Big Eddy Russian Imperial Stout - Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company

craft_shannie

Indiana

3.51/5  rDev -8.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

A: pours thick and syrupy. black, opaque, w. 2 finger dark beige head; beautiful lacing (the whole imperial pint glass worth).
S: chicory; acrid burnt malt; sweet dark fruit; molasses.
T: starts off w. a sweet malt that immediately turns on to full-on bitter chocolate/roasted coffee explosion; subtle smoke.
M: medium body; dry and acrid bitter; smooth - but not creamy.
O: i first tried Big Eddy at a hotsy-totsy tasting event & it was my favorite of the Miller/Coors offerings (yeah, big compliment). It does stand out as a BMC offering but lacks a bit of refinement to really be big-league chew. It's complex in a way that my BBQ sauce can be if I've had too many beers while cooking in the kitchen.

Serving type: bottle

02-21-2013 02:46:29 | More by craft_shannie

OB1

Ohio

4/5  rDev +4.4%

06-14-2013 21:40:08 | More by OB1

jmarsh123

Indiana

4/5  rDev +4.4%

06-12-2013 19:41:38 | More by jmarsh123

ohiobeer29

Ohio

3/5  rDev -21.7%

06-11-2013 04:57:55 | More by ohiobeer29

kylehay2004

Florida

3.5/5  rDev -8.6%

06-09-2013 04:25:29 | More by kylehay2004

MNPikey

Minnesota

3.75/5  rDev -2.1%

06-09-2013 03:45:55 | More by MNPikey

megamass

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +4.4%

06-07-2013 04:36:26 | More by megamass

AngusOg

Maryland

4/5  rDev +4.4%

06-07-2013 03:05:15 | More by AngusOg

JAHMUR

Connecticut

3.5/5  rDev -8.6%

06-02-2013 15:13:54 | More by JAHMUR

Grant89

California

4/5  rDev +4.4%

06-01-2013 00:39:00 | More by Grant89

BFCarr

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev -2.1%

05-27-2013 20:26:59 | More by BFCarr

lic217

Connecticut

3/5  rDev -21.7%

05-27-2013 12:22:53 | More by lic217

Waveoff

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -8.6%

05-26-2013 05:16:07 | More by Waveoff

Satchboogie

New Hampshire

3.75/5  rDev -2.1%

05-26-2013 04:02:56 | More by Satchboogie

jerefreakinmiah

Texas

4.25/5  rDev +11%

05-22-2013 23:45:23 | More by jerefreakinmiah

brewcifix

Connecticut

4.55/5  rDev +18.8%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

A- Big Eddy pours clear brown-black, but rests opaque black in the glass. There is a fizzy mocha head that provides a little lacing.

S- Roasted malts, molasses, toffee, dark fruit and raisin fill the nose. The bouquet is strong and lasts well to the last drop!

T- Sweet roasted malts, caramel, coffee, and bitter-sweet chocolate give way to sweet malty toffee finish. Hops take a back seat, only leaving a subtle grassy pine in an abundantly roasted malt-coffee aftertaste. This is a very nice tasting stout, indeed!

M- Soft carbonation accompanies a heavy tongue weight. This beer goes down silky- almost syrupy. It'd be difficult to drink ten of these, but, one is one to savor for sure.

Overall, this is a fabulous Russian Imperial. Unlike most brews, Big Eddy boasts a strong nose and rich taste without letting up an iota for the duration of the glass. Anyone that looks for a malt forward, sweet, rich, and impressive stout is sure to appreciate this one! I encourage anyone that happens upon this on tap or in a liquor store to not let this one slip through their fingers! I had this on tap at Bukowski's in Boston, and wasn't letting someone else buy it at my favorite liquor store! I even bought a little extra to age. I'll be back at a later date to review that!

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2013 21:53:42 | More by brewcifix

PeteRiz

Connecticut

3.5/5  rDev -8.6%

05-18-2013 13:10:16 | More by PeteRiz

carlosega

Ohio

3.75/5  rDev -2.1%

05-17-2013 19:32:06 | More by carlosega

rdooley

Texas

2.5/5  rDev -34.7%

05-17-2013 01:53:22 | More by rdooley

dmilewsk

Iowa

3.75/5  rDev -2.1%

05-16-2013 13:31:21 | More by dmilewsk

MaximalC

Illinois

3.83/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75

Pours seal brown with molasses highlights and a moderate head of mocha foam. Retention and lacing are both very respectable. Aroma smells of molasses and herbal hops--a contrast to be sure. Alcohol is also present in the nose. The flavor profile features big roasted malt notes and herbal, almost medicinal, hops. Coffee and dark fruit lurk beneath the surface as well but are more difficult to discern behind the bitterness of the hops (warming helps some in this regard). Some dark chocolate creeps through in the finish as well. The mouthfeel is moderately sticky and appropriate for the style.

If not for the pronounced herbal hop character, this would be a really fine imperial stout. Unfortunately, the bitterness masks the more delectable nuances of the malt. It's still very flavorful, and I'd be happy to have it again, but it falls just shy of balanced.

Serving type: bottle

05-14-2013 22:26:34 | More by MaximalC

twenty5

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -2.1%

05-12-2013 21:08:05 | More by twenty5

leprechaunandfatman

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +11%

05-12-2013 19:11:27 | More by leprechaunandfatman

deltatauhobbit

Maine

4.44/5  rDev +15.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a pitch black color with a decent sized tan head, fades pretty quickly with hardly any lacing on the glass.

Smell has a nice strong roasted malt backing, decent dark fruit notes like dates and raisins, subtle chocolate hints.

Taste starts out with the roasted caramel malt, not as bitter as one might expect for as much as the roasted aspect was in the nose, in fact it's a touch sweet but doesn't come close to being cloying, dark fruit adds a nice complexity , body is nice and chewy, good viscosity, soft carbonation adds a smoothness.

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2013 00:51:24 | More by deltatauhobbit

midnitesun11

California

3.75/5  rDev -2.1%

05-10-2013 22:32:48 | More by midnitesun11