Bishop's Barrel 1
Saint Arnold Brewing Company

Bishop's Barrel 1Bishop's Barrel 1
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From:
Saint Arnold Brewing Company
 
Texas, United States
Style:
Russian Imperial Stout
ABV:
12%
Score:
94
Avg:
4.25 | pDev: 11.06%
Reviews:
32
Ratings:
186
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Oct 16, 2020
Added:
Nov 06, 2012
Wants:
  51
Gots:
  33
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Photo of rodbeermunch
Reviewed by rodbeermunch from Nevada

4.01/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Original #1 at March Madness 2017, another leftpaw contribution.

Pours black. Brown head, 1/3". The aroma was more bourbon than dark fruit yeastiness. I like that, as RIS tends to be my least favorite stout subgenre (unless fruited stouts is a thing, but even then, I really dig Bell's Cherry Stout, so who knows).

Taste still leads with the bourbon, but its relatively soft and backed up by a roasted grain and oak counterpart. Light notes of chocolate and brandy come in later, the brandy note is likely to be that of the yeast from this RIS base. Alcohol is moderately warm and not problematic, I would say ever so slightly that it does a good job hiding the booze. The dark fruit bitterness is largely tempered by everything else going on. It does a good job coloring within the lines.

This also gets a slight nod for being on of the earlier barrel aged stouts in a 12 oz bottle (yes CW, GI were doing it before, but they are the exception like these guys).
Oct 16, 2020
 
Rated: 5 by RiceOwls27 from Texas

Apr 08, 2020
 
Rated: 4.75 by cmbeddoe7997 from Texas

Apr 06, 2018
 
Rated: 4.46 by BdM from Netherlands

Nov 08, 2016
 
Rated: 4 by xtonytx from Connecticut

Aug 25, 2016
 
Rated: 4.57 by ericat78 from Texas

Jan 28, 2016
 
Rated: 3.39 by Ryannotbryan from Texas

Jan 17, 2016
Photo of Chris_Huston
Reviewed by Chris_Huston from Texas

4.3/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Easily the closest my experience has come to matching the brewer's notes, and also a fantastic example of the dramatic differences within a style and from the same brewer. Very different from the Divine Reserve #15. Sweeter, lighter, more complex flavor and easier to drink.

StA recommends consuming it somewhere between 55-60 degrees, I poured mine on the other side of 70, as I usually do, out of a tuliped snifter. Mostly bourbon on the nose. That fills out in the taste with some spiciness at the front, the cacao comes through quietly on the backend. The light carbonation gives it a nice, drinkable feel. The lacing is more clingy than newer StA offerings.

Essentially, this is a great beer for beer and bourbon lovers. The bourbon is unmistakable, but civilized, playing nicely with the beer itself. Definitely one of my favorite StA and Russian Imperial Stouts.
Jan 03, 2016
 
Rated: 4.25 by SocalKicks from California

Oct 29, 2015
 
Rated: 4.35 by kingjohnh from New Mexico

Sep 12, 2015
Photo of StoutFox
Reviewed by StoutFox from Ohio

4.79/5  rDev +12.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.75
This beer is comparable to a Bcbs it is a huge bourbon wiskey aroma with a dark fruit chocolatey flavors. Its only caviots are the drinkablity is low and the mouthfeel is a bit on the light side.
Jun 09, 2015
Photo of UCLABrewN84
Reviewed by UCLABrewN84 from California

4.08/5  rDev -4%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Thanks to mrbubbler for sharing this one at his tasting.

Pours an almost opaque super dark brown with a foamy khaki head that settles to wisps of film on top of the beer. Tiny dots of lace drip into the remaining beer on the drink down. Smell is of dark roasted malt, caramel, toffee, vanilla, bourbon, and wood aromas. Taste is much the same with cocoa powder, caramel, toffee, vanilla, and bourbon flavors on the finish. There is a mild amount of roast and wood 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 great bourbon barrel aged aromas and tasty flavors.

Serving type: bottle.
Jun 04, 2015
 
Rated: 4.17 by hoppy91 from Texas

Jun 02, 2015
 
Rated: 4 by GRG1313 from California

May 31, 2015
 
Rated: 4.41 by Gatordaddy from Maryland

May 14, 2015
 
Rated: 4.25 by Fabiand from Texas

Apr 01, 2015
 
Rated: 4.71 by sd123 from Georgia

Mar 05, 2015
 
Rated: 3.25 by Domvan from Texas

Dec 11, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by JScoot from Louisiana

Dec 04, 2014
Bishop's Barrel 1 from Saint Arnold Brewing Company
Beer rating: 94 out of 100 with 186 ratings