Anniversary Ale XV - Real Ale Brewing Company

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.93/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Black with a little head. A story in coffee, very fresh tasting. Good for what it is. A nice very coffee tasting IS. Real Ales has picked it up a notch from the basic stuff I tried from them years back. Very good drinkability, and surprising as I am not a coffee drinker. Nicely hopped.thanks for sharing Pino.

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2012 02:46:54 | More by northyorksammy

mikesgroove

South Carolina

4.15/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Thick with no head, none at all, nadda, not even a bubble. No lace ethier, very odd for an RIS. Smell was very nice. Deep dark chocolate and roasted coffee mixed in with hints of vanilla and sugar. Very sweet, and damn near perfect smell on this, fine job, very rich and desert like. The taste was strong, and definatly packed a punch. Very sweet, with the biggest flavor here being roasted coffee and chocolate. Definate alcohol presence here whci at 10% is not shock. Again the feel was very thick, but the lack of carbonation hurt it, as it did not feel as creamy as it could have been. This left the mouthfeel a bit dull and flat. The finish was nice, dry and somewhat hoppy. This one needs more carbonation. The flatness in the mouthfeel takes away from the great aromas and flavors it possess

Serving type: bottle

12-04-2011 03:57:28 | More by mikesgroove

womencantsail

California

3.58/5  rDev -9.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Thanks for sharing this, Bobby.

A: The beer pours almost black in color with a small khaki colored head.

S: Sort of roasty with a bit of prunes and licorice. A little bit of molasses sweetness, coffee, maybe some earthy hop notes. Really kind of bland for an imperial stout.

T: Licorice and burnt sugar, some dark fruits (probably raisins), and an overall sweetness. A definite bitterness and roasted malt note, maybe some coffee and molasses.

M: Smooth, medium bodied and medium carbonation.

O: Sort of disappointing and bland for an imperial stout. Not what I was hoping for.

Serving type: bottle

09-17-2011 01:56:19 | More by womencantsail

brentk56

North Carolina

3.73/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 2.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Appearance: The liquid is an inky brown but, with even a hard pour, very little head could be raised; lacks lacing, too

Smell: Dark fruit (blueberry, black cherry and prune) with roasty undertones of chocolate and molasses

Taste: Roasty, with chocolate and dark fruit joining through mid-palate; after the swallow, the molasses adds earthy sweetness but the roasty elements dominate the finish

Mouthfeel: Medium to full body with low carbonation

Overall: A cut above the other beers I have sampled from this brewery but still a middle of the road example for the style

Thanks, Phoenix2443, for the opportunity

Serving type: bottle

02-10-2013 23:34:42 | More by brentk56

UCLABrewN84

California

4/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to Exiled for sending me this one!

Pours an opaque black with a huge 3 inch puffy dark khaki head that fades to a film on the top of the beer. A nice latticework of lace forms on the glass on the drink down. Smell is of dark roasted malt, coffee beans, some smoke, and cocoa powder. Taste is of dark roasted malt, roasted coffee/espresso beans, some smoke flavors, and bitter cocoa beans. Very mild roasty bitterness on the palate quickly fades after each sip. This beer has a crisp carbonation level with a slightly bubbly but smooth mouthfeel. Overall, this is a good RIS with some nice roasty smells and tastes. I am glad I got to try this one as this seems like a low key regional release.

Serving type: bottle

09-27-2011 04:40:48 | More by UCLABrewN84

TMoney2591

Illinois

3.48/5  rDev -11.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Served in a Freetail 2012 shaker pint glass.

Thanks to twiggamortis420 for this bottle!

I remember having this a while ago, not sure why I didn't make any concrete notes about it, but an opportunity has shown itself for some revisitation. Oh yeah. This stuff pours a very deep black-brown, verging on onyx, topped by a finger of tan foam. The nose comprises roasted malts...and nothing much else, really... Honestly, it just smells like mildly-roasted barley. Straight up. Okay... Oh, wait, there's occasionally a spike or two of booze, as well. Yup. The taste brings in more of the same, along with some bitter dark chocolate and some light pine resin. The body is a hefty medium, bordering on true heft, with a very light moderate carbonation and a chewy feel. Overall, this is still a decent impy stout, but I feel the year has not been kind to it. I'd drink another if given the chance, but I wouldn't hold out very high hopes.

Serving type: bottle

11-29-2012 02:54:23 | More by TMoney2591

Mora2000

Texas

4/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at the Common Table.

The beer pours a very dark brown to black color with a decent-sized tan head. The aroma is a mix of roasted malt, chocolate and some pine from the hops.

The flavor is very hoppy for an imperial stout. I get some roasted malt, coffee and chocolate, but what really comes through is a heavy dose of bitter pine. The beer reminds me a lot of fresh Victory Storm King since both are highly hopped stouts.

Medium to thick mouthfeel and medium carbonation.

Serving type: on-tap

09-11-2011 01:58:38 | More by Mora2000

MasterSki

Illinois

3.63/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to Mike for sharing this one. Served in a Darkness glass.

A - Quick-dissolving light tan foam settles to a thin collar, leaving tiny spots of lace. Very dark brown body that is near-black.

S - Dark chocolate, light smoke, roasted malts, some dark fruits, and a bit of light oxidation and vinous port character.

T - Taste is mostly chocolate, with some caramilk, and a somewhat charry and tarry finish. Alcohol is thankfully well-hidden.

M - Smooth, medium-full body, lower carbonation, and a bit of alcohol warmth in the finish. Solid stuff here.

D - This is a decent Russian Imperial Stout, but nothing special. Probably the best thing I've had from Real Ale, and I had no problem drinking my 6oz pour.

Serving type: bottle

10-06-2011 02:27:20 | More by MasterSki

mdfb79

New York

4/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Received as an extra from xpimptastikx; thanks Michael. Always interested in a new RIS. Poured from a 12 oz. bottle into my DFH tulip.

a - Pours a very dark brown color, almost black, with two inches of dark tan head and moderate carbonation evident. Head lasts for a minute or two, and leaves a tiny bit of lacing on the glass.

s - Smells of roasted malts, chocolate, vanilla, bitter chocolate, coffee, dark fruits, toasted malts, light alcohol, and light caramel malts. Very roasted and chocolatey, and pretty sweet, but I like it.

t - Tastes of roasted malts, sweet chocolate, bitter chocolate, raisins, sweet dark fruits, coffee, light vanilla, and alcohol. As it warms up some light caramel and toffee, and more burnt and toasted malts.

m - Medium to full body and low carbonation, smooth and a bit creamy. Pretty nice body.

o - Overall a pretty nice RIS. A bit on the sweet side, especially in the nose, but overall a nice RIS. Lots of roasted notes and chocolate, and pretty creamy thick body. Would have it again.

Serving type: bottle

12-13-2011 02:01:31 | More by mdfb79

mactrail

California

3.95/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a dark brown with a golden glint. Nice beige foam doesn't stick around too long, but leaves plenty of lacing and a sprightly mouthfeel. Poured from the 12 oz bottle bought at Texas Wine Cellars in Fredericksburg, TX.

Sugary sweet to start. Brown sugar and burnt sugar. The hops come on suddenly in a rush of bitterness. This is quite a complex and interesting interplay of flavors. A touch of sourness from the burnt malt. Warm caramel flavors with a winey character. Sort of a Vermouth taste of sweetness and bitterness. Hot and spicy on the tongue. Quite pleasant sipping and conveys a lot of flavor as well as power.

Serving type: bottle

05-15-2013 04:23:27 | More by mactrail

thagr81us

South Carolina

3.98/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Big thanks goes out to my boy caSSino for sharing this one while hanging out at NoDa Brewing. Served from bottle into a NoDa sampler shaker. Poured pitch black with a minimal khaki colored head. Maintained decent lacing throughout the glass. The aroma was comprised of roasted malt, dark chocolate, dark fruit, and wood. The flavor was of sweet malt, dark fruit, dark chocolate, and alcohol. It had a heavy feel on the palate with mild carbonation. Overall this was a fairly decent brew. I wasn’t expecting much on this one unfortunately. However, this was a fairly nicely put together brew overall. The aromas and flavors on this one were really well balanced which made this a fairly easy to drink RIS. Comes in a 12 oz bottle, so feel free to pick some up for a party as I’m sure it will be a big hit with the beer guys at a party.

Serving type: bottle

02-10-2012 00:55:32 | More by thagr81us

gford217

Georgia

3.6/5  rDev -8.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours dark chocolate brown, definitely not completely black, with a small tan head that lingers as a thick collar.

Aroma is sweet with molasses and licorice on top of the roasted malt backbone. There are coffee hints and still some hops hanging on after the months in the bottle.

Taste is hoppy up front with lots of heavily roasted malts and chocolate. There is licorice and coffee before a bitter roasty finish.

Mouthfeel is light to medium bodied with more carbonation than I was expecting. Comes across a little watery vs. most in the style.

This is a heavily roasted and hoppy impy stout and a pretty tasty one at that.

Serving type: bottle

07-20-2012 03:48:47 | More by gford217

AgentZero

Illinois

3.15/5  rDev -20.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

A - Black beer that browns on the edges. Head bubbled up tan for just a second. Fades to nothing, no stick on the glass.

S - Very chocolatey smelling beer, that's by far the most dominant note. Smells somewhat like carob.

T - Tastes a lot like chocolate, almost milk chocolate at that. It's fine for what it is, but the finish is horrible. Tastes like tar and chalk and lingers for too long.

M - Medium bodied, some soft carbonation.

O - Passable, but nothing I would want to drink again. It's a sweet stout and the aftertaste just killed it.

Serving type: bottle

10-05-2011 02:41:04 | More by AgentZero

champ103

Texas

4.1/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On tap at the Anvil in Houston.

A: Pours a near pitch black color. No light gets through. A one finger head forms with good retention. Plenty of lace is left behind.
S: Chocolate, roasted malt, and brown sugar. Some hops intermingle in the nose. Lightly grassy. Some dark fruits of cherries and raisins. Very nice.
T: Again lots of chocolate. Lightly roasted with some sugar sweetness. Baked bread and biscuit. Light alcohol is present. Some hops in the finish with a lingering bitterness. Very nice.
M/D: A full body that is low on the carbonation. Smooth and velvety. So easy to drink. There is a bit of alcohol. Which is expected for the style, but it is a great sipper.

This is a really good Imperial Stout. Something I really enjoyed and would highly recommend. Way better than last years anniversary beer.

Serving type: on-tap

07-22-2011 03:50:13 | More by champ103

lackenhauser

Maryland

4.38/5  rDev +10.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Black-as in jet black. Could use a bit more of a head. Looks almost still though it is definately carbonated. Sweetish, toffee like aroma-somewhat burnt caramel like. Deeply roasted flavor but has a very prominant, upfront sweetness to it like it is an imperial milk stout. Burnt and bitter roasted flavors. Molasses and treacle. Full and sticky mouthfeel-again quite sweet all around. Velvety smooth. Very drinkable and enjoyable. Well done-might be a touch sweet for some folks.

Serving type: bottle

11-12-2011 02:52:09 | More by lackenhauser

scottfrie

California

3.68/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle into Duvel tulip. Thanks for this one, codewarrior.

A: Pours black with a thin and fuzzy dark brown head that almost lasted the whole beer through.
S: Rich notes of chocolate fudge brownies and a hint of molasses. Not super complex.
T: Chocolate and a whole lot of roasted malts and slightly burnt caramel. Flavors are sweet, syrupy, and lightly fruity. I get notes of licorice and coffee in the bitter finish, and the aftertaste has a hint of vanilla with some roastedness and tart lingering forever.
M: Fuzzy carbonation that is fairly soft, medium-full body, and a creamy mouthfeel. Mouthfeel is just a touch on the thin side and a bit sharp but this beer is pretty drinkable.
O: An above average imperial stout although I wasn’t crazy about the flavors. Good mouthfeel.

Serving type: bottle

12-31-2011 00:27:19 | More by scottfrie

rudzud

Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

Received as an extra in a trade poured into a dogfish head chalice.

A - Poured a deep dark brown black hue with a nice one finger mocha that left light side lacing and a very thin blanket.

S - Aromas of light chocolate, roasted malts, bitter grounds, and light soy sauce.

T - Taste is similar to the nose with more bitter roast and slight Russian imperial soysauce.

M - Mouthfeel is a bit on the thin side for my liking. Actually quite thin.

O - Overall this wasn't a bad ris it just was too thin and a bit much soy sauce.

Serving type: bottle

11-08-2012 21:31:19 | More by rudzud

crossovert

Wisconsin

3.9/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

12 oz bottle. Cellar temp.

IT pours a dense black with a foamy tan head.

The smell is nice, a mix of sugars and cocoa with a bit of dark fruit and yeast action.

The flavor is nice. It has a rich roasty bitter cocoa flavor along with some caramel and dark fruits. It is mildly alcoholic which is nice considering the abv.

The mouthfeel is just a tad it think, but I really like the mouthfeel.

Serving type: bottle

10-01-2011 06:27:28 | More by crossovert

homebrew311

Illinois

3.8/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Received via trade. Poured into tulip glass. Appearance is opaque and jet black, brown head with nice lacing sticks around. The nose starts with a large dose of chocolate malt paired with delicate notes of black licorice and a touch of booziness. I don't really get much in the way of roasted barley on the nose. Dark bitter chocolate comes in big on the taste as well. Lots of depth to the flavor with notes of dark fruit, a hint of herbal hoppiness, and a bit of a boozy bite at the end. The finish is heavy on the bitter side and certainly cancels out any sweetness from the big malt bill. The mouth feel is thick and slightly oily with mild carbonation. Overall, this is a flavor packed Imperial stout that is a little to bitter for my tastes.

Serving type: bottle

05-31-2012 05:19:13 | More by homebrew311

HardTarget

Texas

4.04/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Appearance: Opaque black glass refused to allow even strong back lighting to show anything more than a thin slightly ruby edge. Long lasting tan foam clings to the edge of the glass leaving distinct, widely spaced tide marks.

Smell:Black strap molasses mingles with dark roasted barley. Sweet, burnt, under attenuated , this is a tough neighborhood more than a refined fireside sipper.

Taste: Sugary malt cut with West coast citric hops save the day! The charred blackened nose runs as a ribbon through the candy base giving a complex, satisfying and easy drinking beer (for close to 10% abv.).

Mouthfeel: Body is a tough thin but that helps lighten the beer. Carbonation is almost cask, a bit low in my view, but it doesn't hurt the package much.

Overall: A great celebration beer for a great Texan brewery. Looking forward to many more, and hope this one shows up on a seasonal rotation!

Serving type: bottle

02-19-2013 04:43:28 | More by HardTarget

EgadBananas

Louisiana

3.78/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours black. Medium tan head, nice lace. Nice, but subtle roasted malt aroma. Taste is fairly chocolaty, roasted, with a light coffee note. Feels thick, full, and creamy. Nothing disappointing there. Solid RIS, but I think some age might do it well. I'm up to the challenge.

Serving type: bottle

09-09-2011 02:47:05 | More by EgadBananas

inlimbo77

Delaware

3.9/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz, 2011?
Foothills stout snifter

A: Pours pretty dark brown, leaning to almost completely black. About a quarter finger of tight bubbles tan head. Faded quickly into a ring around the edges.

S: Really deep dark chocolate. That blueberry strange fruity sweetness. Roast malts. Coffee. Although the coffee is certainly secondary.

T: Tip of the tongue, it's all dark chocolate bitterness. Deep rich cocoa. Lingers. Then you get that touch of blueberry sweetness or fruitiness. Roasted malts. Slight dark coffee. Finish is long and lingering with that dark cocoa flavor. Sticks on the palate.

M: it's full bodied but nicely carbonated. Could here the bubbly carbonation during sip.

Serving type: bottle

12-27-2012 14:38:13 | More by inlimbo77

AlCaponeJunior

Texas

3.95/5  rDev 0%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Black as night with a 1/4" head that didn't last long, and so-so lacing.

Smell is lots of roasted and burnt malts, dark chocolate, coffee.

Taste follows smell, with loads of coffee up front, tons of semi-sweet baker's chocolate, a plethora of malts, burnt and roasted, a little bit of sweetness and ample bitterness from a well balancing hops presence.

Feel is full and bitter, lingeringly bitter from the hop, and with a slight choco-coffee finish. Alcohol a bit noticeable on the finish.

Overall it's tasty and a pretty good RIS. Certainly worth a try, and I'd be happy to have a four pack of it too.

Serving type: bottle

09-22-2011 22:05:32 | More by AlCaponeJunior

peensteen

Ontario (Canada)

3.9/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thank you to LadyOfMuchBeer for sending this my way.

Dark and near black in colour, tan coloured head with some lace left behind. Nose is of coffee and roasted malt, liquorice, bakers chocolate and even some molasses scents show up as well. Taste is of coffee up front, roast and some earthy hop, chocolate of of both milk and dark varieties, more coffee and roast flavours in the finish. Mouthfeel is a little thin but still works well here, lightly carbonated with touches of cream as well. Quite good overall, good drinkability and very flavourful, thanks again for this great extra Laura.

Serving type: bottle

03-17-2012 01:54:13 | More by peensteen

elNopalero

Texas

4.1/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a stout black with these wonderful heavy coffee aromas. There’s a bit of a sweet finish to the nose as well. Quite the boozy kick to the palate. I get some black licorice on the finish as well—nothing like the Stone RIS they released this year, definitely more subdued, but hints of it. It’s oily, not a heavy beer, and oh so good. I don’t know how it is in bottles because I’ve only had it on draught but I love it.

Serving type: on-tap

09-11-2011 22:11:22 | More by elNopalero