Anniversary Ale XV - Real Ale Brewing Company

crusian

Texas

3.18/5  rDev -19.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Review from my phone, so apologies for weird autocorrect and shortened review.
Stopped in trinity hall with the girlfriend and was pleasantly surprised to see this on rotator. Server told me it is served in a sort of flute, but asked for it to be in a tulip before he brought it. Came out with about a finger of head and looked nice and dark!
Nose was a little disappointing, it seemed a bit muted. For some chocolate, coffee, hint of ginger, and booze. After it warmed more I got some anise out of it.
Taste was following the nose, very lacking in the flavors department... they were all there, but really toned down.... with anise coming out more as it warmed, as did the boozy finish.

the biggest issue I had was how thin it was. it looked like it was going to be this big thick masterpiece, but wasnt. really thin for the style... almost seemed watered down. It was nice and creamy, though which made it MUCH more enjoyable than it actually was.

Serving type: on-tap

08-07-2011 00:37:43 | More by crusian

TenHornsProud

Colorado

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

Had this on tap at the Moth. Poured a solid black with a tan head.

Smelled of roasted, sweet malt and some spicy hops.

Tasted of roasted malt and sweetness that is complimented by an interesting hop character. It's almost spicy, which I'm guessing comes from some noble hops?

It has a medium to heavy body and is almost creamy.

This is a solid Imp Stout with a different hop profile than I'm used to, which makes it interesting. Nothing knocked me out, but it is a big enough beer and tasty.

Serving type: on-tap

08-22-2011 00:40:24 | More by TenHornsProud

kscaldef

Oregon

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

Pours very dark, with just a ring of mocha bubbles. Lots of chocolate aroma, with some roasty woody notes. Taste is a mouthful of dark chocolate with enough carbonation to keep it easily drinkable. Medium-heavy body, but dry; not at all syrupy or cloying. Very solid, well-made brew.

Serving type: bottle

03-28-2012 04:48:32 | More by kscaldef

chilly460

Virginia

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

A: Pours a very dark brown with a decent tan/brown head that fades to an outer ring. Decent lacing.

S: Hints of chocolate and coffee with a good bit of dark fruit, some citrus hops in the background. Nice complexity.

T: Basic taste up front is chocolate and medium roast coffee. Slight vanilla or sweeter flavor in there too. Finishes with some sweeter hops, nice surprise.

M: The feel has a nice creaminess with a medium-full body.

O: Very solid beer, easy to drink with decent complexity.

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2012 21:15:02 | More by chilly460

DoktorZee

Alberta (Canada)

3.95/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a bottle into a schooner. No best before date on the bottle.

A - deep black with a tight tan head that resolves quickly, but leaves thick lacing at its edge

S - solid nose of chocolate and smoke with just a hint of citrus

T - surprising initially hops bitterness with a hint of citrus that resolves fairly quickly into deep molasses and smoke. Maybe even a bit of dark fruit in the background. Intense, but not overly so; I'd even say this almost seems a bit like a Cascadian ale with its hops character.

M - heavy with a hint of booziness. Sharp carbonation cuts the weight somewhat, but it still coats the mouth

D - a bit of a sipper, but is also quite smooth.

Overall a solid Russian Imperial, though it lacks the weight and impact of beers like Jester King's Black Metal Stout and Old Rasputin. Another good beer from Real!

Serving type: bottle

10-06-2011 04:02:03 | More by DoktorZee

Lawl3ss

Texas

3.95/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Cellar temp. 12 oz. bottle poured vigorously into a snifter. No apparent bottling date.

Look- Deep, deep brown, near black, with lighter hints around the edges. Two fingers of dense puffy chocolate milk-colored head that sits there for what seems like forever. Dense rings of lace left as the glass empties.

Smell- Crushed licorice root is the first thing to mind, followed by bittersweet chocolate. Dark molasses, hints of burnt grain. Swirling brings out a stronger chocolate character and a bit of booze.

Taste- Mild pine-y hop bite at the sip, followed by a tangy malt profile reminiscent of quality microbrew root beer. Strong milk chocolate throughout, hints of espresso. Finishes a bit boozy and earthy. Aftertaste is of dark bitter chocolate and faintly raisin-esque, perhaps dates. Alcohol is well masked.

Mouthfeel- Smooth, but on the light side for an RIS. Light carbonation that flip-flops between smooth and prickly. Crisp on the sip, fairly easy drinking. Not as dry as expected.

Overall- It's pretty good, and definitely worth the price, but it doesn't put forth anything I haven't seen before. Hides the alcohol better than most, and it's more drinkable than the average RIS. Tasty as well, but stops shy of blowing my mind. I'll look for it on tap, though I don't know how available it is.

Serving type: bottle

03-09-2012 03:26:21 | More by Lawl3ss

eclipse54

Idaho

4.15/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A 12 ounce bottle from optimator13; thank you! Poured into a Deschutes tulip glass...

Black body with about a finger’s-breadth of foamy brown head. The head dissipates quickly, leaving a ring around and numerous legs of bubbles throughout the surface of the liquid. Scattered patches/strands of dark lacing are left on the glass.

The aroma is of chocolate, cocoa, vanilla, caramel, roasted malt, faint pine, a hint of citrus, and sweet cane sugar.

It tastes of vanilla, chocolate, molasses, a hint of dark licorice, ample cane and brown sugar, some faint hops/citrus, and a roasted malt backbone. Surprisingly well balanced; reading the label suggested there would be a greater hop presence than found, but that was quite pleasant. It seems to have spent an acceptable amount of time in the bottle at this point.

Mouthfeel is a bit on the thin side from what was expected, but that does add to the drinkability of this offering. It’s disappearing quicker than anticipated (I’d hoped it would be more of a sipper...).

Overall, a tasty RIS that I’m very glad to have tried.

Serving type: bottle

11-22-2011 02:32:34 | More by eclipse54

tut2528

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -11.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Shoutout to fatbeats18 for this one, thanks man!

A: black body, completely opaque even when held up to the light. Creates about 2 fingers worth of light tan colored thick head with phenomenal lacing. Moderate size bubbles stick to the sides of the glass.

S: the usual components of the style are easily picked up. I get a nice balance of coffee grounds, chocolate, so sweet dark fruits, malt, and a touch of vanilla. I also notice some hops lingering in there as well.

T: very similar to the nose (all the same components), except I find more toasted notes here and the alcohol makes itself present.

M: full bodied, leaves a slight toasty aspect on the tongue along with some bitter hops.

O: a slightly above average brew in my opinion. The drinkability is high, I just don’t find it all that much different than other RIS.

Serving type: bottle

08-28-2012 05:31:09 | More by tut2528

CooperEllis

New York

3.55/5  rDev -10.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle from canadianghetto in the TX BIF box.

Based on the nose I would have guessed north of 9.8%, there is a strong alcohol presence here.

The foam comes on strong, deep tan, small bubbles, but is gone before the beer has settled in the bulb. No real lacing, some thin bubbles rim the glass.

The smell on this reminds me of the Southampton IRS when it's fresh - really malty, over the top booze, dark chocolate and cherry.

Not a strong alcohol note in taste or the finish, but it is there. This is a touch creamy - with strong carbonation. This could be aged, likely with good effect. A bit of 'mello' could take this from solid to well above average.

Mouthfeel is fine, certainly keeping with the style.

(158th)

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2012 01:11:45 | More by CooperEllis

Nesued

South Carolina

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

Got this in a recent trade. Figure I'd try it out on this rainy Tuesday evening.

Appearance - Dark brown, black in color as it poured into my pint glass. A two-finger head formed that was tan in color. Nice lacing formed as the head receded. Carbonation was difficult to ascertain, due to the deep coloring.

Smell - Lots of roasted malts, some caramel as well. Molasses sweetness comes through as well. Some nutty aromas as well.

Taste - The opening salvo is big on the roasted malt side of the house. Rolls nicely into a bit of a sweet middle and a mild hop bite/finish. The ABV is nicely hidden behind the ample profile of this beer. Lots of toasty and chocolate malt forming the backbone.

Mouthfeel - Nice and dense mouthfeel on this one. Very nice and chewy. The retention isn't pasty or clinging, more of a thin layer. Nicely done. The carbonation is nicely done here. Not being relied upon to convey the taste, yet contributing to the overall feel.

Overall - My first taste of an offering from Real Ale. I liked it.

Serving type: bottle

10-18-2011 23:15:54 | More by Nesued

ElCommodoro

Texas

4.95/5  rDev +25.3%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Deeelish. This was a perfect blend of malt, roasted malt, hops, and spices. The ink black concoction was neither too sweet nor too astringent, nor was it too burnt tasting. It was marvelous. I highly recommend this particular brew if you can get a hold of it. Great stuff.
Oh and it smelled like spiced dried fruit. But who cares, it's the taste that matters.

Serving type: on-tap

08-15-2011 05:17:17 | More by ElCommodoro

amphion1065

Massachusetts

3.7/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

12 oz. bottle into a Portsmouth tulip, courtesy of htomsirveaux.

It pours a classic RIS black. A half-finger coffee-colored head quickly recedes. Moderate lacing.

A rather beguiling aroma to this one. It's definitely sweet: dark fruits, and a lot of cherries, combine with a brown sugar scent. What's strange to me is the very evident hop profile, which almost makes this smell like a Black IPA. There are definite citrus fruits in the nose, and though that combination doesn't sound terribly appealing it works here.

A very hoppy RIS. Very present bitterness from the hops are accentuated by some roast. An unmistakable taste of citrus fruits, and even more sweetness in the form of molasses. Virtually zero alcohol in the mix.

The carbonation is a little high, but not to a distracting degree. The minimized alcohol presence certainly helps this in the drinkability category.

One of the most hop-forward imperial stouts I've ever tried, this would be an interesting candidate for cellaring. Though it's far from hot, I'd imagine that a lot of the underlying sweetness will only become more present over time, though it's quite fine as is.

Serving type: bottle

10-13-2011 23:42:27 | More by amphion1065

coldriver

Texas

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

Served from a 12 oz bottle. Pours opaque black with mocha colored head and lacing. Aroma is espresso, roasted malts, and cocoa powder. Taste is a little smokey, with coffee and chocolate, and bitter hops. Mouthfeel is well done with subdued carbonation, although finish is a bit wet.
A very good imperial stout from Real Ale, flavorful yet subtle.

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2012 19:35:41 | More by coldriver

LtCracker20

Connecticut

3.95/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A- Pours an almost black body with ruby hues. A 1-finger khaki head that falls pretty quickly to a thin cap. Leaves some nice lacing.

S- Very roasted aroma, some bitter chocolate, and espresso.

T- Bitter chocolate, roasted malts, slight citrus and piney hop flavors as well.

MF- A little on the thinner side, but still a moderate body.

Serving type: bottle

01-21-2012 20:37:58 | More by LtCracker20

JayAre46

Texas

4.08/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12 oz long neck pours black, surprisingly heavier looking than i thought it would be. gives a nice 1 finger khaki head that shows good retention leaving sheets of lace. the aroma is big roasted malt, with some chocolate malt infused. a little char in the air as well. the taste is absolutely dominated by roasted malt, deep dark chocolate comes in a bit with some burnt caramel and fresh coffee beans. the mouth feel is different on this one, initially it may appear heavier than it is and i think that can be attributed to the lack of carbonation. the carbonation is almost flat on the palate creating a slick oily coat over the path it crosses. its definitely not full, id say slightly less than full, all in all i would rather this than over carbonation. overall this is a pleasant surprise while i had low expectations for it. well made by real ale and i wont have a problem drinking anymore. knocks would be the carbonation miss and the lack of complexity. drink it.

Serving type: bottle

01-17-2012 03:56:52 | More by JayAre46

UTCengOwl

Texas

3.83/5  rDev -3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Had this a few times on tap and I had it again last night. It's not mindblowing, but it's quite solid. Figured that I'd give it a quick review... though not as thorough since I had it at a bar where I wasn't aiming to review. This review is based off of last night's snifter at the Addison Flying Saucer.

The XV looks like most any other RIS. That is to say impressive. Dark body with a tan, frothy head. The head melts down and leaves a little on the surface. When the glass gets lower, I can see through the edges and it's a surprisingly thin brown hue. Hunh.

The beer is very stouty, with chocolate notes at the forefront. The XV seems to be a bit low on the hops bitterness relative to what I want in a RIS, but it gives it a smoother flavor. I'd like a bit more of a roasted bitter bite. However, this smoothness plays well into the beer's mouthfeel. Creamy and luscious.... maybe it's molasses in the taste and texture. This tastes like it's been aged for a bit, even though we know it's from 2011.

Overall, this is a solid offering from Real Ale and I keep getting it when it's on tap. However, I'd prefer a bit more bite and maybe a bit of flavor that I can't find in just a standard RIS.

Serving type: on-tap

10-18-2011 12:49:31 | More by UTCengOwl

Humulus85

Minnesota

4.03/5  rDev +2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12oz bottle into my snifter. Produced a modest one-finger, tan head that dissipated rather quickly and didn't leave all that much lacing. Nice deep black color, but not quite opaque.

Smells like a mild Russian Imperial Stout, but well balanced. Nice roasted coffee and chocolate and some sneaky, floral hops notes, and an appropriate alcohol sting.

Again this is a mild tasting RIS. A lot of RISs can bruise the tongue but this one is toned back a bit. Still a robust profile of roasted malt with a strong hop backing, but not very deep or complex in either.

For a RIS, this is a very drinkable brew. Super smooth and relatively light bodied with great carbonation, this beer slides right down. I wouldn't even call this one a sipper. Very nice.

Overall this is a beer I really like from a style that I don't often visit. So I would definitely recommend this to a new BA looking to try a good Russian Imperial Stout: while it might be lacking in depth for a true fan of the style. I liked it so...Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

09-23-2011 06:15:00 | More by Humulus85

Fenris244

Texas

4.13/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

looks like a stout haha, pitch black, thin tan head, sticks around for forever too

Smells much better then it did on tap, light chocolate, coffee, little bit of char? Has subtlety unlike on tap

little bit of chocolate up front, coffee comes though strongly, good roasted bitterness, almost a toffee and brown sugar , a little warming from the alcohol.

This is a smooth one, very easy to drink, has just enough warming from the alcohol, keeps from being boozey, moderately heavy in body, little carbonation

Overall, great stout, good flavors very satisfying, after having it on tap I never wanted to see it again but the bottle? I want more

Serving type: bottle

10-04-2011 04:49:35 | More by Fenris244

libbey

British Indian Ocean Territory

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

12oz bottle poured into a tulip.

A: The beer pours a very dark brown/black with a small cap of coco head that holds fairly decent retention leaving a thin trail of spotty lacing throughout the session.

S: The nose is dark bakers chocolate mixed with roasted malt. A hint of crushed coffee beans with a little hint of vanilla and sweetness on the backend. Smells great.

T: The taste was surprising given the nose, a good deal of anise mixed with some dark fruit. A touch of the roasted malt on the finish with a good deal of bitter chocolate/coffee.

M: The carbonation is spot on and carries this medium bodied RIS quite well. I prefer my stouts with a fuller mouthfeel but the lingering flavors on the pallet are tasty.

O: Overall this was a nice RIS from Real Ales and one I would certainly have again if the opportunity presented itself.

Serving type: bottle

09-22-2012 02:31:57 | More by libbey

pwsoldier

Texas

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

A - Pours black with some deep brown around the edges. Creamy tan head shows great retention. Lacing is moderate.

S - Coffee, dark chocolate, char, and a faint hint of vanilla.

T - Coffee and dark chocolate persist with a resinous hop presence making this beer a bit brash up front. Notes of dark chocolate linger into a charred finish. Alcohol is well-hidden. The bitterness eases up a bit as it warms, creating a smoother and fairly well-rounded flavor profile.

M - Full-bodied and a bit creamy with a lingering bite from the hops.

O - This is a solid RIS. A bit harsh, but I think it'll mellow out with age as the hops eventually fade. All in all, it's very enjoyable and shows a decent amount of complexity.

Serving type: bottle

10-05-2011 15:30:44 | More by pwsoldier

Sweasty

Texas

4.1/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Real Ales 15th anniversary Imperial Stout pours a nice dark black. It's not the blackest stout I have seen. Some ruby hued edges shine in the light. Things are topped off by a fingers worth of light mocha head. Head Settles to a ring and leaves some lacing down the glass.

Onto the aroma. Plenty of dark roasted malts hit upfront. Dark roasted coffee shines. Some light bitter sweet chocolate hits next. Some fruit notes, figs perhaps, come into play as well. The hops show up lending a vague citrus quality.

15th anniversary hits the palate with sweet roasted malt quality. The dark coffee in the nose takes on a decidedly sweeter note. Sweet dark chocolate notes hits next. A dried fig quality flows underneath the dark roasted malt notes. Hops show up and add balance. Some light citrus hop notes try to break through the dark malt. The finish is sweetly herbal with some alcohol spice.

This brew is medium bodied and very creamy

Real Ales 15th anniversary imperial stout is a nice brew. The 9.8%abv is fairly well masked. It starts to show as the beer warms, but never overpowers. This brew falls just short of greatness. The thin, by style standards, mouthfeel is a bit of a letdown. The creaminess, though, tries to compensate a bit. While not the best Imperial stout our state has to offer, this brew is a worthy edition to our beer landscape. Props to Real Ale for 15 years of brewing. May you have many more anniversaries ahead.

Serving type: bottle

09-03-2011 01:17:49 | More by Sweasty

imasloth

Texas

3.85/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A- Very dark with some reddish hues around the edges when held to light. Very little head, even when poured roughly in an attempt to induce some. What head there is dissipates quickly.

S- Fantastic. A sweet bitterness that reminds of premium dark chocolate. Their is a slight fruity nose, but nothing overwhelming.

T- As some others have noted, the surprise of this RIS is the hoppiness which is rare in the type. As a hophead I am totally digging it. An initial sweetness is followed by the aroma bitterness which again reminds of high quality dark chocolate (which is not to say this beer is chocolatey...).

M- Good initial feel with some coating power, followed by a crisp after-swallow bitterness that leaves the long a bit puckered.

I bought a single and wish I'd sprung for the entire four pack. The beer goes beyond tyope to incorporate hops and comes off as more balanced than most RIS. Definitely worth a try and likely my fave from Real Ale so far.

Serving type: bottle

09-18-2011 00:57:27 | More by imasloth

fatmcb1

Texas

4.18/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Served at the Flying Saucer in Fort Worth on tap into a snifter

Poured deep black with a finger of brown head. Incredible lacing covered the glass

Chocolate, very sweet, and dark fruit.

Taste is much fuller and stronger. Tons of dark chocolate and sweet roasted malts. It finishes with a bit of dark fruit and hops, which add complexity and balance.

Incredibly rich, creamy carbonation. The ABV is very well masked.

Though I only had one pour, I could have had an entire bottle and not gotten tired of it. My new favorite from Real Ale.

Serving type: on-tap

08-03-2011 15:32:42 | More by fatmcb1

2xHops

Texas

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

I am not an usual stout drinker, but I saw this being served at a local bar, then I had to try it.

The head was foaming and the color of the beer is just dark, dark, dark as it should be.

The taste of this beer was pretty good, but it was not something that had something unique to bring to you. It had a strong ABV, but it took a while for the alcohol to come alive. When it did, it still wasn't too overpowering, so I think that is something to like about the beer.

For me, the mouthfeel didn't feel too overly thin like you might find in some stouts.

I personally like this better than some of the other stouts I have drank in the past, so I think it is something I would drink whenever I'm in the mood for something strong. I can't say with certainty it is a strong beer for the style, as I will need to try more stouts that people think are the standard.

Serving type: on-tap

08-07-2011 15:39:44 | More by 2xHops

beesy

Ohio

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

Poured from a 12oz bottle in a Duvel snifter. Thanks to Tommyhock for sending this in a trade.

A - pours a very dark brown with some deep mahogany hues at the edges. A 3/4 finger medium-dark tan head forms and dissipates fairly quickly. A slim margin of foam resides along the edges.

S - lots of chocolate upfront that blends into large amounts of dark roasted malts and dark roasted coffee. A slight scrid note from the heavy roasted malts. Once I homed in on the dark roast coffee, it became very apparent - reminds me of fresh ground espresso from Stauf's. I roused the glass and the aroma sweetened with more chocolate and maybe some dark fruits present.

T - Lots of flavor. Chocolate, coffee and roast all mixed together well. A very slight touch of caramel sweetness on the back of the palate. The thing that stands out most is the massive hop bitterness that comes out of no where. Slight citrus/pine hints in the bitterness. Long lasting bitterness suggests a bittering hop such as Columbus or Chinook. I didnt detect much in the way of hops in the aroma. I might have liked to age this a few months to take the edge off the bitterness. Maybe a slight note of alcohol detected, but covered well by hop bitterness.

M - medium bodied. I might have wanted a tad more body to hold up to the bitterness. However, once aged and the hop bitterness resided a bit, it would be a good fit.

D - low for me. The hop bitterness put it too out of balance to kick back too many.

Overall, a fine brew that could benefit from a bit of aging.

Update for 11/17/12 bottle:
Bitterness is still very firm and hasnt seemed to relax much. Notes of alcohol have reduced and maybe a little fading of the coffee profiles as it seems more chocolately with a slighly chalky profile now.

Serving type: bottle

01-10-2012 04:12:54 | More by beesy