Imperial Stout (Brewmaster Reserve) - Full Sail Brewery & Tasting Room & Pub

boralyl

Oregon

4.88/5  rDev +29.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

22oz bottle which reads 7.2% abv, not the 8% listed on the site.

A - Pours 2 inches of creamy dark tan head. It has nice retention and leave some nice globs of lace as it settles. The beer Is a deep shade of black with just a hint of light coming through near the top of the glass.

S - Sweet molasses, brown sugar and a hint of roasted malts. As it warms a little bit of chocolate comes out. It has a very aromatic nose.

M - Medium to full in body with light-medium carbonation and creamy finish.

T - A slight roastiness up front followed by some molasses and bigger brown sugar presence. Dark, bitter chocolate is detected mid-taste which blends in with a roasty finish.

This is a fantastic imperial stout, and you can't get much better for the price (about $4 for a 22oz bottle). Very impressed with this one.

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2012 05:41:20 | More by boralyl

jerlleutz

California

4.75/5  rDev +25.7%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

I gave this one a full on pour into my deep frozen mug. The carbs made a nice display despite the abuse, and to top it off it gave me that aroma we all look for in these darkies, burnt biscuits.

Drinking it, I got quite the same, and the carbs were great. The ABV delivered without being too fumey. Rich, dark, and sweet. I had a lot of muffin crust in this one and no complaints. It delivered. Gracias.

Serving type: bottle

05-27-2010 06:24:31 | More by jerlleutz

barleywinefiend

Washington

4.22/5  rDev +11.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured a nice black color with good carbonation and a tannish head. Nose is deep roasted malt, dry, booze, coofee, chocolate. Taste has a goos with a good deep burnt feel with coffee, light chcolate, booze and some some wood feel. A very good Impt Stout.

Serving type: bottle

03-18-2010 02:00:44 | More by barleywinefiend

Parrotbeak

Minnesota

4.2/5  rDev +11.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Black with a thin, tan head that fades quickly, leaving some very thin patches.
Smell is creamy, roasted malts with some light coffee and espresso notes. Vanilla beans, caramel, tofee, and some milk chocolate notes as well.
Taste is roasty malts, with some faint smokey notes intermingled with slightly dark chocolate. Very faint notes of espressso, as well as some mild caramel and toffee notes follow, with some darker chocolate notes coming in. Finish is slightly malty and bitter.
Mouthfeel is smooth and creamy. Finish is slightly sticky. Medium body.
Drinkability is good for this style. Alcohol is well-hidden.

Serving type: bottle

05-22-2010 01:57:08 | More by Parrotbeak

velosuds

Oregon

4.2/5  rDev +11.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Poured from a 22 oz. bomber into a clear pint glass. Brewmaster Reserve 2010. Paid $4.25 at Corvallis Brewing Supply.

A-Pours black with a one and a half finger, creamy tan head with good retention and lacing.

S-Deep, dark chocolate and patent malts, roasted barley, and coffee beans. And, just the slightest hint of alcohol, though not unwelcome in an imperial stout.

T-Bittersweet chocolate, coffee, caramel, hop bitterness, and alcohol. Not the most complex brew, but very serviceable and straightforward.

M-Smooth with medium body, but just a tad light. May improve with age.

D-This is a good beer at a great price. Most bombers in this style are $6.50 to $12.00. This is also about as sessionable an IS as I can imagine at the lighter end of gravity for style at 8% ABV. Well done by employee owned Full Sail.

Serving type: bottle

11-07-2010 02:36:14 | More by velosuds

Scotchboy

Idaho

4.1/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

22oz 2012 offering poured into my CBS snifter.

A: Opaque, with dark brown/ruby red highlights at the edge of the glass...tight half finger of khaki head, good splotchy lacing.

S: Roasted malt, anise, earthy hops, a touch of an oily herbal note, espresso and coffee, burnt caramel.

T: Very roasty but not smoky...toasted grains, dark chocolate, black malt, espresso, hints of caramel, brewers licorice.

MF: Smooth, creamy, medium/heavy mouthfeel, soft & lower carbonation, really no alcohol presence, light dryness is nice for an Imperial Stout.

O: Really nice, a great drinker right now at an excellent price point. Not sure how robustly it would stand up to the cellar but its drinking just fine right now.

Serving type: bottle

04-03-2012 16:37:45 | More by Scotchboy

Docer

Washington

4.08/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Grabbed a couple bombers up at a Safeway...

- Rather heavy pour into a small tumbler glass... not very much head, but a rather dark mocha head.... fizzy and small bubbles... quickly down to a resting ring and bit of scattered froth among the top. A rich dark brown/black.. with a bit of ruby red showing at the edges against the light.

- Lovely oat and grain with a hit of chocolate malt.. smells mighty balanced and light. Zingy and bitter hopping..

- Nicely balanced and light chocolate malt... sweetened just right without being too sweet... oats, grains... light roastiness.. bitter tasty hops and coffee notes.

- Rather light to medium bodied... not at all syrupy or sticky... makes the mouth water.

- Huge drinkability... smooth, and light for an 8% ale. Taste is great, and I would certainly buy again. Wondering what one would be like with a few years on it. I heard somewhere that this may only be a preview of something better to come of this imperial stout.

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2010 20:56:14 | More by Docer

GilGarp

Colorado

4.08/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22oz. bottle served cellar temp into a pint glass.

It's very dark brown on the pour with the aroma already coming forward. The crema colored head is short and brief.

Back the aroma, it has a really rich roasty character with what seems like bourbon but I don't think this one was barrel aged. Still a little vanilla comes through.

Flavor is roasty/toasty too but it has a surprising dark fruits and cherries. I don't think it's oxidized but it has a little hint of winey to it.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied, not so thick, with nice-and-low carbonation.

Overall a solid beer but certainly not one of the best. This style is heavily stacked with winners and this is a runner up.

Serving type: bottle

03-12-2011 02:08:30 | More by GilGarp

dtivp

West Virginia

4.05/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured midnight black with a a small dark brown head with little retention.
Aroma of bold coffee and dark chocolate.
Black coffee and burnt barley dominated the taste with some vanilla and licorice.
Thick and creamy with slight carbonation.
This was a smooth drinkable beer with a little bitterness at the end. Very enjoyable and may be even better with a little age.

Serving type: bottle

08-14-2010 19:02:04 | More by dtivp

Pencible

Virginia

4.03/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 3.5

A: This poured an opaque black mahogany, with some dark tan head.
S: It smelled like dark chocolate and coffee and cream, with a little roasted barley and bready yeast.
T: It tasted like a blend of dark chocolate and roasted coffee, with a little licorice and burnt malt and bready yeast. The aftertaste was bitter with a hint of alcohol.
M: It was thick and velvety smooth with a bit of carbonation.
D: This was a very nice beer that's clean and drinkable, although a bit harsh on the finish. Flavors are very well balanced between bold roasted notes and dry sweet elements, but the body is what makes this beer. Some age would probably improve this beer to be top notch.

Serving type: bottle

07-08-2010 13:44:25 | More by Pencible

Wasatch

Utah

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

22oz. Bomber
Cool looking purple label

Poured into a chalice a nice black color, nice carbonation, nice one-finger fizzy light tan head, with some oil slicks and sticky lacing around the edges. The nose is malty, with a good dose of chocolate/toffee, and a nice little touch of coffee. The taste is very nice, malty, sweet, slightly bitter, very nice touch of chocolate/toffee, and some coffee notes, picking up some little notes of vanilla. Medium body, ABV handled nicely. Drinkable, this is a very fine brew for around $4, recommended.

Serving type: bottle

03-06-2010 21:02:31 | More by Wasatch

armock

New York

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

A - Poured a black color with a brown head that leaves lacing behind

S - Is of roasted malt with chocolate and coffee scents

T - Follows the nose starts off with the roasted malt with chocolate and coffee finishes a little bitter

M - This beer has a medium body with medium carbonation to it

D - I liked this beer a lot tasted good and was very easy to drink despite the abv worth picking up if you see it around sometime

Serving type: on-tap

11-06-2010 22:50:08 | More by armock

garymuchow

Minnesota

4/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured into large "Old Style" glass that holds a bombers worth of beer. Taken from my 55 degree winter cellaring closet. Hard to go wrong with a $3.99 bomber of imperial stout.
Nice roast with coffee aroma with a little creaminess and softness thrown in. Very slight fresh hop. Not exceedingly complex.
Less than an inch dense tan head that settles with lacing. Pretty darn black with a very slight brownish red hue on the edge.
Appropriately rich and full mouth (but still on the lighter side).
Very extended finish with dryness full of roasty bitterness. Hits the enjoyable marks with flavor. Slight sweetness up front and full on roasted malt with adequate coffee and a slight hop flavor. A little vanilla (and I initially got a bourbon aroma) almost like it has been barrel aged.
Non-distracting carbonation.
I'll see how I feel at the end, but this seems to drink well with the lighter body and subdued richness. However, the very long bitterness on the finish may change that.
Nonetheless, a really good value for the price and solidly done beer. Does nothing to dissuade me from this brewery.

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2011 01:53:07 | More by garymuchow

oberon

North Carolina

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

7.2%ABV. per bottle label.Poured jet black with a well defined one finger deep tan colored head atop,it settled very slowly leaving nice lacing as it did.Chocolate and roast stand out most in the nose,dark fruit comes into play as it warms more.Dark fruit and char up front on the palate followed by French roast coffee and bitter chocolate,a drying somewhat raw earthiness in the finish.This is a solid lighter beer for the style,it's not thick chewey and alcoholic but still has all the character of an imperial stout.Solid.

Serving type: bottle

11-19-2012 01:15:37 | More by oberon

ppoitras

Massachusetts

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

22oz bottle of unknown origins. Maybe bought locally, I can't recall.

Poured into an imperial pint glass, formed a skinny 1/4" brown head over the opaque dark brown/black brew. Head is promptly a skim, with bubbles around the rim and leggy slow-falling lace. Aroma is dark fruits and malts.

Taste is dark sweetness to start, coupling with some fruit and anise in the middle, and closes slightly acrid, moderately bitter. Mouthfeel is slickery smooth, and drinkability is good for the style. As expected, good brew.

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2013 00:25:46 | More by ppoitras

Chaney

District of Columbia

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

Taking a chance on this.

Served in an Olde Hickory shaped-glass.

A: Poured black as the ace of spaces, with a head that was only a shade or two lighter than the liquid below it.

S: Fun. Some bourbon along with a great dose of dark cacao.

T: Nice coconuty bourbon along with some butter and dark, bitter chocolate. Everything one would want in an Imperial BBA Stout is pretty much here.

M: Pretty thick but not snot-like, with some sweet, almost sour notes on the afterbite. Splotchy lacing.

O: Very, very enjoyable entry... Much better than I expected.

Serving type: bottle

05-10-2013 00:52:20 | More by Chaney

mntlover

Tennessee

3.98/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a black, oil black no light getting thru this baby nice fluffy 2 finger coco colored head that falls slow some nice lace down my glass.

Aroma is roasted malts nice chocolate notes, hints of coffee and liquorice.

Taste is like aroma roasted malts, some bakers chocolate, lots more coffee in the taste then in the nose. Also light liquorice notes along with some hops to round out the finish. some light alcohol notes that don't distract at all.

Mouthfeel eh seems little light for a big stout, only medium maybe touch lighter, seems little watery. Carbonation is nice mellow though.

Drinkability is good enough for the price not overly expensive, little lighter then I would like but nice roasted flavors so its pretty good. Not great enough to be on my go to list for big stout but plenty good for a try.

Serving type: bottle

07-09-2010 01:53:51 | More by mntlover

CaptDavyJones

New York

3.98/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a 22 oz Brewmasters Reserve 2012 bottle, with ABV (7.2%) on the label.
One finger dark tan colored head that dissipates fairly quickly.
Aroma is very malty, lots of milk chocolate malt balls like aroma.
Over time the chocolate rich aroma gives way to some roasted coffee notes.
Taste is also very malt forward with lots of cocoa and coffee notes. Hints of bitterness towards the finish. Medium bodied and easy to drink. Wishing it was a tad full-bodied.
Anyways, this is another good offering from Full Sail and definitely worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

04-30-2012 01:46:18 | More by CaptDavyJones

Pegasus

Texas

3.98/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: Deep obsidian in color, with a scattered archipelagos of tan foam, sparse patchy lacing.

Aroma: Deep aroma of bitter cocoa, strong burnt notes, roasted malts, cold coffee, and some restrained herbal hops,

Taste: Begins with roasted malts, soon after, cold coffee appears, and dark roasted malts. AS the beer warms, dark fruit flavors become apparent. Along the way, there are hints of dark chocolate. Finishes with a long, lingering note of roasted malts, and a moderate herbal hop presence.

Mouth feel: Smooth, soft, very pleasant.

Drinkability/notes: A very nice, drinkable, slightly over-the-top example of the style.

Presentation: Packaged in a standard twenty-two ounce brown glass bomber with a pry-off crown, served in a New Belgium Brewing chalice.

Sourced: Purchased at Spec's in Austin, Texas for $3.99.

Serving type: bottle

02-02-2013 02:23:36 | More by Pegasus

argock

Virginia

3.95/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a 22oz brown bomber into a Duvel tulip. No freshness date. Purchased at Wine Warehouse (Charlottesvilles, VA) for $4.99.

A: Dark but not quite opaque with 2-finger brown big-bubbled head with good retention and nice webs of lacing.

S: Heavy tobacco flavor with big chocolate and roasted malt flavors

T: Delicious roasted dark malts mingle with milk chocolate, dark coffee, and earthy tobacco. Straightforward in flavor, but excellent flavors.

M: Thin in comparison to others in the style with higher-than-average carbonation and chocolate-coffee aftertaste.

D: A very approachable stout, but not quite up to the RIS style.

Serving type: bottle

06-20-2010 04:42:05 | More by argock

ncaudle

Virginia

3.95/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

poured from bomber into snifter.

pours pitch black (duh...) with 1 finger creamy tan head. quickly settles and leaves a slight lacing.

no singular aroma stands out; just touches of coffee, chocolate and alcohol. taste is similar... not a very complex brew.

somewhat thin, almost oily, feeling - nothing to do with carbonation levels.

good, drinkable beer. alcohol level isn't too high so a bomber is fairly easy to drink without having to worry too much.

Serving type: bottle

12-05-2010 23:45:35 | More by ncaudle

NittanyBeerFan

Pennsylvania

3.95/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Thanks to redbrewer83 for sending this one out in our most recent trade, which incidentally, isn't so recent. We have to trade again, Evan! Poured this bottle of the 2010 vintage into my snifter.

Opaque black, viscous looking, but only .5 cm head at its peak. It fades away quickly, leaving only the pitch-colored liquid behind. A swirl leaves oily legs and kicks up a touch of carbonation, though that also rushes away as soon as it reaches the surface.

The aroma is dark. Lots of black malts here. Acrid roast, chocolate, roasted coffee, and a touch of toffee that barely squeezes its way in through the acrid roast. The flavor is similar, with no presence of fruit, but plenty of roast and almost burnt coffee. Not too much nuance in this. Some piney hop oils come through at the end, but only in hints.

Nice a thick, resinous, and syrupy, this hits the mark in terms of feel. Low carbonation, and despite what other reviews said, an ample and full body. Thanks again, Evan, this was a good one.

Serving type: bottle

08-26-2011 01:57:43 | More by NittanyBeerFan

gtermi

Texas

3.95/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A: The beer pours a dark black body with a thin tan head that quickly fades away and leaves a tiny bit of lace on the glass.

S: To me it smells sort of oxidized with a little bit of chocolate malt, some roasted malt and a bit of sweetness.

T: The beer has a lot of chocolate flavor, but not as much roastedness as I want. The chocolate/ mocha flavor lasts for a long time. It sort of reminds me of a stronger version of guinness. I think it tastes very nice.

M: The beer is pretty smooth for an Imperial stout and really easy to drink. It also has a tiny bit of crispness on the back of the throat.

O: Man for 4 dollars this beer is well worth the money. It has some nice characteristics and I really enjoyed it. I would for sure buy a lot of this.

Serving type: bottle

11-09-2012 07:25:55 | More by gtermi

CHILLINDYLAN

Washington

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

Pitch black. A decent tan frothy head. Ok retention. Some decent etched lace patches.

Rich sweet chocolate and roasty coffee. Carmelized banana. Brown sugar. Some booze and vanilla.

Rich roasty chocolate, earthy coffee. Caramel, brownsugar. Some Booze and vanilla. A bit of banana. Earthy roasty bitterness.

Thick, rich, grainy. full body, but on the lighter side of style. Not smooth.

Drinkable and tasty, but there are a lot of better Imp Stouts out there. Worth grabbing, especially for the price.

Consumed June 2010.

Serving type: bottle

10-25-2010 19:04:02 | More by CHILLINDYLAN

WanderingFool

Massachusetts

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

Full Sail Imperial Stout pours flat black into the glass with a one finger thick frothy brown head on top. The foam dissolves quickly to a thin sheet on the beer leaving behind spots of lace as it fades.

The aroma has nice notes of coffee, chocolate and roasted malt. A touch of alcohol and a hint of pine are also present.

Each sip of this medium bodied beer is slick, slightly oily and dry on the palate. Light carbonation. Seems a little bit thin for the style, but not by much. The flavor is similar to the aroma with roasted malt, coffee, chocolate and some nuttiness mixed in. Finishes mildly bitter with notes of pine. Once gone the chocolate and bitter hop flavors linger on the palate.

This is a tasty, easy drinking beer. Clean flavor and well balanced. Good for sharing with friends.

Serving type: bottle

12-12-2010 19:39:09 | More by WanderingFool