Igor - Fullsteam Brewery

mechamifune

North Carolina

3.65/5  rDev -9.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a pitch black with no head to speak of. Very light carbonation and almost no lacing to speak of. Not off for the style but not really inviting.

Smell is heavy boubon upfront. Slight notes of the usual IS flavors lie underneath it, but they are pretty overwhelmed by the bourbon.

Taste is heavy bourbon to start and then into notes of sweet malt and chocolate. Bourbon subsides a little as you get through it but this is a very "hot" barrel aged stout. Makes me think a little bit of some "fresh" bourbon county stout i've had in the past. I don't think the bourbon notes are incorporated as well into the rest of the beer as in some of my favorite examples of the style, but it is still a pleasant enough taste assuming you are a big bourbon fan.

Mouthfeel is about right for the style, maybe just a touch light for my personal preference. For as heavy as the bourbon character is, I think a little bit of a chewier mouthfeel would be beneficial, but this isn't what I would consider "thin".

Overall this is a solid barrel aged stout that is drinking a little hot (for me) right now. I think some time will do some great things for this beer. At present though, if you aren't a big bourbon fan you might not like it all that much.

Serving type: on-tap

10-30-2011 22:17:05 | More by mechamifune

mklinger

North Carolina

3.25/5  rDev -19.4%

07-17-2012 14:19:20 | More by mklinger

Beerness

North Carolina

3.5/5  rDev -13.2%

07-03-2012 17:13:34 | More by Beerness

belgianfiend

North Carolina

4.25/5  rDev +5.5%

06-18-2012 01:42:45 | More by belgianfiend

fehrminator

North Carolina

4/5  rDev -0.7%

02-10-2012 02:02:33 | More by fehrminator

danoeltico

North Carolina

5/5  rDev +24.1%

02-08-2012 22:29:51 | More by danoeltico

Evan1023

New Jersey

4/5  rDev -0.7%

11-19-2011 03:25:44 | More by Evan1023

platiuminthey2g

North Carolina

3.95/5  rDev -2%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

A - deep, deep brown/black with light head of coffee brown

S - almost sweet. first flavor I smell is caramel then bourbon. the bourbon is by no means overpowering. a perfect combination of the two

T - similar to above. the bourbon isn't powerful but acted like more of a compliment than the sole flavor. I drank about half, let it sit for 20 minutes and finished it. as you'd expect, the bourbon comes out a bit more as it warms, but all the flavors are still there.

M - having experienced few beers to blow me away with mouthfeel, this would be "normal"

O - By far my favorite Fullsteam offering - I've had them all except the Paw Paw, which I hope to try soon. Igor is easily among my favorite bourbon-aged beers now. Talked to a couple other patrons about how they couldn't drink much more than the 11 oz serving, but I would love to sit down and enjoy a bomber of this.

Serving type: on-tap

11-04-2011 14:27:59 | More by platiuminthey2g

VncentLIFE

North Carolina

4.55/5  rDev +12.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

It pours a very deep dark brown with a very small 1/8 inch head. Small pour with a Fullsteam glass at Sams' in Durham.

Smells boozy and oaky. Slight roasted malts and alot of boozy. The booze is a little overpowering and dominant for me.

Taste is oak. Normally I hate alot of oak in a beer, but its just about on the line. All that oak really levels off what would be a very sweet syrupy beer. Roasted malts a touch of coffee round out Igor.

Body is just as thick as you would expect. Its a bit different from the mass of Breakfast Stouts ive been partaking in, and I like it. Smooth and boozy.

Serving type: on-tap

11-01-2011 21:24:45 | More by VncentLIFE

wedge

North Carolina

3.78/5  rDev -6.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

@ Fullsteam - Igor Release/Halloween Shindig

Pure, spooky black under a thin, wispy tan head. Lots of bourbon upfront in the aroma shrouding a chocolaty maltiness. Sweet chocolate and another hefty dose of bourbon on the tongue, though it's not quite so assertive. Warming and full bodied. Not bad, not bad...I had one and moved on. The BA character is a little too strong for my taste. There could be a really nice RIS under there, but it's hard to tell.

Serving type: on-tap

10-31-2011 13:34:42 | More by wedge

bballmj2k

North Carolina

4.4/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Had this today - so impressed.

A - jet black, little to no head with a hint of mocha brown lacing.

S - bourbon, oak, sweet chocolate malts, hints of vanilla

T - wonderfully balanced. Sweet bourbon up front with roasted coffee and chocolate notes. Ends with some bitterness and goes down so smooth. Can't emphasize enough - there is no heat going down, beautifully brewed and beautifully aged.

M - light carbonation, silky and creamy mouthfeel.

O - fantastic. For a young brewery, the first attempt at a stout and one of the first barrel-aging efforts this is remarkable. So smooth, delicious and no heat at all. Can't wait to get more.

Serving type: on-tap

10-30-2011 23:41:16 | More by bballmj2k