, maybe some charred wood and some alcohol.

Taste is mostly like the nose. There is the dark, bitter chocolate, some coffee but the dominate flavor is the tart fruits. Cherries, figs. I am not getting any alcohol taste or burn with this at all, at least while it's still on the cold side.

Mouth is smooth and luscious, carbonation is on the medium side. Body is rich and towards chewy. Finish is everlasting and wet with the slightest hint of alcohol burn.

Overall I have been waiting over a year to crack this bottle and it didn't disappoint. There is a reason this is on the top 100 list. Thanks to Centenial for sending this my way. I would love to try a fresh bottle. Trade for, or pick this one up if you can.

Serving type: bottle

09-25-2012 02:51:00 | More by azdback

sukwonee

Washington

4.53/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

2011 vintage.

A: Black motor-oil body with one finger mocha head that lingers. Lots of lacing.

S: Roasted malt, dark chocolate. Smells very close to Hunahpu without the peppers.

T: Yum... very very good tasting stout. Dark chocolate, roasty malt, coffee, some hops. Taste is very... long...(couldn't find a better adjective) and it lingers very long too afterwards - dark chocoalte and bitterness. It's awesome and I think it will age very well too, although it tastes great now.

M: Same and Hunahpu. Thick, syrupy, chewy, awesome.

O: This is probably my favorite non-barrel aged and specially treated stout to date.

Serving type: bottle

09-23-2012 00:52:19 | More by sukwonee

SGDJosh

4.58/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

CCB Marshal Zhukov Imperial Russian Stout bottled on August 31 2012 and tasted on 9/14 from bottle. Fresh tasting...

Pours pitch black with a dark brown head. Very thick

Smells of rich coffee, espresso, smoke, roasted malts. Long dry finish that leaves you wanting more.

Mouthfeel is very full bodied, plenty of tactile sensations - velvety but dry.

Overall opinion is that this beer is great! Loads of flavor and mouthfeel. This is a fresh tasting and I will revisit a cellared bottle later

Serving type: bottle

09-15-2012 01:40:23 | More by SGDJosh

Danny1217

Florida

4.75/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Pours jet black, like ink. You can literally see the thickness of it. Not much head to speak of, but the intensity of the black color speaks in itself. Smells very roasted. Some hops coming through (it is a very fresh bottle, so the hops are all in tact) as well as dark fruits, chocolate, espresso, toffee, and booze. The alcohol on the nose is powerful, and actually frightening. Fortunately, the alcohol is completely hidden beneath the bold flavors. Bitter chocolate, roasted malts, espresso, figs, and citrus hop flavors. Bitter and powerful. Flavorful even as imperial stouts are concerned. Each sip coats my mouth with its deliciousness. A somewhat light carbonation makes it feel so creamy. This beer is viscous and full bodied.

Could be the best RIS I have had. Definitely one of them. I need to find some more of this and see how it does with age.

Serving type: bottle

09-13-2012 04:56:45 | More by Danny1217

jegross2

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Reviewing the Marshal Zhukov's Imperial Stout from Cigar City Brewing out of Tampa Bay, Florida.
Score: 93

2011 vintage bottle served in a Surly Darkness snifter and enjoyed on 09/12/12.

Appearance: Pours a jet black, ink-like color with almost three fingers of thick brown creamy head that recedes to a ring around the glass. Really good lacing and retention. Excellent looking stout. 4.5/5

Smell: Bittersweet cocoa, milk chocolate, Surly Darkness-esque sweet figs, some burnt roastiness and a cherry-like aroma that reminds me a lot of Black Albert. Hint of berry, a little soy sauce and a touch of toffee too. 4/5

Taste: Bittersweet roasted chocolate and milk chocolate flavor with some cherry on the midpalate and in the finish. Sweet fig, brown sugar, a little soy (less than in the nose), and a nice touch of bitter "burnt" roastiness in the finish to balance the sweet dark fruit flavor and cap off the beer's flavor. The more the beer layers, the more the cherry flavor seems to be "coated" in the chocolate flavors, essentially becoming a chocolate covered cherry flavor with a light "fizziness" to it. The finish is mildly bitter from the lingering roast flavor. Some cherry flavor lingers in the aftertaste too. This beer sort of tastes like a Black Albert Jr. 4.25/5

Mouthfeel: Medium-full bodied, low carbonation. Bittersweet and roasty. Has a slight "fizziness" from the cherry flavor on the tongue that gives the flavor a little life. Mildly syrup-like mouthfeel. 4/5

Overall: A delicious stout that is worth seeking out and well-priced for what it delivers.

Recommendation: Fans of Black Albert should seek this out, while fans of this beer should seek out Black Albert.

Pairings: Dark chocolate.

Cost: $15 for a 750 ml bottle.

Serving type: bottle

09-13-2012 03:51:29 | More by jegross2

fhyden

4.48/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

2012 bottle poured from 750ml into snifter

A - Dark, dark, dark. A healthy caramel head tops this viscous bad boy, and boy does it have legs -- a swirl leaves the glass coated. Good retention and solid lacing.

S - Chocolate, toffee, espresso, molasses.

T - The chocolate and toffee really come through on the front end with some tobacco and a nice finishing hops bitterness at the end. It's sweet, but not cloyingly so. I catch a little fig and perhaps a bit of smokiness as it warms.

M - Thick and creamy. Good God, this just coats the inside of my mouth.

O - This is one my absolute favorite untreated examples of an RIS and is one of the few I've had that has been balanced so well when so fresh. Outstanding!

Serving type: bottle

09-12-2012 17:15:55 | More by fhyden

beesy

Ohio

4.15/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Thanks Nate for including this with a trade.

Poured from a 750ml bottle into a snifter.

A - Pours an extremely dark, inky black. A two finger head of dark brown(one of darkest heads around). A good amount of lacing.

S - chocolate milk. Slight roast. Caramel. Sweet. Milky Way. Dark stone fruit.

T - lots of the same. Lots of choclate and caramel. Sticky and sweet on the lips. Sweet but not cloyingly so. Lots of toffee too. Not much in the way of hop flavor or aroma. A slight hop bitterness on the back but has melded well. Milky Way. Some stone fruit notes appears as it warms.

M - full bodied and thick, almost shake like.

D - fairly low to medium-low.

Overall, a fantastic tasting RIS. A little thicker and stickier than I like but still good. The high IBU stated doesn't come through, so I can only assume the bottle is from last year. Drinks a little cleaner when consumed on the cold side.

Serving type: bottle

08-27-2012 00:54:59 | More by beesy

vfgccp

New York

3.78/5  rDev -12.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

July 2011 bottle, opened Aug 2012

A - Wow, the pour is liquid bowling ball black. Thick, creamy, milk chocolate brown head with fantastic retention and lace. Zero highlights on the solid black body.

S - Warm booze, balsamic, black molasses, toffee, savory, and anise.

T - Thick sweet molasses, burnt toast, dark roast coffee, cherry and plum fruits, toffee, dry dark chocolate, and cream.

M - Chewy mouthfeel. About as thick as they come.

O - Aggressive flavor profile; this bottle is definitely meant for sharing. It feels more over the top than in balance, which is cool if it's your thing but it's a little much for me.

Serving type: bottle

08-19-2012 19:40:45 | More by vfgccp

vandemonian

Maryland

3.4/5  rDev -21.5%
look: 5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 5 | overall: 3.5

Cigar City Marshal Zhukov's Imperial Stout is an extremely thick and dark imperial stout. The flavour is huge but not in a pleasant way. They left the yeast in too long for my liking. Autolysis.

A: So so dark. Motor oil with a big creamy-looking brown head. 5

S: Malty with soy sauce and motor oil. Too much umami. 3

T: Malty with a lot going on. Vegemite. Autolysed yeast. Some chocolate and tobacco flavour. It's interesting but I didn't like it that much. 3

M: Like chocolate mousse. 5

O: 3.5

Serving type: bottle

08-13-2012 18:07:15 | More by vandemonian

axeman9182

New Jersey

4.08/5  rDev -5.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

750 mL bottle courtesy of FEONVDNGRTSNGRNG. It was allowed to warm some before being poured into my Firestone Walker tulip.

Marshal Zhukov's Imperial Stout pours a solid black. There's almost four fingers of foam so dark that I could barely tell it apart from the beer when the lights were low. Head retention is fantastic, I actually started getting impatient waiting for it to finish fading. Lacing is left in thick webbing. The nose is wonderfully intense, with rich dark chocolate and potent espresso leading the way. There's also a noticeable molasses aroma, but it's definitely playing third wheel to the other two. The flavor still features plenty of chocolate and espresso, but the molasses is a bit more prominent here. Frankly, I think I like it better in more of a supporting role. There is a nice earthy hop flourish just in time for the finish. The body is nice and chewy, but I don't know if it's too full, or if the carbonation is just too low, but the mouthfeel definitely comes off as a bit syrupy at times. While excellent all the way across the board, Marshal Zhukov is one of the better straight up imperial stouts (no barrels and/or flavorings) that I've had in a while.

Serving type: bottle

08-13-2012 06:05:14 | More by axeman9182

sharpy26

Florida

4.88/5  rDev +12.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Smells of deep roasted espresso, alcohol, and burnt sugar.

Taste is incredible. Just deep dark malts that coat the tongue. No alcohol taste present at all. Lots of different flavors with a chocolate aftertaste.

I bought the bottle and then stored in the refrigerator for several months, so that could have played a factor. This stuff is dark. One of the best imperial stouts I have ever tasted.

Serving type: bottle

08-08-2012 21:46:22 | More by sharpy26

mwrecording

Maryland

4.25/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 750ml bottle, no date on it but I'm probably correct to assume 2011.

The pour was one of the more oil-y and sludge like I've seen from a big stout(or any stout) with a decent size dark chocolate colored head. Really, really great to look at.

Smell: A big, beautiful smell. I'd best describe it as really, really chocolate-ly bag of raisons. A little bit of a salty/soy smell at the end. Smells a lot like many other stouts have with maybe a touch more fruit on the nose.

Taste: Wow, follows up the smell really well while adding in a really balanced coffee taste. Tastes like a liquid, coffee flavored bag of raisinets. Really tasty. Just the right amount of sweetness for me. I didn't expect as much 'fruit' as I'm getting but I really enjoy it.

Mouthfeel: Smooth and silky, I'm still taking small sips as its still a little colder than I'd like it to be...but it goes down real well.

Overall: This is an amazing stout and something I will actively seek out over and over, I can't imagine what Huna tastes like if this is there lower rated big stout. A real treat and I'm glad I have another bottle.

Serving type: bottle

08-06-2012 01:35:54 | More by mwrecording

ThickNStout

Georgia

4.58/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

750mL bottle. Bottled July 2011. Served in a Cigar City snifter. 

Pours gleaming jet black with a most beautiful two fingers of chocolate head. Small occasional patches of lace. 

Rich aromas of dark fruit, molasses and cocoa. Sweet and inviting. 

Wow, this is a powerhouse of classic robust imperial stout goodness! Raisin, currant, dark chocolate, molasses, leather, cherry pit, creamed coffee and caramel. Rich and delicious, only small traces of the 11% abv. 

Nailed it on the feel! Oily thick, with a small pop or carbonation. Creamy, tongue coating and heavy. A lingering sweet thick aftertaste. 

Another homerun from Cigar City. One of the finest imperial stouts that I've had the pleasure of trying. I'm sure the year of aging didn't hurt anything and I'm looking forward to what the other one I have will taste like in another 6-12 months. If you can try this, you should. Fantastic. 

Serving type: bottle

07-29-2012 01:14:31 | More by ThickNStout

johnnnniee

New Hampshire

4.15/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Received in trade from brewtechnik, thanks for the opportunity!
Pours a thick black color with a huge dark chocolate mousse of a head that has exceptional retention and lacing. Smells of chocolate, caramel, licorice, dark fruits, vinous, brown sugar, spicy earthy hops. Well it smells wonderful, so far so good. The flavor is big and thick. Lots of Caramel chocolate and brown sugar up front. Then some licorice and fruits move in, some sweet some tart. A bit of earth and ash come in next before a long lingering bitter dark chocolate with just a touch of oxidation. Thick thick body with a moderate level of carbonation and a sweet creamy silky sweet mouthfeel. Damn that a big thick beer! I'll bet that's sitting somewhere around 1.050 right now. Aside from being a bit on the sweet side this is one flavorful brew.

Serving type: bottle

07-28-2012 01:38:37 | More by johnnnniee

twiggamortis420

Texas

3.45/5  rDev -20.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

750 mL courtesy of SurlyTwinsFan pours Ten-Fidy black and viscous as hell with a frothy brown head. Surprisingly little retention and lacing though.

Nose is very fruity with a ton of tobacco, toffee and molasses.

Taste is big on the tobacco and burnt caramel. Some heavy fruit creeps in along with a distinctive roast character. Its big and thick, but I am surprised that I dont find this more enjoyable. I think the burnt sugar and molasses are a bit much for me. CCB is such an odd brewery for my palate...some of their beers that others dislike, I have loved and some of the consensus favorites I dont find appealing. Always an exciting ride though, so I wont be passing on any Cigar City offerings anytime soon.

Serving type: bottle

07-14-2012 20:42:31 | More by twiggamortis420

Nugganooch

California

3.75/5  rDev -13.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Notes from Saturday – 07/07/12
750ml bottle split two ways into my FW Invitational snifters
(*label is different then the one portrayed above)

Thanks Allen!

A: Pours plenty thick and jet black in color with just the slightest edge of dark mahogany brown. Minimal head that is reddish-brown, nearing maroon, in color. Probably the darkest head I have ever seen on a stout. Very espresso like. Struggling retention and some oily alcohol streak.

S: Smells of very deep roast grain with a nice mix of tobacco leaf, soy sauce, and blackstrap molasses. There are also some hints of licorice root and dark chocolates. Interesting nose. Not bad but the soy aroma is a bit profuse. Not much alcohol evident in the nose either for such a big RIS.

T: Tastes of intense roasted grains with a bit of fudge brownie and a pervasive treacle note to the point that I feel it may have been an actual ingredient used here. Gives off a sweet and tart fermented soy flavor that takes a little getting used to. There are some lesser notes of campfire mallows, black licorice, and a bit of espresso-infused truffle that perks as the beer warms up a bit. Upper level of bitterness with a dose of earthy hop flavors. The alcohol is warming but quite well hidden here. Quite rich and unique. Probably not for everyone.

M: Body is full with a super smooth and creamy texture that lends to a much lighter feel. Really one of the highlights in the overall drinking experience. Carb seems on the lower side. Some nice lingering after coat on the palate.

D: To be opened with friends. A big, rich, and complex RIS with some real unique flavors. Although this one would be difficult to finish all 750ml alone. My tasting partner was not a fan given the soy sauce like accents. The brew develops a bit more of the espresso notes towards room temp which I found nice. All things considered, really well crafted with the 11% alcohol hidden.

Very glad for the opportunity to try this one.

Serving type: bottle

07-11-2012 18:12:43 | More by Nugganooch

bamadog

Kentucky

4.1/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

I've been sitting on this one for a while, and since I've recently moved, most of my beer is wrapped in newspapers so I've been playing a blind game of catch, grab and drink. Review is from notes taken on 7/8/2012 and poured from the bottle to a snifter.

Appearance: Possibly one of the most impressive RISs I've come across, this one does indeed pour like spent motor oil - just as black as black can be, and the head is almost as dark and impressive, coming in at a whopping three fingers and fading lazily down to a full and firm cap; impossible to see through, but I'm sure the carbonation is plenty full considering the amount of carb on the crack and the full head;

Smell: Lots of big and dark fruit, but I think there may be a mild infection as it's a little sour and tart in the nose; big chocolate malts and a very earthy and big roastiness; still a bit of an herbal, bitter hop presence as well, but should be expected since it's got 80 IBUs.

Taste: I think I'm right about the infection -- the tart, sour dark cherry flavor is there, but it's not major (like in the case of Abyss); the syrupy and bittersweet chocolate is there, and the burnt coffee grains play a major role in the array of flavors; also a bit of the hops linger and have a bit of an earthy and slightly citric bite to them.

Mouthfeel: Thick, chewy and gritty -- the mouth is covered with a thick and sticky coating; teeth have a gritty feel afterwards; gums and tummy are left especially warm and tingly from the bigger ABV of 11%. Along with the appearance, the mouthfeel is probably the most impressive aspect of the beer.

Overall: A really good stout, overall, but definitely a sipper and something that you only want once in a while. I probably should have saved this for a cooler night as opposed to an evening in July... in Atlanta... but I'm glad I'm drinking it in the cool confines of the air conditioning anyway.

Serving type: bottle

07-09-2012 00:33:16 | More by bamadog

greenmonstah

New Hampshire

4.63/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

750 mL bottle shared w/ one other

A - As dark and rich as BA Yeti was, this takes that to an insane new level. Beer clops out of the bottle in chunks and coats the glass like used oil. Blacker than Batman. The head is darkest brown I've seen since big brother Hunahpu.

S - Just an incredible display of roasted malts, this is a very straightforward stout that emphasizes the art of malt selection.

T - Again this stout is the perfect showcase of the roasted malt combined with sweetness. So balanced, this can be, and is, used as a basis for all kinds of incredible barrel aging and secondary fermentations for good reason. They perfected the malt flavors and went from there.

M - Thicker than anything I've had in over a year. This stuff has to be chewed. Perfect finish.

O - Overall this beer is incredible. I've already gone into it, the beer is the perfect imperial stout. I need to try every variant, and every Hunahpu. This beer re-affirmed my adoration of Hunahpu's. WOW.

Serving type: bottle

06-18-2012 21:56:14 | More by greenmonstah