Bourbon Russian Imperial Stout
Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant

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From:
Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant
 
United States
Style:
Russian Imperial Stout
ABV:
9.5%
Score:
87
Avg:
3.9 | pDev: 9.74%
Reviews:
9
Ratings:
14
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Jan 08, 2017
Added:
Nov 23, 2008
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  0
No description / notes.
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Ratings by bros:

  None found.

 
Rated: 4.1 by buzzy from Pennsylvania

Jan 08, 2017
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.25 by DrBier from Pennsylvania

Jul 27, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by reyna311 from Delaware

Apr 14, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by BillRoth from Maryland

Jan 27, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by BeerThursdays from Delaware

Nov 19, 2011
Photo of woodychandler
Reviewed by woodychandler from Pennsylvania

3.98/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3
Transcribed from undated notes.

This was brought to me with a finger of thick, creamy dark-tan/light-brown head with good retention. Nose was simply filled with bourbon. Color was an inky black, allowing ZERO light penetration. Mouthfeel was creamy smooth with a LOT of bourbon flavor on the tongue, underlain by a roasty bitterness. Finish remained bourbon-like, but with a slight bite of green apple, probably attributable to the barrel-aging process. There was nothing wrong with this ass-kicker!
Jul 24, 2010
Photo of Slatetank
Reviewed by Slatetank from Pennsylvania

3.88/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
I had this on tap at the brewpub, served chilled in a 12oz pils glass.
A - A opaque, practically black dark brown as dark brown as it gets w/ only a slight hint of light at the base of the glass. The stout has a rocky pale head of approx 1/4 inch that collapses moments after the pour.

S - A very roasty aroma w/ lost of roasted malt notes, coffee like w/ a modest hint of vanilla from the wood w/ a nice oak hint and hardly any alcohol esters

M - A very roasted and dry texture w/ relatively high carbonation for the style. A nice amount of sweetness and subtle warmth of alcohol. The texture is bordering on charred w/ mild astringency.

T - The flavor is a mix of bitter and roasted malt w/ a nice balanced carmel sweetness and the bourbon balances beautifully w/. the roasted barley and black malt charred character. The taste is leaps and bounds above the smell w/ the roasted barley in a less dominant role. The bourbon taste increases gradually as it warms and the french roast coffee effect of the black malt is heavy toward the end, which is fine and the hops add to the bitterness. The flavor is on the dry side and potent, but still fairly balanced for what it is and the dryness is to be expected from a wood aged beer.

D - A very good Bourbon flavored imperial stout, maybe a little on the strong side bourbon-wise, but tasty to a bourbon fan like me. The beer was not one I would order one after another, but well worth the price of admission and I savored the 12oz for 45 min which to me is high on the drinkability scale. The kind of barrel aged beer I would certainly relish the chance to try again and better than previous bourbon barrel aged beers I have tasted at Iroh Hill Lancaster. Kudos Paul Rutherford!
Apr 02, 2009
Photo of Deuane
Reviewed by Deuane from Pennsylvania

3.97/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A-Deep, dark brownish black with deep ruby highlights. A thin tan ring hangs on a leaves spotty lace.

S-Light bourbon notes, a heavy dose of dark roasted malt and a suggestive whiff of fig.

T-Rich, dry roasted malts with some backing sweetness. Light vanilla notes and a suggestion of plum in the finish.

M-Medium body with a sharp astringent finish. Nice lingering oak dryness and dark fruit sweetness.

D-Good stuff. Not nearly as "bourbony" as expected. This is an approachable, welcome to the wonderful world of bourbon barrel aged beers. A flavourful and easy to drink RIS.
Feb 25, 2009
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Reviewed by rawhydes1 from Pennsylvania

3.58/5  rDev -8.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Nirto-tap at Phoenixville brewpub location.

Dark, thick, brown color, with nice head. Nitro-induced lacing.

Had my wife blindly smell and taste (she's not much of a beer drinker), and she said "this tastes (and smells) like Jack Daniels". ----I concur.

Trying to consider the intent of this brew, I think that it is dead-nuts-on. Rich chocolate and cocoa, with OBVIOUS bourbon flavoring and smell from the cask conditioning.

Aftertaste was like a shot of whiskey.

Brewery said that it was barrel-conditioned for 6 months. I would prefer it be conditioned for a shorter duration, for less overpowering bourbon-aftertaste.

While I love stouts and RISs, this was over-the-top for me.
Feb 01, 2009
Photo of LilBeerDoctor
Reviewed by LilBeerDoctor from New York

3.03/5  rDev -22.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
On nitro tap at the Wilmington location. Pours black with a small tan nitro head. Aroma of bourbon, rich roasted malt, and lots of chocolate. Flavor is mostly bourbon with a Hershey's syrup finish. I tried to enjoy this, but the bourbon was a bit overwhelming.
6/4/6/3/13 (3.2/5)
Jan 11, 2009
Photo of akorsak
Reviewed by akorsak from Pennsylvania

3.18/5  rDev -18.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
A nitro pour at the Lancaster brewpub.

A: The stout is pitch black, dark with no sign of any bubble or carbonation. A half a finger of off-white creamy head blankets the stout, a rather nice look.

S: The aroma is fresh, dripping with oak and bourbon and a fair amount of green apple. The stout is strong, almost robust enough to make its way through the morass.

T: Much like the bourbon Braveheart and Tripel, the stout has suffered at the hands of the barrel. Green apples and treacly bourbon are overpowering. Rather than mix with the stout, they dominate it. The nitro has softened the effect but the bourbon is still too strong. I'm glad to say, though, that the medicinal taste that I found in the Bourbon Braveheart is missing here.

M: Thick and dripping with bourbon and oak, this stout is overpowering (and overpowered by the aforementioned booze).

D: 12 ounces were more than enough. The bourbon needs to be dialed back significantly.
Nov 26, 2008
Photo of Kegatron
Reviewed by Kegatron from Pennsylvania

4.05/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Served via nitro-tap in a Mug Club mug at the brewpub on 11/22/08 during their Barrel-Aged Mug Club party.

Pours black with some reddish highlights along the bottom and a big, creamy layer of light mocha colored head. This doesn't budge at all from the nitro pour, laving massive sheets of lacing down the sides of the mug. The aroma is a touch subdued at first but then opens up more with bourbon dominating the front part that then gives way to notes of vanilla, cocoa, and coffee.

The taste changes things up with the Imperial Stout qualities emerging first this time with a chewy mix of chocolate, coffee, and splash of citrus. A flush of dry bourbon character crashes the backend, as well as a smack of vanilla that lasts well into the finish. The mouthfeel isi full and creamy from the nitro-pour, with only real warmth in this coming from the Bourbon. Otherwise, that almost 10% ABV is extremely well hidden.

Of the three barrel-aged beers that I tried at the party, I think that this probably my favorite. There was a really nice balance between the bourbon and Stout flavors and serving this on nitro did wonders to increase the smoothness and drinkibility. I had no problems finishing off my mug. Good stuff!
Nov 23, 2008
Photo of AltBock
Reviewed by AltBock from Ohio

3.71/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
The Iron Hill in Media, PA was serving this one in the brewpub on 5/17/2008 while their beer festival was going on outside. I didn't see or ask what the ABV%, but it had to be close to the one listed on here. They served it to me in a small Pilsner style glass.

Bourbon Russian Stout had a solid oil colored body with some dark ruby red highlights shining through toward the bottom of the glass. The tan head of foam on this beer was less than 1/2 inch in height. It was more than likely the style of glass that made the head of foam so small. Whatever was left of the head of foam had pretty good retention that left behind quite a few tan colored foamy rings along the edge and some tan colored spots of lace. The aroma to this RIS was far too sweet! It smelled like exactly like candy. It was so heavy in the surgar that it completely covered up the roasted malts, bourbon, and even the oak. Those are the aromas that should have stood out. Not the candy sugar! Luckly, the taste wasn't nearly as sweet as the aroma was. The taste had a hint of sweetness in there, but when it came to the taste, the alcohol covered that right up. The taste was dark and rich like a good RIS should be with dark roasted malts, bitter dark chocolate, a hint of roasted hops, a splash of sweet caramel, plenty of bourbon, charred oak, and alcohol at the finish line. The mouthfeel was full bodied with a strong long lasting aftertaste of bourbon, oak, and candy sugar. It just loved the candy surgar! Overall, it was nice full bodied RIS, but for me the super sweetness in the aroma and aftertaste that ruined it for a little bit. It you like your bourbon RIS dark, roasted, filled with alcohol, and smelling like candy, then you'll really like this one.
May 18, 2008
Photo of DarkerTheBetter
Reviewed by DarkerTheBetter from Minnesota

4.3/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Looks like some other douche bag entered this without reviewing it...

This beer came a deep dark brown with a head that looked like it came off of a cup of hot cocoa.

Smells of creamy vanilla ice cream, smooth oak and tasty whiffs of bourbon that introduces some dry notes that transition into a dark chocolate. There's an omnipresent caramel sweetness to this one too.

Tastes of dry distinct roasted grains, but as this is nitro, there's a glassy smooth membrane of flavor that keeps things in check. This lets through bits of red apple sweetness, toasted grain followed by a dry astringent oak and bourbon. It all finishes up with a milky sweetness.

Feels slick and clean with a lot of leeway for the palate to explore the flavors.

For as big and bold as this one was, it was amazing how easy it was going down.
May 15, 2008
Bourbon Russian Imperial Stout from Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant
Beer rating: 87 out of 100 with 14 ratings