Marshal Zhukov's Imperial Stout - Double Barrel Aged - Cigar City Brewing

beachbum1975

Ohio

4.55/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

The amazing generosity of Urbancaver comes again! This is beer review number # 500 for me. Yellow waxed bottle.

Pours thick and black as night. Slightly tan edges which appear clear.

I definitely get the apple and bourbon from both barrels in the nose. Heavily roasted grains, coffee and hints of black licorice. It really doesn't get any better than this.

Thick, thick, thick. Moderate carbonation in the mouthfeel Light licorice in the mix.

This is epic.

Serving type: bottle

03-17-2011 20:18:15 | More by beachbum1975

NCBeerFan

North Carolina

4.25/5  rDev +1.4%

06-02-2013 22:23:25 | More by NCBeerFan

fehrminator

North Carolina

3.25/5  rDev -22.4%

06-01-2013 02:50:30 | More by fehrminator

manutdfan

Florida

5/5  rDev +19.3%

05-27-2013 18:45:08 | More by manutdfan

sendsilk

Florida

4.5/5  rDev +7.4%

05-17-2013 00:48:26 | More by sendsilk

drummermattie02

Texas

4.5/5  rDev +7.4%

04-22-2013 14:19:39 | More by drummermattie02

jvillefan

California

4.75/5  rDev +13.4%

04-04-2013 23:13:51 | More by jvillefan

kscaldef

Oregon

3.4/5  rDev -18.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Looks like motor oil, with thick legs, no head, and no carbonation. Rich barrel aromas reveal flavors of molasses, vanilla, mild apple and coconut. Fairly sweet with a very oaky finish. Zero carbonation, and yet still somehow not a syrupy as the standard Marshal Zhukov's.

Serving type: bottle

01-30-2013 02:53:05 | More by kscaldef

digita7693

Oregon

4.25/5  rDev +1.4%

01-21-2013 06:48:35 | More by digita7693

MordorMongo

Indiana

4.25/5  rDev +1.4%

01-14-2013 00:04:28 | More by MordorMongo

westcoastbeerlvr

California

3.25/5  rDev -22.4%

01-09-2013 22:45:22 | More by westcoastbeerlvr

Gfunk720

Connecticut

4.3/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

2010 bottle out of a wine glass. Thanks to Casey for the hook up a long time ago...

A- pours an oily black, but looks a bit thinner than regular Zhukov. The head is a little pile of dark colored of bubbles that dissipate quickly.

S-a rich blend of semi sweet chocolate and roasted malt. I get a little oakiness, but it has no booziness at all.

T- Extremely smooth at first then explodes with flavor. The semi sweet chocolate brownie flavor hits, the barrel aging comes through mainly as some brandy/bourbon flavor after the chocolate fades. There is a light oakiness and some extremely roasted aftertaste.

M- low carbonation, but that isn't too off for the style. I was hoping this would have zhukovs body, but it was a bit thin.

O- Overall this is extremely good, and has developed very nicely. While I wish it had a bit more body, it had all the chocolate characteristics that I love about Zhukov. Would love to try this again fresh for comparison.

Serving type: bottle

12-28-2012 02:31:22 | More by Gfunk720

t0rin0

California

4.25/5  rDev +1.4%

09-15-2012 21:46:45 | More by t0rin0

Treebs

Illinois

4.08/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Big thanks to Andrew (nasty31) for the share. 750 ml waxed bottle served in a Deschutes snifter.

A: Super thick. Very viscous with an oily sheen on the pour. Even though the carbonation is pretty low it still produces a dark mocha head that recedes quickly to a thin, bubbly ring. Minimal lace.

S: Brandy sweetness followed by a more overpowering bourbon and oaky booze combination, but it really plays off the heavily roasted malts and the brownie/fudge like sweetness at the back end.

T: More oaky and chocolate flavors in the taste with a smooth booze. Some roasted malts with a touch of smoke on the finish.

M: Heavy and viscous with a smooth mouthfeel. Carbonation is low, borderline flat.

O: Very solid. It seems the booze came out a little more in the nose which I enjoyed, but the taste has also really smoothed out and become well integrated. Maybe I'm just an alcoholic when it comes liking a little more boozy flavors. Either way this was a real treat that I'll probably never have again.

Serving type: bottle

08-10-2012 12:38:46 | More by Treebs

DarthKostrizer

California

4.5/5  rDev +7.4%

07-24-2012 05:43:25 | More by DarthKostrizer

UCLABrewN84

California

4/5  rDev -4.5%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Bottle I brought to share at Woodshop 7 held at Beachwood BBQ & Brewing in Long Beach, CA.

Thanks to Jzmhector for sending me this one!

2010 vintage.

Pours an opaque black with a foamy dark khaki head that fades to nothing. No lacing on the drink down. Smell is of dark roasted malt, cocoa, vanilla, wood, bourbon, and brandy. Taste is much the same with a medium amount of roasty bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a lower level of carbonation with a slightly crisp and medium bodied mouthfeel. Overall, this is a good beer with a great aroma and solid flavor.

Serving type: bottle

07-24-2012 01:56:48 | More by UCLABrewN84

womencantsail

California

4.1/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Thanks for sharing this, Tim.

Essentially black in color with minimal tan head forming. The bourbon seems to be a bit more prominent than the brandy, which is sort of unfortunate. Quite a bit of wood and roasted malt with a bit of dark chocolate. The flavor has a more pronounced liquor character with vanilla and wood being well represented, as well as the bourbon and brandy. Lots of roast with some sweet dark chocolate and fruits. Much better than the regular Zhukov’s.

Serving type: bottle

07-16-2012 22:10:12 | More by womencantsail

CheapBeerBuzz

California

4.25/5  rDev +1.4%

07-01-2012 16:41:55 | More by CheapBeerBuzz

thagr81us

South Carolina

4.48/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A massive thanks goes out to cmrillo for bringing this one out during his own 40 Beers* @ 40 Birthday Bash! Can’t believe I got to try this one!!! 2010 Vintage! Served from bottle into a Cigar City snifter. Poured pitch black with a minimal brown head that subsided to virtually none quickly. Maintained nice lacing throughout the glass. The aroma was comprised of sweet malt, roasted malt, dark chocolate, wood, sweet alcohol, and vanilla. The flavor was of sweet malt, roasted malt, dark chocolate, wood, vanilla, and sweet alcohol. It had a heavy feel on the palate with mild carbonation. Overall this was a very good brew. Even after two years this brew has really held its own in my opinion. There is still plenty of well balanced flavors and aromas going on here as well as barrel character. Just wish we would have been able to taste this with the Brandy and 4 Roses versions at the same time. But beggars can’t be choosers. Everyone should try this beer at least once in their lifetime.

Serving type: bottle

05-31-2012 12:13:06 | More by thagr81us

marine1975

North Carolina

4.5/5  rDev +7.4%

04-29-2012 02:39:52 | More by marine1975

s1ckboy

Massachusetts

4.43/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A - Black with no head. I poured this one aggressively after hearing of a lot of flat bottles. I got a couple bubbles but pretty much zero carbonation.

S - Oak, booze, some dark fruits.

T - An initial blast of dark fruits & tobacco (wow), some bourbon/brandy though it's very subdued, chocolate. Some bitterness towards the end. Again a lot of dark fruits.

M - Full. Little to no carbonation.

Despite this being very flat it is still an amazing beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2012 00:37:58 | More by s1ckboy

Rhettroactive

Virginia

4.33/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5

From 750mL, yellow wax dipped bottle to CBS snifter on 1/26/12
*From notes

A: Absolute black, with a killer burgundy hue to the edges. A hard, firm pour down the center of the snifter yields no head, no lacing and zero collar.

S: It's a beautiful thing. Seeing as it's over eighteen months old, and having been properly stored for most (if not all) of it's existence, this is right where it should be. The barrel qualities have mellowed yet still present themselves in an up front manner.

T: Dark fruit brownie batter soaked in bourbon. Really, it's that good. The balance is top notch. The barrel profiles are so well integrated with the base beer it's scary. Mounds of dark, rich cocoa dance in rythm with the bourbon, as the brandy infusion adds a dried dark fruit quality to the back end. Just lovely stuff.

M: As expected, this lacks any semblance of carbonation, as this vintage of Marshal Zhukov was (poorly) known for. Happily the base body is rather dense, yet the beer is still quite oily. I will say though that all of this affords the beer a very laid back vibe, making it a true sipper.

O: What a great beer. I really needed an occasion to open this, and what better then side by side with a Bourbon Hunahpu?

CCB's Double Barrel Zhukov is such a chill, easygoing beer. It allows the imbiber to come to it, rather then throw itself upon your palate. It's in no way agressive or over the top, it's simply a wonderful achievement, and one I hope CCB brews and blends again.

Serving type: bottle

01-29-2012 21:41:09 | More by Rhettroactive

billab914

Virginia

4.08/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to Rhettroactive for generously sharing this one. Poured from a 750ml bottle into a snifter. It poured very thick and pitch black in color. Not much for carbonation or head, just a few scattered bubbles from the pour. Nice color, but pretty still looking otherwise.

The aroma shows a little more of the sweet, fruitier, brandy barrel to me at first. I get notes of raspberry, fig, brown sugar and molasses all coming out. The chocolate of Zukov mixes pretty well with the brandy barrel fruitiness. As it warmed I started to get a little more of the woody, bourbon flavors trying to come out. It's very rich and smooth with a lot going on in it. Very appealing aroma to it overall.

In the taste I again get more of the fruity, boozy brandy flavors to it up front. The finish shows more of the woody oak, vanilla and bourbon flavors. I get some dark fruit, raisins and cherry flavors to it as well. It's very smooth and flavorful but it also brings a lot of fruity sweetness with all those flavors as well.

The mouthfeel is thick and almost chewy. Carbonation is almost non-existant, but it doesn't feel that out of place in it for what it is.

Overall it was a very good beer and a really cool one to try. It was a little overly sweet and fruity at times, but it also had so many great flavors coming out of it. It was very cool to see how both of the barrel flavors came together in it.

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2012 19:50:54 | More by billab914

siege06nd

Virginia

4.28/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

HUGE thanks to Rhettroactive for this very generous share. So excited to have this one. Thanks, Rhett, for all the generosity you have shown me. You're a great beer bud.

A: Pours pitch black, with hints of dark brown along the edges. Absolutely zero head. I mean zero. Least amount of head I have ever seen in a beer. No lacing. I am told by Rhettroactive there were major carbonation issues with this batch of Zhukov. Beautiful color. Everything else is suspect though.

S: Definitely the same cocoa and dark chocolate notes as regular Zhukov. Lots of booze here on the nose, including plenty of bourbon. Very strong dark fruit presence as well. Smells quite good.

T: Wow, very impressive. Sweet milk chocolate, coconut, vanilla, some coffee roast, and lots of oak, bourbon, and a sweet, sticky finish from the brandy. The flavors here are all very well integrated. The barrel aging is apparent but refined. Really not much booze on this at all. Flavors are allowed to stand on their own, and when you have as much flavor as this, that's a hell of a good thing. Very nice.

M: Ok, so I'm torn here. This had major carbonation issues that CCB publicly acknowledged. Admittedly, there is zero carb on this one. That being said, the style doesn't really lend itself to carbonation anyways, and it drinks rather well all things considered. From a balance standpoint, it is spot on. Flavors are incredibly well balanced here, and I am grading it accordingly. The carb issue keeps this from being a 5.

O: A very good beer. I'm bumping up my score because I think the whole outweighs the parts. Huge carbonation issue is a significant black eye, but the flavors are so well done and the barrel aging so well balanced that I have to give this a big thumbs up. Very good work here.

Thanks again, Rhett, for a generous pour of this.

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2012 02:13:59 | More by siege06nd

SPRichard

New Jersey

4.5/5  rDev +7.4%

12-27-2011 15:27:33 | More by SPRichard