Huge Arker
Anderson Valley Brewing Company

Huge ArkerHuge Arker
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From:
Anderson Valley Brewing Company
 
California, United States
Style:
Russian Imperial Stout
Ranked #295
ABV:
15.5%
Score:
92
Ranked #5,848
Avg:
4.11 | pDev: 9.25%
Reviews:
111
Ratings:
439
Status:
Active
Rated:
Jan 18, 2024
Added:
Jan 29, 2014
Wants:
  24
Gots:
  135
Bourbon Barrel-aged Russian Imperial Stout

Actually illegal in seven states, the Huge Arker is a rich and complex beer. Aged in bourbon barrels for a minimum of 12 months until it fully matures, this extended barrel aging technique allows us to create a nuanced, smooth and surprisingly very drinkable beverage. Its aroma that conveys a deep roasted malt backbone, burnished oak, candy sugar, bourbon and hearth-baked bread. On the palate the beer brings nuanced and integrated layers of honey, molasses and rich dark chocolate finishing with hints of coffee, vanilla and dark fruits. The Huge Arker is absolutely an experience that is something to take some time with and savor. For anyone who is into big, complex beers—this one shouldn’t be missed.

88 IBU
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by RickS95:
Photo of RickS95
Reviewed by RickS95 from Indiana

4.2/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A deeply black pour as you'd guess. There is some dark brown around the edge when held to a light, but you'd notice it otherwise. Thin tan head that doesn't retain very long...13.5% ABV will do that.

There's lot of dark malts and roasty notes in the nose, but I'm not getting a lot of bourbon. Faint oak notes, but I'm missing bourbon. Beer might be too cold to pick up everything.

In the first sip I found the bourbon. While it doesn't really taste 'boozy,' the warmth is there. Bittersweet chocolate, char, vanilla, caramel malts (there is clearly a Barleywine taste to it) all fight for top billing, but they work well together.

The feel is extreme and mostly hot. My tongue is already starting to lose sensation and my lips and throat are hot. There's a slight sweetness that's quickly destroyed by the warm boozy feel of this beast. Full bodied and then some. It's a fairly pleasant feel, just LOTS of it.

This is a good beer and I'm glad I got it. It's a sipper for sure and has a nice taste to it. Very manly, but it fits the style well.
Jun 17, 2015
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.9 by Beecham from California

Jan 18, 2024
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Rated by Beer_aenima7 from Idaho

3.73/5  rDev -9.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
Alcohol.
Very good heavy bourbon barrel feel but at 15+% that's all you get.
May 21, 2023
Photo of jzeilinger
Reviewed by jzeilinger from Pennsylvania

4.15/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Canned on: ?????

A - Black pour with dense, creamy caramel lacing and some soapy foam standing on top.

S - Oak, Bourbon, light candy sugar presence, and toasted cocoa.

T - First and foremost, booze forward. Period. Now on to the rest of the beer: Toasted cocoa/chocolate, cherry, oak, Bourbon, a slight bit of vanilla, and a little bit of dark fruit that leaves some residue underneath. Balanced finish but boozy.

M - Big medium body that's silky smooth and heat in the back of the throat while finishing wet on the tongue and the walls of the mouth dry.

O - There's some nice layers of flavor going on here. 'Wouldn't be opposed to Anderson Valley dialing back the ABV a bit to let more flavor shine through. Otherwise, no complaints here and this one is worth checking out!
Apr 13, 2023
 
Rated: 3.87 by curlybird from Pennsylvania

Mar 30, 2023
 
Rated: 4.27 by BLPasch from Michigan

Mar 29, 2023
 
Rated: 4.08 by gefinley from California

Jan 15, 2023
 
Rated: 4.3 by Jacob_Schneider616 from Michigan

Jan 01, 2023
Photo of Iamaskier
Reviewed by Iamaskier from Idaho

4.21/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
L: No head. Body is cola brown.
S: Strong. Milk chocolate, coconut, huge barrel notes, caramel, and a bit of marshmallow.
T: Follows, but not as sweet as the nose suggests. Upfront comes the barrel, plenty of bourbon, then chocolate and sweet fig, followed by charred malt, then coffee and nuts on the finish.
F: Smooth, but quite hot.
O: I’m generally not a fan of overly sweet BBA stouts, so I appreciate how balanced this beer is while still retaining such a punch.
Sep 25, 2022
Photo of Bass-n-beerman
Reviewed by Bass-n-beerman from Nebraska

4.17/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
this is a solid beer with a pretty complex flavor profile, and I would say unique, I don't think I have had anything it reminds me of, I first tried this on tap at my favorite beer store in Omaha, and had to buy some. If you like stouts, try it, but make sure you have solid footing when you go to stand up, at 15.5 abv it is a strong one
Sep 04, 2022
 
Rated: 4.5 by RochefortChris from North Carolina

Jul 24, 2022
Photo of KYBourbonBeerGuy
Reviewed by KYBourbonBeerGuy from Kentucky

4.6/5  rDev +11.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5
This is as good as any bourbon barrel stout I have had - from Goose Island Bourbon County (the first and long the best) to Founder's Backwoods Bastard to New Holland's Dragon's Milk Reserve. I'm impressed.
May 29, 2022
 
Rated: 4.06 by jroof1 from Massachusetts

Apr 04, 2022
 
Rated: 4.4 by jmbeerdude91 from Arizona

Feb 19, 2022
Photo of HipCzech
Reviewed by HipCzech from California

4.3/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Serving: 12 oz can poured into a 9 oz Libbey Embassy snifter (2021 release).

Appearance: Deep, dark brown, with a short, thick head of tan foam.

Smell: Intoxicating aromas of boozy bourbon, vanilla, cocoa and oak.

Taste: Dark fruit, chocolate, roasted malt, burnt sugar, oak and alcoholic heat.

Mouthfeel: Medium to full body, creamy, oily smooth, and moderate but soft carbonation.

Overall: A huge, boozy blast of bourbon infused stout that manages to stay balanced and drinkable.
Dec 21, 2021
 
Rated: 3.78 by arini10 from Oregon

Dec 05, 2021
Photo of TMoney2591
Reviewed by TMoney2591 from Illinois

2.92/5  rDev -29%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.75
Served from the can in a Lagunitas mason jar.

I still miss the ubiquity of Wild Turkey from my college days, what with the Who Framed Roger Rabbit appearance, the Judge Dredd liquor store display, and the many, many, many shots in the dorm. Memories. Anyway, this stuff pours a fairly deep midnight sienna topped by a finger of tan foam. The nose comprises whiskey barrel, light coffee, and a hint of roasted malts. The taste also leans heavily on the barrel, emphasis on the booze-soaked wood, but the effect is not all that pleasing to the tongue: the wet wood aspect is palpable, the booze is strangely up front in its belligerence, and the mixture of these with the aforementioned coffee character comes across like chocolate-covered garbage berries. The body is a lithe medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a fluid feel. Overall, this stout was a massive disappointment. Its boozy-wood and odd berry flavors don't work, and it's strangely lucky it's overly thin and meatless, 'cause these flavors don't get to stick around very long. Hard pass for me, dawg.
Jun 19, 2021
 
Rated: 4.28 by HopBelT from Belgium

Jun 04, 2021
Photo of gshak
Reviewed by gshak from Texas

4.51/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
I am very pleasantly surprised by this beer. I got the 15.5% ABV version, poured out of a can at room temperature into a Glenmorangie whiskey barrel glass.
A - Half a finger's width of head generated on a rough pour that receded into a whispy ring almost instantly. Nothing out of the ordinary for this style of beer. 4/5
S - Aromas of toasted wood, coffee, faint vanilla. Some aggressive swirling brings forth some dark fruits and milk chocolate. Not the most complex nose, but what's present is very inviting. 4.25/5
T - Yes, this is where the beer really takes off. The beer really comes to life on the palate - dark fruits, bourbon for days, milk chocolate, breakfast coffee. The hops and roast balance the sweetness perfectly. If no one cautioned me that this was a 15% ABV beer, I could easily put down a few of these in a hurry. 4.75/5
M - Medium body, and I'd say thin given the massive ABV of the beer. And for the first time in all these years, that thinnish mouthfeel actually helps with the beer's drinkability without taking away any of the tasting experience. The beer goes down easy, the finish lasts and lasts. Probably the best drinking 15percenter I've ever had.
O - A superlative effort from Anderson Valley. This beer can hang with the big boys of the club (BCBS, FW Parabola, any of the Founders) and still maintain its individuality.
May 14, 2021
Photo of tradershmulie
Reviewed by tradershmulie from Connecticut

4.18/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Nice dark color, head looked good, but dissipated quickly.

Sweet aroma from the beer.

Very good flavor. A bit sweet, but not overly so.

ABV is nice and high, but very good, can't taste it, but certainly can feel it.

Certainly a good RIS - but not the best. Worth having.
Apr 26, 2021
Huge Arker from Anderson Valley Brewing Company
Beer rating: 92 out of 100 with 439 ratings