Marshal Zhukov's Imperial Stout - Cigar City Brewing

Dope

Massachusetts

4.05/5  rDev -6.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle dated July so around 9-10 months old.

A: Jet black with one of the darkest heads I've ever seen - possibly the darkest. It's a dark dark brown head, at first it almost appears to be the same color as the beer before it washes out a little bit. Swirling the glass results in a multi-colored head. Fascinating. Huge head that appears to be very dense. Does not fade at all for the first few minutes. After about 10 minutes it has faded enough for me to take a sip. Leaves huge sheets of lacing all over the glass. Easy 5.

S: Loads of roasted malt. Bitter char, espresso and dark chocolate. Prominent molasses and toffee.

T: Heavy heavy toffee and molasses up front - almost like an english barleywine. Turns into roasted malt with coffee and chocolate in there. Roasted malt isn't as prominent as I would expect, the molasses are really strong.

M: Big and syrupy thick.

O: A big syrupy RIS. Very heavy on the molasses which almost drowns out all that wonderful roasted malt unfortunately. I would have liked to have given it better scores for taste but the flavor was less stout that I expect, and quite unbalanced I felt. Will have to age one and see how I feel.

Serving type: bottle

04-30-2012 05:46:58 | More by Dope

rlee1390

Indiana

4.2/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A-Deep black, two finger creamy deep brown head with some lacing.

S-Roasted malt, coffee, chocolate and molasses.

T-Roasted coffee notes dominate, some chocolate, good deal of molasses, some bitterness.

M-Medium to heavy, very creamy but not much carbonation.

O-Not as sweet as some RISs I've had but the roasty and coffee flavors are great. Now to track down a Hunaphu.

Serving type: bottle

04-27-2012 15:53:41 | More by rlee1390

derkfromwi

Wisconsin

4.3/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A: Thick dark brown head with good retention, pitch black color, good carbonation and lacing

S: Dark roasted malts, chocolate, molasses

T: Espresso, dark chocolate, dark toffee, dark fruits, complex

M: Smooth and creamy, good carbonation, medium-full bodied, warming

O: Good stuff, hope to try this again and again in the future

Serving type: bottle

04-26-2012 14:06:28 | More by derkfromwi

angrybabboon

Rhode Island

4.55/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Cheers to Goblinmunkey7 for sharing this beer

Review adapted from notes taken 3/31/12

Appearance: Dark, to say the least - pitch black, with a dark brown head - small, spotty lacing - looks like oily sludge, seriously leaves a film on the glass

Smell: Burnt and absurd - an utterly massive amount of malts, like liquified burnt bread, so heavy and so burnt - dark chocolate, cocoa, coffee, caramel, other burnt aromas

Taste: Burnt chocolate and... malt extract?! - caramel (like, a cube of caramel candy), coffee, sugar, vanilla, chocolate, dark fruits - extreme, to say the least - the maltiness is insane, tastes like concentrated extract that should be watered down to make into beer

Mouthfeel: One of the heaviest beers I have ever had, ever - sludgy, extremely heavy, like burnt malt syrup, yet somehow has enough carbonation to hold it together

Overall - This is a monster

Multiple aspects of this beer are simply unbelievable. This is something to make into beer, not a stand-alone product. You could probably eat this with a spoon.

Serving type: bottle

04-26-2012 05:34:58 | More by angrybabboon

Tucquan

Pennsylvania

4.43/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Had this on 2012-04-22 in Lititz, PA. Special thanks to matador677.

A - Fantastic. Completely opaque black with a remarkably dark brown, 1-finger head that is surprisingly lively. It reminded me of bubbling mud pits in Lassen Volcanic National Park.

S - Roasted grain, milk chocolate, plum.

T - Dark roasted grain, plum, tart grape skins, milk chocolate, chalk and some toffee/molasses sweetness. It finishes nicely tart and rich with a hint of coffee and a just-right amount of hop bitterness.

M - Thick body and surprisingly medium carbonation. Smooth, creamy, lucious.

O - Just a top shelf Imperial Stout. I'd like to try the other varieties of this fine brew.

Serving type: bottle

04-23-2012 22:23:18 | More by Tucquan

Goblinmunkey7

Massachusetts

4.53/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Huge thanks to injuredreserve for the bottle. Shared with Bilco and angrybabboon

Appearance: Thick, dark, and massive. Pours like motor oil and sludge. So very still. No head. Syrupy and viscous. I've poured some big stouts, but this might be the scariest thing I've ever seen come out of a bottle.

Smell: Char. So very burnt. It's charred and aggressive. Smoke and more smoke. Meat ends. Turn up the grill and burn those malts. Sweetness is in your face. Alcohol pulls through, but is quickly subdued by the all out malt assault. Coffee and cocoa. Holy hell. Some vanilla and dark fruit. It's all about the char.

Taste: Unrelenting malt aggression. Burnt, charred, and sweet. Somehow they've achieved Maillard reaction flavors. Did they cook this with a blow torch? Bitter cocoa and some fresh coffee. Meat and a mellow roasted compliment. It's confusing. Plums and raisins. Cherry. Waves of flavor and depth. Complex and then some.

Mouthfeel: Heavy, slick, and full. It's beastly. So very heavy. Carbonation is almost non-existent. So much body.

Overall: This transcends the levels of normality. We're talking about something that fringes on a solid. It's a beast and a half. So much char that a bottle would be impossible to drink alone. Bring your friends and be astounded.

Serving type: bottle

04-21-2012 01:54:41 | More by Goblinmunkey7

TheBeerologist

Rhode Island

4.65/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 750ml bottle into a Jackie O's snifter

A: This poured thick and black like used motor oil - one of the darkest/thickest beers I have seen. A thin, dark brown head lingered for several minutes.

S: Sweet and pleasant. I am typically not one to love too sweet of a stout so at first it was a bit much. Strong scents of molasses with a touch of dark fruit and vanilla.

T: Molasses and figs up front with a really nice roasted malt finish which balances the sweetness perfectly for me. A fantastic amount of complexity among the flavors - some coffee, some chocolate, some dark cherries. A great tasting RIS all around.

M: Well carbonated, maybe even a little much for me, but not over the top. Thick, creamy, and syrupy as well, possibly the thickest stout I have tried.

O: A great RIS - I am looking forward to aging one and trying it a bit down the road. I really wish I had regular access to this one year round as it would definitely keep me happy through the winters.

Serving type: bottle

04-19-2012 20:25:28 | More by TheBeerologist

tjkinate

Texas

4.35/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Was very impressed with this one.

A: Large, extremely dark colored head, almost ashy. Head displayed fantastic retention eventually settling leaving ample thick lacing.

S: Dark chocolate, semi-sweet scents, vanilla notes, some dark fruit hints, and molasses.

T: Dark chocolate, hints of cherry, bits of toffee. The fruit undertones persist and add a pleasurable complexity to the overall experience. Espresso flavors show up just in time for the beers finale.

M: Thick, well carbonated, creamy.

O: I found this beer to be very good, just shy of another Cigar City stout, Hunahpu's.

Serving type: bottle

04-16-2012 18:42:34 | More by tjkinate

EricCioe

Montana

4.08/5  rDev -6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

This pours deep black, one of the most viscous looking beers I've ever seen, which surprised me given the Huna that we had right before this. On the nose there is a giant roast component, dark fruit and vanilla and molasses. This is a very sweet beer. In the mouth the roast provides a base for molasses, dark fruit, and some smoke to play around on. The body is thick, one of the thickest I've ever experienced, with a long finish of the various flavors fading together.

Overall, I'd drink this over Huna all day long. There is enough going on in this beer, and to me Huna pushes all those flavors over the edge. While you can't call this balanced, for a big stout everything sits well together.

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2012 19:03:14 | More by EricCioe

SpdKilz

Illinois

4.13/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I forget who opened this...perhaps Dunt? Thanks to whoever!

Appearance – Pours into a tulip with a completely black color and thicker viscosity. About half finger of tan head.

Smell – Sweet chocolate and cocoa, roasted malts, char, coffee, and brown sugar.

Taste – A nice roasted flavor up front mixed with a nice milky chocolate flavor. Slight toffee and hops come through in the middle and a hint of coffee at the end.

Mouthfeel – Nice and chewy, thicker bodied, finishes a bit dry.

Overall – A great stout and one I’d hope to have again.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2012 01:35:03 | More by SpdKilz

stxSS07

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

750ml into a tulip. Courtesy of moose3285...thanks Mike!

A- Pours an oil slick black. Chugs out of the bottle. This is the darkest beer I've ever seen. Head is a dark mocha brown...leaves a huge brown film/legs when swirled.

S- Huge. First smell is of dark cacao powder, figs, and raisins. Scents of molasses, roasted malt/coffee. Alcohol is present, but not in a stinging way..I feel like it lends a hand to the sweetness. I pick up some licorice and vanilla on the back end as well. Very complex and I'm sure there are more notes that I just can't pick out individually.

T- First taste is of sweet dark fruits - figs and cherries mostly. Mid-palate I get more dark fruity notes...mostly raisins but coupled with a touch of bittering hops. Huge coffee/espresso finish...lasts forever. Somewhere in there I get the smell/flavor of a fresh pouch of Beechnut. Easily the most complex non-BA RIS I've had.

M- Thick and chewy with adequate carbonation. One of bigger stouts I've had as far as feel goes.

O- As previously stated, this is the best non-BA RIS I've had. The flavor is so incredibly complex and powerful that I almost doubt there were no additives (i.e. coffee) to this. I will definitely be seeking this out again.

Serving type: bottle

04-01-2012 04:54:36 | More by stxSS07

zac16125

South Carolina

4.53/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

750mL bottle poured into a snifter
2011 version, but no specific dates or other distinguishing numbers

A: Pours a viscous, viscous, opaque jet black, with 2 plus fingers width of bubbly yet dense, dark,  chocolate ice cream colored head.  This is the darkest head I've seen on a beer, ever.   Great retention, and takes minutes to dissipate down to a drinkable level.  Leaves a decent amount of lacing.  Amazing looking beer.

S: Very aromatic from the moment I opened the bottle.  Big dark fruit characters with tons of fig and some raisin.  There are even notes of unripe sour plums.  Chocolate aroma is present as well, along with some roasted malt and toffee notes.  The alcohol presence is noticeable but not negatively so.  There is a wood oaky aroma as well.  Lots going on with the nose, but dark fruits are the most prominent.  Very nice.

T: Initial sip gives roasted malts and dark fruit sweetness.  Other flavors noted are fig,  an oak flavor thats bourbon like, milk chocolate,  a nutty character, bitter bakers chocolate on the back end, and even a hint of coconut at one point. Early on its almost too sweet, but as it warms the sweetness is balanced by other flavors including hops and roasted malt, and an earthy grassy flavor.  The flavor profile is complex, with large variations from sip to sip.  Very good.

M/D: Silky smooth, very nice.  A very chewy mouthfeel and does a great job of coating the palate.  About as full bodied as you can get.  Carbonation is very minimal, in a good way, which makes the head and retention that much more impressive.  Pretty good drinkability considering how massive this beer is.  

O: Overall, a great beer.  Really top notch.  Actually it's very similar to Hunahpu , except the Hunahpu flavor profile is slightly ( and I mean only slightly) better, and I actually like it more than rum barrel aged Hunahpu.  A great offering that I highly recommend trying if you can get it.

Serving type: bottle

04-01-2012 02:19:16 | More by zac16125

DrWalterWhite

Illinois

4.38/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

2011 vintage poured on 3/23/12.

A:
Hard pour leaves a caramel colored two finger head over a motor oil base. Outstanding.

S:
Bitter dark chocolate, some coffee and oat notes as well.

T:
Chocolate, bread, toffee, molasses. Very complex.

M:
Wow. Thick. Almost to a fault. Like a frothy glass of half and half in terms of texture.

This an outstanding beer, but I don't know that I'm going to be able to finish the bomber by myself. This thing is THICK. A lot of novice beer drinkers claim that drinking a Guiness is like having a milkshake...well this thing is actually close to it.

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2012 22:04:00 | More by DrWalterWhite

tobelerone

New Jersey

4.43/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

2011 vintage, enjoyed 3/12

A jet-black beer that pours like motor oil, thick and sludgy, with a big brown bubbly head that settles down slowly. Lacing is sticky; the glass looks like I had an ice cream sundae, not a beer.

Nice nose; lots of chocolate, both bitter and milk, anise, espresso, roasty malt, and a just a trace of booze.

Big and tasty, the way this style is supposed to be. It’s all here, tons of chocolately goodness, coffee and roast, just a hint of tobacco, molasses, toffee, caramel, a bit of hoppy bitterness, but just so, in the finish. Sweet, fudgy and desert-worthy; paired especially well with chocolate chip brownies for an over-the-top diabetes-inducing indulgence.

The body on this one is perfect; go big or go home. Tons of chew, thick, thick, thick, low carbonation, your lips are sticky after a sip.

I feel like this one can hang in there with almost any other example of this style. To me it was like going to San Diego and drinking fresh Pliny, Nelson, Kern River, etc. How to say which is best? They are all tremendous examples of American IPAs. Put this one up there with the KBS and the BCBS and the rest in my book. It’s like comparing Coltrane, Wayne Shorter, Dexter Gordon, Ben Webster, etc., etc. It’s not that one is better than the other, but rather, who are you in the mood for today?

Serving type: bottle

03-17-2012 14:48:23 | More by tobelerone

Bobheed

Texas

4.9/5  rDev +12.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

A: Poured an extremely vicious black, super thick like syrup had about a finger of darkest reddish brown head I've ever seen. This is without a doubt the darkest beer I've ever seen

S: Has a pretty big bourbon characteristic despite it not being BBA. I also got quite a bit of espresso and wet wood type scents.

T: Right upfront, it tastes almost just like pure molasses, then that goes into some espresso qualities and nice bourbon soaked dark fruits. Tons of dates, tons of dark chocolate. Finishes strong with alcohol.

M: Super thick and with a slight alcohol burn. With the super aggressive appearance and flavors of this beer, I was really happy about the mouthfeel being so crazy and intense.

Overall this was excellent, one of the best stouts, let alone beers I've ever had. I managed to stockpile a few as Cigar City is not sold in my state. Look forward to future bottles with more age on 'em.

Serving type: bottle

03-04-2012 04:51:43 | More by Bobheed

rtaps

California

4.03/5  rDev -7.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

2010

pours pitch black and looks like soy sauce, with no head at all. and very viscous looking

smell is also like a soy sauce with dark fruits

very sweet, a lot of dark fruits and molasses

medium bodied, no carbonation to it at all and very viscous

overall it was interesting, enjoyable in moderation. would like to try one with less age to it

Serving type: bottle

03-04-2012 01:20:33 | More by rtaps

cvm4

Mississippi

4.08/5  rDev -6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A - Pours a deep black and has a nice one finger light brown head. No real lacing to speak of.

S - Dark chocolate, roasted malts and molasses.

T - Dark chocolate overwhelms you transforming into expresso and finishing with dark fruits (plums/raisins).

M - Thick and highly carbonated. Full bodied and not ashamed of it.

O - A unique imperial stout. It's an in your face, bold imperial stout. But, the lingering sweetness throws me off.

Serving type: bottle

03-01-2012 03:11:49 | More by cvm4

DavoleBomb

Ohio

4.48/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 3 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

2010 vintage. Poured into a snifter.

3.0 A: Black color. Aggressive pour yielded only on finger of creamy light brown head. Retention was poor, even for the ABV. No lacing.

5.0 S: Really awesome nose on this. Rich dark chocolate is plentiful. Deeply roasted espresso undertones. Lots of blackstrap molasses with caramel, lightly herbal and citrus hops, and a oaky woodiness. Black cherry with a touch of sherry. Full of the CC house flavor that works so well in their stouts.

4.5 T: Like the nose, this is complex and powerful. Dark chocolate is again the strongest flavor with molasses, caramel, and neutral malt sweetness next. Notes of vanilla, oak, cherry, and herbal hoppiness. There's hitns of sherry again, but it acts to complement the flavors. Really tasty.

4.0 M: Heavier body. Carbonation is a bit lower than I'd prefer, but not horrible. Reasonably creamy and smooth.

4.5 D: Really tasty beer. About as good as Hunahpu's.

Serving type: bottle

02-26-2012 03:15:01 | More by DavoleBomb

vic21234

Illinois

4.4/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

2011 vintage bottle poured into a snifter.

A- Pours a pitch black with two finger's worth of a dark brown head. The head tones down to a about a half fingers worth quickly. This beer is dark as night.

S- Lots of chocolate and coffee. Hints of dark fruits as well.

T- Starts off sweet and chocolately, which then makes way to the coffee-espresso notes. The alcohol seems to be masked well for a RIS.

M- Thick and chewy, almost creamy. A great sipper, well balanced. Maybe a bit too sweet?

This is only the second beer I've tried from Cigar City, and I've enjoyed both. This is a very complex stout.

Serving type: bottle

02-21-2012 03:43:24 | More by vic21234

ManVersusBeer

Massachusetts

4.03/5  rDev -7.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

The latest edition, 2011.
Pour is so huge that I have to place it in my sink as it foams over. This head is intensely chocolate brown with a dark as night body.
Cocoa, chocolate, some bitter lemon hops, and caramel sauce in the nose.
Very, very smooth. It is sweet, but not too much, more like a chocolate milk although the hop character balances nicely so it doesn't become cloying.
This has a good body and it is sweeter than I would would like, but not sticky, as it is quite drinkable for a big beer like this without having over the top carbonation in the feel.
Moves toward a caramel, chocolate sundae topped with crushed pecans and dried Turkish figs, which makes it much better than average.

Serving type: bottle

02-17-2012 14:40:43 | More by ManVersusBeer

trxxpaxxs

New York

4.18/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

2011 vintage...

A: Pours a completely opaque black with two full fingers of dark mocha head. It was a pretty vigerous pour, and the head keep growing. I have to say that the foam looks incredibly creamy, and that it takes forever to settle. There is a serious amount of lacing as it drinks.

S: I'm picking up on a big raisin note, as well as burnt toast, roasted malt, caramel, and bitter dark chocolate. The raisins and stone fruits are pretty dominating, but not to the point of one dimensional.

T: I get raisin and plums right up front, that then mix with the burnt toast and roasted malt. The flavors transition into caramel as it envelops the palate. The finish is caramel, chocolate and more raisin. The burnt toast seems to linger long after I've downed a sip.

M: Full bodied beer. This beer is silky smooth. The flavor transitions are really pleasant and I'm left wanting more with each and every sip.

O: This is a really solid russian imperial stout. I don't know if I could drink a whole bottle of this in one sitting, but it's delicious. I've loved come of CCB's beers and I've hated some of their beers. This one is in the former, rather than the later.

Serving type: bottle

02-17-2012 00:00:43 | More by trxxpaxxs

Chaney

District of Columbia

4.7/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

2011 Vintage, but I still have 2010 in the cellar.

I'm splitting this with my wife tonight, but she's playing "Dance, Dance Revolution" and working on a Flying Dog "Kujo" right now, so I'm not sure how that's going to go.

I've been wanting to try this one forever!

Served in a snifter.

A: No other way to say it: This one is pitch black! Additionally, there was not light showing through and the head was ridiculously dark as well.

S: I got lots of Imperial Stout-esqe notes on the nose: Soy sauce, LOTS of dark chocolate, figs, and cigar ash. This was fairly bright overall in terms of RISs.

T: Wow! This was an amazing blend of figs, cocoa, and ash. On the palate, I got more dark fruit than anything else. On the finish, I actually got some very bright plum notes. Pretty amazing actually.

M: Creamy and delectable, with a sweet profile that was very calculated and perfect in every way. The lacing was sticky and the carbonation was low, yet perfect in this setting.

O: I guess this is the base beer for "Hunahpu's." It exceeded my expectations in much the same way that "Hunapuh's" did.

Serving type: bottle

02-11-2012 00:07:30 | More by Chaney

mrebeka

Michigan

4.95/5  rDev +14.1%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

2010 vintage -- I've had this one in the cellar for close to 2 years and finally cracked it open.

A- Poured into a CBS snifter...black as motor oil with very little head. Nice lacing around the glass. As a WWII buff, I love the labeling.

S- Heavy coffee with a perfect amount of chocolate, some molasses and hints of vanilla. Great smell, can't wait to taste.

T- Excellent....I love stouts, and I just love this beer. A great mix of flavors. Robust layers of chocolate and coffee. The high ABV is there, but covered up with the array of flavors quite nicely. The more I drink this, the more I wish I had more.

M- Very heavy and very chewy but in a good way.

O- Hats off to Cigar City on this brew. I still love my Founders and Goose Island stouts, but this one is a big plus for the best brewery south of the Mason Dixon. Having this makes me want to try a Hunahpu even more.

Serving type: bottle

02-03-2012 02:46:43 | More by mrebeka

billshmeinke

California

3.85/5  rDev -11.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Huge, sticky, black as can be, super duper sweet but with enough of a roasty and coffee finish to persuade you that there's some sort of "balance." Seriously though, so so sweet. Really mouth coating and gnarly viscous with hints of berries, cherries, licorice, chocolate, and smoke. If you like sweet and super viscous imperial stouts, try and find some of this.

Serving type: bottle

02-01-2012 05:05:26 | More by billshmeinke

xpdrinker

Florida

4.85/5  rDev +11.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

A - 25.4oz bottle courtesy of biggsbowler (thanks!). Bottle July '11. Pours like sludge. Super pitch black, monster dark brown head. 

S - Coffee, dark chocolate, booze-soaked dark fruit, molasses and a little raisin. Little bit of vanilla.

T - Cocoa, chocolate truffles, slightly nutty. Dark fruit, vanilla. Fantastic.

M - Like a bucket of black paint. Carbonation has faded a little but this thing coats the mouth and stays. You can almost chew on it.

O - This is probably not only my favorite stout but also my favorite beer. Perhaps it's destiny that it's released the same month as my birthday. I'll be getting an entire case next year.

Serving type: bottle

01-30-2012 01:46:42 | More by xpdrinker