Imperial Stout Trooper - Cherry Vanilla Infused
New England Brewing Co.

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From:
New England Brewing Co.
 
Connecticut, United States
Style:
Russian Imperial Stout
ABV:
8.5%
Score:
98
Avg:
4.6 | pDev: 6.52%
Reviews:
13
Ratings:
32
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Apr 27, 2016
Added:
Jan 05, 2010
Wants:
  82
Gots:
  0
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by MikeyMikee:
Photo of MikeyMikee
Reviewed by MikeyMikee from New York

4.31/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
Had on cask at Prime 16 - 1/27/11 from notes.

Has a thick, brown "fluffy" head, awesome retention. Jet black body (the bar was also pretty dimly lit)

The smell is crisp, light and somewhat refreshing with cherry overpowering all of the other aromas. There's a light vanilla that pushes it's way through. There is also a faint dark chocolate aroma that may not have even existed but I just wanted it to be there so bad that I imagined it. I am aware this is a "cherry vanilla infused" beer but I feel like a rich dark chocolate aroma is necessary for this beer. Perhaps there was just too much cherry juice extract added to this batch.

The taste is really great. A lot of cherry again but coffee is present and chocolate is more upfront than in the nose (maybe I didnt imagine it after all). The vanilla takes a back seat...actually, maybe its in the trunk. But it is there. It really is a great tasting beer though and very unique that makes me sad it's only offered once a year at one location. The only thing that prevents it from receiving a perfect 5 is the dominating cherry with all of the other flavors kind of hidden. This isnt a bad thing (4.5 isnt bad at all) but more of a balance would lead to a perfect taste.

The mouthfeel is uique, it's fluffy and full bodied. It is unlike any other stout I have had ever had. It was thick and full but airy as well that led to a not so filling beer but very satisfying.

Really addicting beer, the sweetness and unique mouthfeel keeps me comming back for more. I finished the glass in about 5 minutes. There was also a really strong sweetness towards the end of the glass that I guess was some cherry juice that had settled to the bottom.

All around truly fantastic beer but perhaps a little unbalanced. Really outstanding though and can't wait to go back next year.
Feb 26, 2011
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.59 by BEER88 from North Carolina

Apr 27, 2016
 
Rated: 4.33 by Tylerhurlburt from Connecticut

Apr 17, 2015
 
Rated: 4.75 by Bizoneill from Connecticut

Jun 12, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by cincysig from Connecticut

Apr 11, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by pfhanlon from Massachusetts

Apr 06, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by tylergoov from Connecticut

Apr 05, 2014
 
Rated: 4.75 by ShaneDorsey from Connecticut

Mar 08, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by NuclearRich from Connecticut

Mar 05, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by Ultra-Plinian from Connecticut

Mar 05, 2014
Photo of PicoPapa
Reviewed by PicoPapa from Connecticut

4.27/5  rDev -7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
On cask at Prime 16. Pours a pitch black color with some red hues and a small amount of head. Very little lacing. The aroma is light hints of cherry with coffee, earth and dark chocolate. Not all that aromatic. The taste is a nice mix of the cherry and vanilla along with some coffee and dark chocolate. The cherry and vanilla isn't overpowering and compliments the Stout Trooper well. Earthy with dark chocolate and vanilla at the finish with hints of the cherry. There ia alot going on here for sure. Mouthfeel is light with very little carbonation.Thanks to Prime and the Tap Takeover for giving me a chance to finally drink this beer. Overall, complex and delicious. Worth the wait.
Mar 05, 2014
 
Rated: 4.75 by burymeinhops from Connecticut

Oct 11, 2013
 
Rated: 4.5 by ubufan2112 from Connecticut

Oct 11, 2013
 
Rated: 4.75 by ManMoosePig from Connecticut

Apr 11, 2013
 
Rated: 4.25 by Mbrown44 from Delaware

Jan 30, 2013
 
Rated: 4.75 by seplo from Connecticut

Oct 24, 2012
Photo of Pete27lax
Reviewed by Pete27lax from New York

4.85/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Finally reviewing this from my notes from the NEBCO Tap Takeover at Prime 16 in February 2012.

Had this on cask. Note: The cask of cherry vanilla IST had some malfunctions at the beginning of the night (luckily I got a pour before that) and was fixed later in the night so I was lucky enough to get two glasses of this!

Awesome apperance right out of the cask. Totally black body with a small mocha head. Decent retention here with solid lacing. Bar was also pretty dark.
 
The smell was very similar to regular IST (which is absolutely not an insult) with a hint of cherry. The vanilla doesn't come out too much in the smell.
 
The taste is a perfect 5!! Everything I expected and then some. The cherry sweetness really comes out initially, great chocolate flavor and there's a roasty aspect present as well. Vanilla is there toward the end and in the after taste and is the perfect way to round out this beer.

Alcohol is also completely hidden in this beer.
 
Mouthfeel is nothing short of perfect.  Silky smooth with light carbonation. My ideal mouthfeel for a stout. Thick, smooth, rich etc.

The full flavors make this a very drinkable beer for a moderately high abv stout. Overall it's pretty outstanding, damn near perfect. I really wish this would be a regular beer but at the same time I don't because it would take a little away from the fun of the event.

Can't express enough how awesome this event was. Was able to hangout with some awesome BAs and also try the other outstanding offerings of the night. This is an event that everyone should try to attend.. Great food, great people, and of course great beer. What more could you ask for? If you're on the fence about attending next years just do it, you WILL NOT regret it!
Aug 30, 2012
Photo of modernartblues
Reviewed by modernartblues from Connecticut

4.97/5  rDev +8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
On Cask at Prime 16 on 02/21/12

A: dark, deep black, nice 1” uber coffee tan head

N: chocolate, light cherries, coffee roast, roast is balanced nicely by the sweetness of the cherries, hints of vanilla

T: like chocolate covered cherries, faint coffee, dark fruits, the vanilla-fresh cherries over over powering, clearly the main character, this is pretty fantastic, a new favorite

M: full bodied, creamy goodness

O: I’m in love. This may be the most delicious thing I’ve ever drank. The cherries and chocolate-vanilla are intense without making the beer overly sweet. This is pretty close to perfection for big stouts.
Feb 25, 2012
 
Rated: 4.5 by smutty33 from Connecticut

Jan 19, 2012
 
Rated: 5 by matthewpaul from Connecticut

Dec 13, 2011
Imperial Stout Trooper - Cherry Vanilla Infused from New England Brewing Co.
Beer rating: 98 out of 100 with 32 ratings