Island Reserve: Russian Imperial Stout - Cisco Brewers Inc.

socon67

New York

3.66/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Had at the Cisco event aboard the Ligthship Nantucket at Hudson River Pier

A - Black pour with a high cola colored foam. Lacing is not too pronounced; half moons of sticky lace on the glass.

S - Scents of cocoa and roasted malt. Has a lingering boozy smell and some smoky qualities as it warmed.

T - A chocolate malt bomb. Perhpas a tad too sweet. There is a slight warming burn in the finish.

M - Pretty much was a one and done for me. The high ABV and sweetness made this sipper. This is a beer people can satisfy a sweet tooth, and then feel sick afterwards.

O - A pretty good dessert beer, but maybe the malt was a bit too sweet and too heavy. Overall fun but really a nondescript RIS.

Serving type: bottle

05-14-2013 12:30:56 | More by socon67

VelvetExtract

Massachusetts

3.71/5  rDev +10.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A-Pitch black with nearly zero head. Barely any lacing too.

S-Big and bold. Booze emanates. Nose isn't exceptionally aromatic. Coffee/chocolate of course. Also get a decent amount of dried dark fruit (nearly Belgian-esque)

T-Again, the flavor is not as overwhelming as it should be. The booze stands out just as much as any of the flavors. Its not exceptionally roasty. I get way more dried dark fruit than roast. It reminds me of a Belgian Imperial Stout. Chocolatey and plummy but not supremely roasty.

M-Big and boozy but the body is somehow thin.

O/D-They either messed this up or they wanted to carve out their own niche here. I was shocked to find out this was nearly 14%. Its thin and lacks flavor yet its uniqueness is oddly addictive. Definitely the most curious pint I had tonight.

Serving type: on-tap

05-04-2013 03:12:44 | More by VelvetExtract

SLeffler27

New York

3.98/5  rDev +18.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Black, very black, in a Dogfish Head snifter. A ring of fine dark foam forms a hazy layer above this viscous and syrupy Stout.

Strong roasted coffee and roasted chocolate dominate simply in this well-done aroma profile.

The flavor is almost exclusively malt with slight malt bitterness and trailing candy sugar. Semi-sweet chocolate combines with light wood notes in the middle, while modest sweetness fills out a short finish. Warmth develops these characteristics exceptionally well, while nonetheless mellowing and focusing the chocolate syrup flavors.

A dense, syrupy body with warming, yet controlled, alcohol for 13.5% abv.

This is a good sipper, perhaps best after dinner or with moist chocolate cake. While a bit too sweet for the style, it is still highly enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

04-21-2013 14:48:54 | More by SLeffler27

Kooz

New York

3.75/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured dark and opaque with a dark brown head. Smelled of molasses, which lingered throughout and was pleasant. Very nice taste. Chocolatey with a hint of coffee in it at the tail end. Mouthfeel was good--this stout had a good body to it, and despite the high abv, there was nothing boozy about it. Overall, i enjoyed it a lot and would recommend it, but one is plenty for a night.

Serving type: on-tap

04-06-2013 01:51:29 | More by Kooz

scruffwhor

Illinois

3.04/5  rDev -9.8%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3

I've been sitting on this bottle for more than six months, easy. Had to crack this bad boy open after taking down the Christmas lights. This is the day before temps get UP to 15 degrees in the chi-town area.

Poured into my Lunar Brewing co. Neil Armstrong snifter.

Oil slick black with a medium brown head of maybe one finger. There's a residual ring of foam that thins out more and more with each sip.

Roasted bread crust, coffee beans, with a viney and warm alcoholic warmth. Perhaps, not the aroma I anticipated, but still pretty good.

As this beer warms, the palate gets thinner, and the abv. content becomes more and more domineering. I still get strong roasted malt flavors, still lots of coffee and dark cocoa. There's still a slightly sour, viney finish, along with the alcohol. Palate is a watery oil mix.

This RIS isn't "bad" per-se, but this something i would not reccommend to someone, or buy again. Glad I tried it though.

Serving type: bottle

01-20-2013 00:07:35 | More by scruffwhor

tobelerone

New Jersey

3.54/5  rDev +5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

750ml bottle shared my wife after it sat in the cellar for 6 months or so. Poured jet black with a huge khaki colored head of excellent retention; tons of sticky lace clinging to the glass. Aroma is roasty; bitter chocolate and some surprisingly hoppy notes, floral and a bit piney, emerge over a lingering whiff of fusel alcohol.

The flavor is moderately sweet, moderately roasted, but aggressively bitter and hoppy, again with pine and floral notes that come to dominate the taste. Booze is present but not obnoxious. This tastes almost like a super-charged India Black Ale with a big body. Caught off guard by this unexpected twist, especially as the bottle’s been sitting for a while.

Medium full bodied, with moderate carbonation and a decent amount of smoothness. I guess I liked this ok; certainly more the BA community seemed to, but it wasn’t something I’d need to have again. The booziness was a little unpleasant and the hoppiness was just a bit too much in a stout, at least for my tastes. Interesting though, and not terrible by any means.

Serving type: bottle

01-12-2013 05:13:57 | More by tobelerone

abraxel

Michigan

3.88/5  rDev +15.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Reviewed blind as part of Blind BIF 7, courtesy of ShogoKawada.

A - How much more black could this be? None. None more black. The head is awesome. It's sort of a cinnamon creme color, very thick, and leaves wonderful lacing.

S - Rather hoppy, surprisingly. It reminds me of smelling a bag of hop pellets, though not nearly as intense. Also a touch of roast. I'm thinking this'll be a interesting blind experience.

T - A whole lot of things going on here. Licorice, molasses, coffee, and sweet fruits, with those same hops as in the aroma ever-present (not a ton of bitterness, though).

M - Full and thick and smooth. Lowish carbonation. Almost no hint of alcohol.

Overall, I like this quite a bit. It's rather hoppy, but otherwise seems like a pretty normal imperial stout.

Serving type: bottle

11-02-2012 14:56:31 | More by abraxel

TheBeerologist

Rhode Island

2.48/5  rDev -26.4%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

750 mL into a CBS snifter

Dark brown translucent pour with a thin tan head. No lacing,

At first I smell strong alcohol presence with a subtle backing of roasted malt and molasses.

Tastes like it smells - hot, and not much flavor behind the alcohol

For a RIS the mouthfeel is fairly thin, though well carbonated. Kinda watery.

Overall nothing I will pickup again or recommend - many other RIS's available at the price point ($11) that are much more worth it.

Serving type: bottle

10-01-2012 00:29:45 | More by TheBeerologist

zaphodchak

Virginia

2.8/5  rDev -16.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

From 2011 I think.

Thin fine tan head. Dark opaque brown body.

Nose has some booze and a trace of hops.

Taste is mostly of grassy, medicinal hops. Like hop cough syrup. I let this one sit for a while but it hasn't calmed down. Kinda disappointing.

Mouthfeel is generic as well.

This was neither worth the money nor the cellar space. Glad I opened it rather than face disappointment later, but maybe it would get better with time.

Serving type: bottle

08-18-2012 00:20:54 | More by zaphodchak

GarthDanielson

New Hampshire

4.08/5  rDev +21.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured on-tap and served in a snifter, the beer is a dark brown-to-black coloring with a thin, solid coating of chocolate milk colored head. Cocoa and coffee on the nose, with some roasted qualities helping to blend. Smells rich and warm. Flavors are roasted coffee, molasses sweetness, and a boozey undertone all mixing together evenly. The beer has a rich molasses and booze aftertaste, with a rich, slightly cloying finish. Very rich and very smooth, this beer would likely age well. Would make a good cold weather brew.

Serving type: on-tap

08-12-2012 18:54:55 | More by GarthDanielson

korguy123

Ontario (Canada)

2.35/5  rDev -30.3%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Bottle into snifter, no freshness date. Purchased 07/07/12

A- Opaque black pour with brown around the edges. Finger width dark tan head, lacing is decent.

S- Dark chocolate, dark roasted coffee and a healthy dose of alcohol. The alcohol kind of muffles everything else. There is some brown sugar and molasses.

T- Booze up front, dark roasted coffee, burnt toast and a slight medicinal taste.

M- Slightly thin, lively carbonation, sticky on the lips.

O- Wow this thing is a mess from sip one. The booze in this really just overpowers everything. I've had 19+% beers that you don't taste the alcohol, this one tastes as it is a 30% abv and only 13.5... I've never had anything from these guys before (or heard of them) but I'll give anyone a chance, especially a RIS but this is a train wreck.

Serving type: bottle

08-09-2012 23:28:42 | More by korguy123

CHADMC3

Connecticut

3.28/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Pours an opaque black body beneath the thin, yet sticky mocha head that quickly dissolves yet leaves a sticky lacing to coat the glass throughout the beer.

The aroma is roasted and boozy with hints of sweet chocolate and I believe some light woodnotes, perhaps some hop presence. As it warms the chocolate steps forward as well as some dark fruit.

The flavor is also heavily roasted with just hints of chocolate, a boozy bite and perhaps just a touch of woody notes similar to the aroma.

A fairly robust body with medium carbonation and a potent, yet warming boozy finish.

A decent example of the style with some pleasant characteristics but perhaps a bit much on the alcohol.

Serving type: bottle

07-27-2012 00:27:25 | More by CHADMC3

metter98

New York

3.85/5  rDev +14.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: The beer is essentially jet black in color. It poured with a quarter finger high tan head that has good retention properties and consistently left a thin layer of bubbles covering the surface.
S: There are moderately strong aromas of roasted malts in the nose along with some hints of chocolate.
T: There are strong flavors of dark roasted malts in the taste along with notes of burnt malts. There are some hints of citrus from the hops in the finish.
M: It feels medium-bodied and a bit dry on the palate with a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: For a beer that is 13.5% abv, the alcohol is very well hidden from the taste.

Serving type: bottle

07-09-2012 20:43:05 | More by metter98

dbrauneis

New Jersey

3.8/5  rDev +12.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: Pours an opaque jet black in color with some very light amounts of visible carbonation. The beer has a quarter finger tall dark tan head that slowly reduces to a thin film covering the entire surface of the beer with a small thick patch and a thick ring at the edges of the glass. Moderate to significant amounts of lacing are observed.

S: Moderate to strong aromas of dark roasted malts, possibly a little burnt. Lighter aromas of dark fruits and chocolate. Maybe just the slightest hints of licorice.

T: Very similar to the smell but possibly even a little more intense. There is a strong flavor of the dark roasted/slightly burnt malts along with dark fruits, chocolate, and licorice. Additionally there is the slightest (barely present) hint of citrus hops at the very end of the finish.

M: Medium bodied with moderate amounts of carbonation. Smooth and slightly sticky with a light amount of alcohol heat in the finish.

O: Alcohol is very well hidden in both the smell and the taste making this beer pretty easy to drink - though at 13.5% it is most definitely a sipping beer. Nice amount of complexity, possibly a little sweeter than I expected for the style, but very enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

07-08-2012 20:52:02 | More by dbrauneis

jaasen64

Massachusetts

3.3/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

750ml bottle. On their website it says it's one of their styles currently being "toyed" with, not exactly sure what that means. Poured into CCB snifter.

A- Pours a dark black with about a quarter finger of creamy mocha brown head with good retention. Definitely a little bit above average carbonation for a stout. Not too much lacing.

S- Dark fruits- figs, a little bit of plum; cocoa, definitely a bit hoppy for a RIS, a little bit of espresso, roasted malts, almonds, vanilla, some booze.

T- Cocoa, lightly roasted almonds, some citrus hops, some faint figs + plum (not as strong as in the aroma), some light booze. Different tastes balance fairly well, however not one of my favorite tastes for a RIS. A bit bitter on the finish, lightly sweet + boozey aftertaste.

M- Medium bodied, a little bit creamy, slightly syupy, a little bit above average carbonation. A little bit of an alcoholic burn, but not bad at all considering it's abv.

O- This imperial wasn't bad, however it was far from being my favorite. Like the quote on their website, I think they are still trying to improve this one. They should definitely try bringing down the booze a little bit, 13.5% is a little bit too high for this one. They could make it a little bit sweeter, tone down the hops, and make it a little bit less bitter. Overall not a terrible start, but definitely room for improvement. I suggest waiting for later batches on this one, although at $10 it's not terrible.

Serving type: bottle

07-01-2012 01:18:27 | More by jaasen64

deltatauhobbit

Maine

3.68/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pours a dark brown color, very large head, in fact, be careful since it very well could overflow like it did with mine, fades at a slow rate and leaves some good lacing on the glass.

Smell is a bit of a surprise, huge aroma of piney hops, based on aroma alone I'd say it would have been an Black IPA, roasted malt and cocoa does make an appearance behind the strong pine forefront.

Taste starts out with the piney hop flavor which is quickly balanced by the roasted malt, a burnt coffee-like presence makes itself known in the aftertaste, body is thin for a stout with high carbonation, the strength is very well hidden though and I would not have thought this to be anywhere near 13.5%.

A bit torn, drinks more like a Black IPA than a RIS. As a RIS it fails, as something else it's quite good.

Serving type: bottle

06-30-2012 21:54:00 | More by deltatauhobbit

ryan1788a5

Massachusetts

1.63/5  rDev -51.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 1 | feel: 4 | overall: 1

750ml bottle poured into an oversized snifter.

A: Pours black with a creamy tan head. Decent retention, broken webs of lacing.

S: Chocolate cookies, sugar cookies, vanilla bean, creamed coffee, nutty and woody scents, and cherry and plum darkfruit. Citric and herbal hop scents. Plastic and band-aid. This doesn't smell right.

T: Roasted tastes get acrid and smokey, a hit of citrus from the hops, powdery chocolate and some darkfruit, but there's also that horrible plasticy taste that overshadows it all. Very hot and boozy too. Rubbing alcohol, even. Something is very off with this beer.

M: Full and creamy mouthfeel. Smooth enough. Low carbonation. Mouthfeel is good.

O: I don't know what went wrong, but there is something very off with this beer. Tastes like lots of phenols. I'd be inclined to guess too high a fermentation temperature, or maybe sanitizer in the beer. Not sure what happened here, but this should not have been allowed out of the brewery.

Serving type: bottle

06-15-2012 03:59:27 | More by ryan1788a5

MatthewWilde

Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Sample: 1 bottle 2012

A: Pitch black, moderate sized dark brown head, moderate internal carbonation

S: Interesting for a RIS, heavy citrus and hops, moderately fragrant, elements of cocoa and espresso as well

T: Again, unique for a stout, heavy IPA notes to start, hops, citrus, even tropical fruits, finishing with a more espresso/chocolate flavor, moderate alcohol as well, balanced, but bitter

M: Smooth and refreshing, but definitely bitter and heavy in terms of alcohol, moderate citrus aftertaste, a bit lingering and drying on the palate

O: Flavorful and fragrant, but very strange tastes for a stout, more like a black IPA, delicious, but not representative of its style whatsoever

Serving type: bottle

06-14-2012 03:33:35 | More by MatthewWilde

jdhilt

New Hampshire

3.88/5  rDev +15.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a four finger tan head that fades slowly leaving a good lace. Black color, no highlights. Good carbonation and heavy bodied. Light piney nose and flavor is baked chocolate, some molasses and piney hops. Very high (13%) ABV is hidden. Lingering piney hop aftertaste. Not enough malts for a RIS. Pricey at $11.70 for a 750ml bottle from Tully's Beer and Wine Wells, ME.

Serving type: bottle

05-14-2012 22:19:44 | More by jdhilt

SawDog505

New Hampshire

2.73/5  rDev -19%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.5

Poured into a 20 oz Duvel tulip. Pours a slick black with a huge 4 inch head, with thick lacing left behind. Smell is huge pungent hops, some roasted nuts, roasted garlic, and some mocha. Taste is all of that, not what I expect from a stout the horror. The body is big, plenty of life, not overly dry, and so over the top drinkability is kind of low. The biggest problem with this brew is the nose and flavors are so uninviting. I love HUGE STOUTS, but the flavors here are so wrong.

Serving type: bottle

05-11-2012 01:15:30 | More by SawDog505

Pawlie

Massachusetts

4.03/5  rDev +19.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Cisco Brewers Island Reserve - 22oz Botttle Purchased from Cork's in Mansfield, Ma

A: Pours black with a bit of a creamy swirl before settling to form a creamy tan head. Quite nice actually.

S: Coffee and vanilla are quite dominant at the outset before settling and recognizing the aroma of alcohol with a bit of fruitiness.

T: Coffee and vanilla are very apparent with first taste, but settles nicely as the fruity aroma kicks in and adds nicely to the overall tasting experience.

M: Quite heavy.

O: Extremely delicious in my opinion. My first review here on Beer Advocate and given the average and occasional negative reviews this beer has gotten, I have to say I'm a little intimidated to embrace this brew as wholeheartedly as I just have. It's very filling, perhaps to a fault, but stands up quite well to many Russian Imperials I have had. In one sitting, I probably could not finish off a full bottle of this brew. It's better shared and strikes me as a great dessert beer, but I am generally impressed overall.

Serving type: bottle

04-23-2012 19:32:18 | More by Pawlie

ms11781

Massachusetts

2.6/5  rDev -22.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

750ml bottle poured into a snifter.

Pours a deep, opaque brown color with a thick, dense tannish brown head. Great, thick rings of foam are left on the glass with each sip, especially if some time elapses between sips. Really excellent head retention with great lacing.

The nose is pretty subdued when chilled and definitely doesn't get better as it warms. Some nice roast is present when chilled with light chocolate and perhaps a touch of coffee. There is some dark fruit here but it's a bit off, something I can't quite put my finger on. When the beer warms the roast lightens up a bit, the chocolate and coffee become almost non-existent and the fruity notes get stronger. A substantial amount of alcohol is present when the beer warms.

The taste is muddled when the beer is chilled and even more so when it warms. There is a touch of roast with some light chocolate and the odd fruit notes up when chilled but a good amount of alcohol is present and it takes over as it warms. It's a bit odd because the alcohol isn't really harsh nor does it have the warming affect that some higher ABV beers have.

The mouthfeel is thin and the carbonation, while low, is a bit prickly on the tongue. The carbonation probably helps the beer feel as thin as it does.

Overall this was an odd beer for me. It looks fantastic but things head downhill from there. The body is thin, the nose is a bit weak and the fruit and alcohol tastes are off. The fruit almost wants to be tart but it never quite gets there. It's not the normal dark fruit expected from an imperial stout. The alcohol is odd as well. It's not harsh and doesn't have the burn, it just seems to be "there". It really just seems like a beer with no definition, nothing that makes it stand out.

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2012 03:30:07 | More by ms11781

lordofthewiens

Maine

3.15/5  rDev -6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

In a tulip this beer was a very dark brown, nearly black, color. It had a tan head that left a little bit of lace.

Roasted malt aroma, chocolate and coffee. It wasn't very sweet. Alcohol was noticeable.

Bittersweet chocolate taste. Espresso. I thought there was a bit of charcoal in the taste. And don't forget the alcohol.

This beer was a big mouthful. Nice enough, but not something I would want to drink often.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2012 10:23:44 | More by lordofthewiens

Proteus93

Virginia

3.15/5  rDev -6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

This is one of those beers that I just pick up on a whim and take home. It's also the last beer before a one month sabbatical. Hopefully it is worthy!

A: Pours black as stouts will, topped with a pretty intense brown head that takes a while to recede. Sparkling, rich, with big bubble bursts to release the aromas.

S + T: A surprising note of hops on the nose... some sweet and semi-burnt malt notes, but the big, piney scent is taking it. If I were to close my eyes and blind sniff this beer, I might suspect that it is a Black IPA. The flavour has a similarly unusual quality of citrus, some modest chocolate, and earthy, herbal spiciness. It's not really what I would think of an imperial stout as being.

M + D: Quite thin, as far as stouts go. It's not a terrible beer--not a drain pour--but it's definitely NOT what I would think of a Russian Imperial Stout as being. So... while it might not be a terrible tasting beer, I don't really see myself going back.

Serving type: bottle

04-01-2012 03:49:11 | More by Proteus93

silentjay

Massachusetts

3.53/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

bought this a couple weeks ago. properly cellared it. chilled it for a few minutes in the fridge before I opened it so it was just below cellar temp. before I got to pour it, a couple minutes or so, I look over to see it bubbled over and beer all over the table. Not an extreme gusher, but a slow, steady one.

It pours an opaque dark brown/black with a huge mocha head made of huge bubbles that quickly pop to leave a spattering of foam and some decent lacing after I finish cleaning the table.

aroma is better, cocoa, molasses, brown sugar, roasted malts with a huge amount of piney, woody, herbal and floral hops.

flavor falls back from that, providing chewing tobacco, chocolate, cacao, molasses, woody/earthy/piney hops. thats about it.

very thin for the style with a carbonation that is harsh at first and then nonexistent on the swallow. kind of odd.

well, its drinkable, and I'll probably finish the bottle, but I wouldn't but it again, and I'm glad I only bought the one and didn't send this out to anyone in trades. It has potential, just needs some (lots) of refining. so far the Island Reserve series has failed to impress me.

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2012 05:24:50 | More by silentjay