Courage Imperial Russian Stout - Wells & Young's Ltd

DaveAnderson

Minnesota

4.65/5  rDev +8.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

How does a beer brewed without chocolate taste so much like chocolate?

I wasn't expecting a ton from this beer, and nonchalantly poured it into an Ikea 365 glass. But, BLAM! I was immediately served notice. This beer is all about the roast and chocolate.

It smells like a high-percentage-cocoa chocolate bar. It is off-the-charts chocolate aroma. I have to work hard to identify anything else. Maybe, there's some tropical fruits in there? Hard to say, because the chocolate dominates. There's something unusual right below the surface, too -- like wheat nuts. It is too fleeting to focus on.

The flavor is rich and full of chocolate, but also has some great bitterness. It's softly carbonated, and finished very cleanly. For such a small bottle, it just keeps delivering more with each sip!

I know this is one of those beers that has a claim to be the first of its style. Whether or not that's true, this should be measured against the best of them. It's simply a delight to drink.

Serving type: bottle

02-19-2013 06:14:06 | More by DaveAnderson

hoppymcgee

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -6.3%

06-17-2013 18:00:11 | More by hoppymcgee

megamass

New Jersey

4/5  rDev -6.3%

06-16-2013 05:00:38 | More by megamass

dmorgan310

Panama

4.25/5  rDev -0.5%

06-16-2013 04:25:05 | More by dmorgan310

JLapadura

New York

4.5/5  rDev +5.4%

06-09-2013 14:55:20 | More by JLapadura

TheBeerAlmanac

Kentucky

4.5/5  rDev +5.4%

06-08-2013 15:45:05 | More by TheBeerAlmanac

snglmltrblnd84

Indiana

5/5  rDev +17.1%

06-05-2013 20:48:30 | More by snglmltrblnd84

WynnO

Florida

5/5  rDev +17.1%

06-04-2013 20:33:47 | More by WynnO

MJSJr

Ohio

4.5/5  rDev +5.4%

06-03-2013 05:07:37 | More by MJSJr

Chrixsus

Illinois

4/5  rDev -6.3%

06-03-2013 00:09:57 | More by Chrixsus

HumphreyLee

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +5.4%

05-31-2013 06:07:17 | More by HumphreyLee

DanGeo

Michigan

4.5/5  rDev +5.4%

05-29-2013 00:28:44 | More by DanGeo

SpruceMoose

Australia

4.61/5  rDev +8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

As always, it's stout time. After hearing about this little ditty on the grapevine (and I do emphasise the 'little'; the bottle's only 275ml!), I decided to pick up three bottles of Courage's allegedly stellar effort in stout brewing; one to savour and review, and two to cellar for approximately 10 to 13 years (which the bottle boastfully states it's capable of). I went into this review with pleasant memories of the Director's Ale, and fortunately my expectations were matched. "As originally brewed in 1795 for Catherine the Great of Russia", the bottle states with pride. If we are to accept this statement, it would become obvious that Cathy had some bloody brilliant taste in beer.

Serving type: 275ml bottle poured gently into a 330ml Zwyiec glass.

Appearance: The body itself is incredibly opaque - holding it up to the light yields absolutely no brightness whatsoever, and this density is further highlighted by the tan head which does not hang around for very long. Oh well, suppose it is an imperial stout after all.

Smell: Hints of plum, caramel, chocolate, chicory, coffee and those ever-so-characteristic roasted malts waft up towards the senses. The smell is strong yet not overwhelming. Magical.

Taste: The taste compliments the smell almost flawlessly, with less coffee and more of a plum, caramel and even nut flavour sitting on the tongue. Despite CRIS' 10% ABV strength (once again, it is an imperial stout after all), the alcohol does not leave a burn or even taste in the mouth; the delicate balance of flavours masks it flawlessly.

Mouthfeel: Thick, creamy and hearty. Classic stout body. Carbonation is very light (must I say it again? It's a bloody imperial stout after all!).

Overall: Courage's fine effort at a warm, hearty stout certainly lived up to the hype I had witnessed. This beer, whilst packaged in a peculiarly small bottle, contains all the character one would expect from a large 750ml bottle. This is imperial stout at its most unique, balanced and flavorsome. It could potentially even reach the dizzy heights of five-dom after a few years of maturation.

Serving type: bottle

05-22-2013 11:02:50 | More by SpruceMoose

pin

Australia

3.5/5  rDev -18%

05-21-2013 21:10:44 | More by pin

Slatetank

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev -0.5%

05-20-2013 22:47:19 | More by Slatetank

2GOOFY

California

4.25/5  rDev -0.5%

05-20-2013 01:32:58 | More by 2GOOFY

Absolut

California

4.5/5  rDev +5.4%

05-14-2013 17:46:31 | More by Absolut

SSEngelbrecht

Louisiana

4.25/5  rDev -0.5%

05-11-2013 19:37:38 | More by SSEngelbrecht

ewhugh

Colorado

4/5  rDev -6.3%

05-09-2013 05:38:59 | More by ewhugh

cdmillard

Maryland

4.5/5  rDev +5.4%

05-05-2013 03:02:03 | More by cdmillard

juanbon

Georgia

4/5  rDev -6.3%

05-03-2013 01:56:48 | More by juanbon

His_Royal_Hoppiness

United Kingdom (England)

4.5/5  rDev +5.4%

05-02-2013 22:15:44 | More by His_Royal_Hoppiness

MrKennedy

Australia

4.23/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

275ml bottle from Cellarbrations Carlisle, into a Lost Abbey Teku.

Matt black appearance with a lovely tan had that looks more rich the more you swirl it. Great foam retention and a lovely distinction between the black base and the tan foam.

Smells of milk chocolate backed with some licorice and a touch of roasted malt. Basic, but well integrated and really well done.

Licorice and chocolate, pretty much how i remember it from a year ago, just with the chocolate a touch more noted, balancing it out a bit more. I recall this being a licorice bomb 12 months ago.

Bitterness from the licorice upfront and turns smooth mid-palate. Finishes full but with some bitterness to keep you coming back.

Enjoyed this more after a year or so of holding onto it. Less licorice dominated and more integrated with the chocolate. A lovely beer that is fun to drink and something i need to remind myself never to pass up when i see it in the shops. Exudes quality. Good value, even taking into account the smaller bottle size.

Serving type: bottle

05-02-2013 12:25:11 | More by MrKennedy

jealmanzar

New York

4.75/5  rDev +11.2%

04-30-2013 18:51:38 | More by jealmanzar

writerLJBerg

Oregon

4.04/5  rDev -5.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

275mL bottle from By the Bottle. May 2011 bottle date.

A: Pure ink black with a dense creme head. Pour is quicker than I might expect. Legs are noticeable.

N: Intense, smoke, leather, and tobacco. Prunes and raisins and rye bread. Very peppery. Dense and rich with a notable essence of dark fruits. Hops show up with the earth and peppercorn.

T: Bitter hops and baker's chocolate dryness. Very very spicy in a black pepper way. Very much in the vein of the hopped-up stout.

M: Oily and medium heavy body. Very prickly. Could use some more heft, but the alcohol is well-hidden.

O: really good stuff. It's well balanced and deft of hand. I want to buy more and age it for the long haul.

Serving type: bottle

04-29-2013 03:50:43 | More by writerLJBerg