Russian Imperial Stout (Bourbon Barrel Aged) - Inland Empire Brewing Company

ehammond1

California

2.65/5  rDev -35.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2

On Tap

Churchill's Pub & Grille
San Marcos, CA

Black body with a small brown head, though the beer appears somewhat thin for the style, eventually leaving irregular dots and spots of stick down the glass.

Not a particularly strong aroma given the style. There's some mild roast and dark malt elements, some oak, and a hint of vanilla. There's more stinging alcohol harshness than I care for, as well.

The bourbon-barrel aging doesn't influence the flavor much of this boozy stout. There's mild oak and vanilla, along with roast and minerals. Quite a bit of harsh booze is left also.

Medium bodied with moderate carbonation, though not particularly rich or satisfying because of the strong booze element. The beer is 14% ABV so I suppose that is to be expected.

A below-average bourbon barrel-aged imperial stout.

Serving type: on-tap

08-02-2012 21:26:50 | More by ehammond1

t0rin0

California

4.03/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Made for the second anniversary. For now I've listed it as a one off but this could change, much like the 1st anniversary bourbon Scotch Ale.

Sampled 3/3/2011 in Arizona from a growler.

Pours dark opaque black with a light brown head, good lacing and retention.

Aroma is huge on the oak, vanilla, coconut, chocolate, and coffee. It's flaw is the intensity of the booze. You might catch a buzz from smelling this beer.

Flavor is good but not as balanced as the aromas. Big big woody oak presence backed by hefty doses of vanilla, coconut milk, and BOOZE. Once the shock of the -bals subsides you'll get some roast and a decent amount of chocolate. The kind of roast/chocolate balance that I've come to associate with an RIS. And then some more booze. This is an RIS on steroids. This is surprisingly bitter.

Body is heavy and effervescent. Not all that drinkable due to the booziness.

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Serving type: growler

04-01-2011 03:45:23 | More by t0rin0