Schlafly Reserve - Imperial Stout - Saint Louis Brewery / Schlafly Tap Room

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BA SCORE
91
exceptional
-
551 Ratings

rAvg: 4.08
pDev: 11.52%
Reviews: 355
Hads: 196

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Brewed by:
Saint Louis Brewery / Schlafly Tap Room

Missouri, United States

Style | ABV
Russian Imperial Stout | 10.50% ABV

Availability: Winter. bottle (336), on-tap (17), growler (2).

Notes:
Imperial Stout aged in freshly emptied Jim Beam barrels.

View: Beers (101) | Reviews (104) | Events (0)

Reviews

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Reviews by Neorebel:

Neorebel

New Jersey

3.98/5 rDev -2.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a dark brown into my pint glass. There is hardly any head on top. The aroma is sweeter than expected with hints of berry, dark chocolate, raisin, and a definite bourbon zing. There's some lacing present on the glass as it goes down, and the beer definitely coats the mouth fully as well. At first the body of it seems light, but the finish is a little 'hot' and boozy - an abundance of bourbon. Not such a bad thing, however. The flavor is similar to the aroma yet there are traces of vanilla I did not pick up until sipping. I would have liked more of a roasted malt character to come through stronger. All in all not bad at all though.

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2012 02:09:04 | More by Neorebel

More User Reviews:

megamass

New Jersey

4/5 rDev -2%

05-22-2013 22:50:53 | More by megamass

drewone

California

4.25/5 rDev +4.2%

05-20-2013 00:24:35 | More by drewone

Photekut

Azerbaijan

4.25/5 rDev +4.2%

05-19-2013 16:52:11 | More by Photekut

cmdmzmjm

Illinois

4.25/5 rDev +4.2%

05-16-2013 02:29:50 | More by cmdmzmjm

twenty5

Pennsylvania

4/5 rDev -2%

05-15-2013 18:16:18 | More by twenty5

ToddHolder

Illinois

4/5 rDev -2%

05-11-2013 02:01:24 | More by ToddHolder

barczar

Kentucky

3.98/5 rDev -2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Been in the growler for a day with some headspace.

Pours an opaque brown/black with a frothy half inch mocha head that lingers. Leaves sierra of lacing when it dissipates.

Booze is dominant in the initial aroma, with roast malt and chocolate taking over eventually. Nutty notes accompany coffee and vanilla, along with underpinnings of dark cherries, plums, figs, and licorice.

Flavor is boozy and fairly sweet initially, then drying out at the roasty finish. Vanilla and rich, caramelly bourbon add complexity to the chocolate and roast malt backbone. Dark fruit flavors are present, but are overpowered by the boozy vanilla.

Body is smooth and a tad thin, with minimal carbonation and significant alcohol warmth.

Pretty rich flavor profile. Age would serve this beer well to tame the alcohol and open uit up. A little too sweet and bourbony. Becomes better the next day.

Serving type: growler

05-07-2013 00:12:43 | More by barczar

PHBoiler

Illinois

4.25/5 rDev +4.2%

05-02-2013 13:35:44 | More by PHBoiler

Jimmys

Pennsylvania

4.14/5 rDev +1.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5

2008 vintage. 750mL into snifter. kept in cellar conditions since 2010.

A: pours a fairly dark brown, but definitely not black by any means. head is pretty disappointing. a thin rim of brown fizz. however, good lacing left behind.

S: a charred oak, rich. an inviting bourbon aroma. not nearly as strong as other bourbon barrel aged stouts, but I welcome the smoothness. roasted malt. chocolate.

T: a pleasant bourbon heat and flavor. heat definitely on the lighter end, but the bourbon is well flavored while not being over the top. otherwise some chocolate, finish gets bitter. bitter from dark grains, no hops here.

M: carb is mellow, a bit too mellow for me. full bodied.

D: a very drinkable bourbon barrel aged stout. haven't had this fresh, but I don't think time has done any damage here. very smooth bourbon stout. really enjoy the drinkability.

Serving type: bottle

05-01-2013 13:04:12 | More by Jimmys

cdmillard

Maryland

4.5/5 rDev +10.3%

04-27-2013 20:14:10 | More by cdmillard

WynnO

Florida

3.75/5 rDev -8.1%

04-27-2013 16:11:54 | More by WynnO

InfragilisBrew

Illinois

4.75/5 rDev +16.4%

04-22-2013 18:13:05 | More by InfragilisBrew

jroberts8811

Missouri

4.25/5 rDev +4.2%

04-19-2013 21:34:28 | More by jroberts8811

thebouch01

Pennsylvania

4/5 rDev -2%

04-13-2013 14:46:42 | More by thebouch01

Onenote81

North Carolina

4.21/5 rDev +3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

I received this bottle in a trade a few years back and have had it cellared since. Vintage 2009. Split with some friends. Poured into a snifter.

Pours a deep motor-oil black with a small dark tan head on top. Good carbonation present feeding the frothy cap. Great sweet aroma of vanilla, bourbon, milk chocolate, and mild whiffs of booze. I'm excited about this one.

Creamy smooth mouth. Subtle carbonation, warm finish. This is exactly how I want my big stouts to drink. Not sure how sweet this one was as a fresh bottle, but it sure is sweet going on 4 years now. The flavors have melded into what I would expect a chocolate chip/toffee cookie to taste like if it were a drink. Big vanilla sweetness, toffee, chocolate, brown sugar toast, fading bourbon notes. This was a treat, to say the least.

I'm always hesitant when I pull some of the older bottles to open, especially with other people, but time and again I am surprised at how good these beers develop. A nice one that I'd love to have again.

Serving type: bottle

04-08-2013 14:29:35 | More by Onenote81