Marshal Zhukov's Imperial Stout - Cigar City Brewing

Powderhornphil

Minnesota

4.3/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Wow. Pour this beer and it is black as can be with a Khaki head that just lasts forever.

At first this smells mostly of bakers chocolate. Espresso and coffee notes as it warms. Way underneath dark fruits.

Taste of espresso chocolate and roast. Some earthy hops come through as well. Very enjoyable. Not much alcohol but would love to try this with a year on it.

Mouthfeel is full. Incredibly thick beer. So smooth.

A top notch stout for sure.

Serving type: bottle

11-09-2012 03:45:10 | More by Powderhornphil

stouts4me

Illinois

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

2011 bottle poured into my 3F snifter.

A: Holy mudslick ! Blackest Black you can imagine, thick and very chewy. Looks like a chocolate mousse on top of a pour of motor oil - absolutely THE BEST if you love BIG stouts !

S: a bit of cherry,fruity, plum, with the barley toasted aroma, really very nice and welcoming.

T: Well, if you have read to here , you KNOW what is coming here - GEE-BUS !!! Unreal, deliciousness, just mouth-coating, smooth, not-to-sweet, awesome and so beguiling. You can't stop comi8ng back for more tastes. Smell the awesomeness, swish it and chew it and let it slowly drip down your throat.

M: thick, smooth, delightlyfully chewy , and just friggin' mouth-coating greatness !

O: EPIC. TOTALLY, will definetly seek out additional bottles.

Thank You Cigar City, signed, Fan For Life - stouts4me.

Serving type: bottle

11-09-2012 01:41:53 | More by stouts4me

WillCarrera

Illinois

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

750 ml bottle, bottled August 31, 2012, poured into a tulip glass.

A- Absolutely gorgeous. Pours pitch black, thick and viscous looking. As it fills the glass it slowly produces a two-finger, dark chocolate brown, thick and creamy head, which has nice retention and spotty lacing.

S- Loads of chocolate and roasted grain, some char, fruit and vanilla.

T- A big rush of malty sweetness, chocolate, cocoa powder and molasses, after a bit some roasty flavors become more dominant, with roasted grain and a huge amount of coffee. Some notes of fruit and vanilla are playing in the background. Slight alcohol warmth towards the finish, but it's very well hidden in general.

M- Full-bodied, low carbonation, has a creamy, velvety and slightly slick feel with some lingering chewiness.

O- This is a damn impressive beer, one of the tastiest stouts I've had in the last few months. Everything you could want in a stout is here in a big way and it all works very well together. If you were fighting your way room-by-room through the burning ruins of the Reichstag this is the kind of beer you would want to be drinking.

Serving type: bottle

11-07-2012 04:29:36 | More by WillCarrera

papat444

Quebec (Canada)

3.63/5  rDev -16.4%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Picked this up on a trip to Orlando in Sept. 2010.

Poured from a 750ml. bottle and shared with my wife.

Appearance: Blacker than black body but no head at all. Kind of plops into the glass. Very viscous as it leaves a film on the glass as it's tilted.

Smell: Dark chocolate, bit sweet, robust coffee. Not as strong as i would have expected but still pleasant.

Taste: Hazelnut, layer of roasted coffee, long finish. Flavor is gradual, builds up in the middle. Molasses cookies, lingering coffee flavor. Not as complex as ABV would indicate.

Mouthfeel: Real thick yet retains a slick smooth feel. A bit syrupy.

Overall: Real good but still haven't found one that tops DL.

Serving type: bottle

11-05-2012 16:07:57 | More by papat444

cbutova

Massachusetts

3.83/5  rDev -11.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Gotta give the Marshal another try. Last bottle was 100% flat. 2011-2012 winter version.

A- Pitch black doom into a pint glass with an extremely dark head. Cap is silky like whipped cream and retains very well. Big patches of lace all down the glass.

S- Chocolate drizzled raisins lead the way for me. Also big molasses and roast malts. Seems fairly straightforward.

T- Massive flavor of chocolate and cherries like a really sticky, fudge browny. Big notes of molasses syrup, coffee beans, caramel, and roast cracked grains. Seriously like a dessert in liquid form. Lots of sweetness.

MF- One of the thickest and biggest beers I have ever imbibed. Lower end carbonation does great justice compared to a horrifying flat version. Some alcohol heat and bitterness.

This beer is a BEAST, very thick and like a sweet dessert. Just a bit too sweet for me but I cant hate too hard. Brownies in the liquid phase.

Serving type: bottle

11-03-2012 02:40:53 | More by cbutova

Toadvine

Illinois

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

A: Pours black and thick with a half inch of dark and dense head.

S: Chocolate and coffee aromas were present but subtle.

T: A little sweet up front with a nice dry and slightly bitter finish to round it out.

M: Big chewy body.

I liked this beer a lot. I wanted something big that would help me sink into the couch after a long day, and this guy did not disappoint. As massive and complex as an Imperial Stout should be, while maintaining the balance necessary to be dangerously drinkable.

Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

11-01-2012 19:25:41 | More by Toadvine

Etan

Illinois

4.23/5  rDev -2.5%
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 +10.6%
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%
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

macrosmatic

Florida

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

Reviewed from notes. Had on-tap at CCB tasting room. Poured into a snifter.

A: Extremely dark brown, opaque, with a one finger medium brown head that quickly fades to foam. No visible carbonation, although there may be some hidden in here somewhere.

S: Dark cacao sweetness, roasted malts, deep dark spicy hints in the background.

T: Dark chocolate and a bit of coffee malts, tobacco & leather. There's sweetness here but finishes with an almost tannin dryness.

M: Smooth mouthfeel, nice heavy body. There is a noticeable alcohol presence but well-hidden given the ABV.

O: Very nice base stout. Solid and well put together. Doesn't compare to the various and sundry treatments that are intermittently available, but very good.

Serving type: on-tap

10-14-2012 16:49:53 | More by macrosmatic

FATC1TY

Georgia

4.68/5  rDev +7.8%
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 -16.4%
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 -4.4%
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 +2.5%
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 -4.4%
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 +4.4%
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 +5.5%
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 +9.4%
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 -2.1%
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

Florida

4.48/5  rDev +3.2%
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 -4.4%
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 -12.9%
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 -21.7%
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 -6%
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 +12.4%
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