Courage Imperial Russian Stout - Wells & Young's Ltd

jpbebeau

Washington

4.2/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

275ml bottle, brewed May 2011, to tulip. (Best by...19/09/24.)

A: Pours a little thinner than I'd expect of the style, from the look of it—distracted my pour, so I produced a four-finger fluffy mocha head. Dark, but not quite black. Nice lacing and impressive legs.

S: Great nose of chocolate, dark fruits, smoke, and leather.

T: Sweet fruits and dark chocolate. A bit of roasted malt bitterness at the end—just enough for a nice drawn-out aftertaste. No hint of the 10% ABV.

M: Not thick (as I expected from the pour). Finely carbonated (as I expected from the pour). Really pleasant. The carbonation seems to hide a bit of the flavour initially, less so as it sits and warms.

Shame it's so expensive for such a small bottle...wouldn't mind drinking more of it! Can't justify it, though. Glad to give it a try and look forward to having it another time.

Serving type: bottle

02-10-2012 05:56:26 | More by jpbebeau

SpruceMoose

Australia

4.61/5  rDev +8.2%
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 -17.8%

05-21-2013 21:10:44 | More by pin

Slatetank

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev -0.2%

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

2GOOFY

California

4.25/5  rDev -0.2%

05-20-2013 01:32:58 | More by 2GOOFY

Absolut

California

4.5/5  rDev +5.6%

05-14-2013 17:46:31 | More by Absolut

SSEngelbrecht

Louisiana

4.25/5  rDev -0.2%

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

ewhugh

Colorado

4/5  rDev -6.1%

05-09-2013 05:38:59 | More by ewhugh

cdmillard

Maryland

4.5/5  rDev +5.6%

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

juanbon

Georgia

4/5  rDev -6.1%

05-03-2013 01:56:48 | More by juanbon

His_Royal_Hoppiness

United Kingdom (England)

4.5/5  rDev +5.6%

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

MrKennedy

Australia

4.23/5  rDev -0.7%
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 +11.5%

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

writerLJBerg

Oregon

4.04/5  rDev -5.2%
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

slimntubbs

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev -0.2%

04-28-2013 01:43:18 | More by slimntubbs

Jason1337

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev -0.2%

04-24-2013 15:58:36 | More by Jason1337

SLeffler27

New York

4.54/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

A dense, creamy chestnut head is long lasting as it leaves a thick coat of lace over a silky black (SRM 40+) Stout.

Roasted malt dominates from within a Dogfish Head snifter while coffee and chocolate submit. Light caramel and prunes can be found over alcohol fumes.

The roasted, almost burnt, malt is quite bitter from beginning and long into a lingering finish. Molasses and licorice develop as greater depth comes out with warming.

The texture is similar to a thick mousse, while light carbonation lifts the dense chewy body. Alcohol is present but well controlled for 10% abv. Residual sugars stick to the lips.

This is a luscious and mesmerizing Stout to be enjoyed for its opulence and richness while sitting and relaxing.

Bottle No. 042140

Serving type: bottle

04-21-2013 21:24:53 | More by SLeffler27

Gmann

New York

4.2/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Pours a murkey black/deep deep brown color with small yeasties floating about. The creamy light brown head was short and settled into a light ring.

The aroma is of a smooth roasted malt, a touch woody. A hint of chocolate and toasted pumpernickle. Some anise. Overall aroma not all that strong.

Big roasted malt flavor. Lots of burnt toast and a good amount of dark fruit. The roast is heavy with lots of char. There is a caramel sweetness that transitions into a slightly sour dark berry flavor. Dark chocolate and anise round everything out. Pretty much the definition of a RIS here; big, bitter, and malty.

Thick feel with semi-soft carbonation that leads to a mostly smooth flow. Sweet and bitter on the palate; good initial balance but the finish is a bit bitter. Sticky finish as you would expect.

A good traditional RIS. I imagine more of the dark fruit flavors would come out as it ages.

Serving type: bottle

04-18-2013 00:53:40 | More by Gmann

bostonryan

Massachusetts

5/5  rDev +17.4%

04-14-2013 05:02:32 | More by bostonryan

sneaks2210

New York

4.5/5  rDev +5.6%

04-11-2013 01:00:14 | More by sneaks2210

CanisMajor

Indiana

4.5/5  rDev +5.6%

04-10-2013 01:50:50 | More by CanisMajor

Balvenie

Minnesota

5/5  rDev +17.4%

04-08-2013 19:19:56 | More by Balvenie

travispowers

Minnesota

4/5  rDev -6.1%

04-07-2013 20:52:11 | More by travispowers

ngeunit1

California

4.16/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Dark black with a big finger of frothy chocolate-khaki head. Fades fairly slowly.

S - Roasted chocolate and a bit of caramel malts, some dark fruits, molasses, black licorice, vanilla, earthy hops, and a touch of booze.

T - Dark chocolate and caramel malts, some plum and other dark fruits, molasses, black licorice, roasted coffee, cocoa, earthy hops, some bitterness, and some booze.

M - Full bodied with moderate carbonation. Smooth and almost creamy with a sweet, roasty, and warming finish.

D - Great RIS. Great balance and complexity.

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2013 06:23:48 | More by ngeunit1

eriknordlund

Sweden

4.5/5  rDev +5.6%

04-05-2013 17:28:46 | More by eriknordlund