Ivan The Terrible Imperial Stout - Big Sky Brewing Company

gumballhead1

Illinois

4.41/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.75

Bottle from 2012, bottle 1344 of 4200
Poured into a snifter, really smooth chocolate, rich oak, and plenty of bourbon boozy taste. I love this beer from big sky its hard to find bombers of stuff in Illinois. My first review so sorry if its unorganized. Overall a good bourbon imperial stout I would definitely recommend to others. I would say its comparable to our goose island bcs.

Serving type: bottle

03-26-2013 01:27:47 | More by gumballhead1

CommanderOfAwesome

California

4.39/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

2012 bottle, #300 out of 4,200. Poured into a snifter glass

A: Pours a deep chocolate color with minimal head, which isn't all that surprising for a BA 12% beer. Some noticeable alcohol legs on this one.

S: Getting some wood from the barrel, almost a red wine smell from the tannins. Not sure what type of barrel they used for this, but if they used red wine barrel I wouldn't be shocked. Slight coffee and chocolate aromas waffling out as well.

T: Oak, chocolate, coffee with some slight red wine tannins characteristics. Creamy as hell. Fantastic stuff and exactly what I want from an Imp Stout. Though I am a bit surprised by the wine similarities.

M: Creamy, thick full bodied minimal carbonation with a very faint slight booze burn. Such a smooth beer.

O: Excellent fantastic RIS. Creamy and smooth that's not over powering on the wood or the Bourbon. Overall one of the best RIS on the market and nice random find for me in the store. Going back to see if I can snag another bottle!

Serving type: bottle

03-07-2013 16:36:21 | More by CommanderOfAwesome

eric5bellies

Australia

4.33/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bug thanks to Nicks6217 for this one. 2010 vintage.

Reviewed from notes and drank with my buddy Darren

A - Pours the classic impy stout, deep black not much head that doesn't retain.

S - Plenty of chocolate, and mild bourbon, with a little wood.

T - Plenty of vanilla, and drenched bourbon wood with some really nice chocolate after flavours. This is a high quality stout.

M - Sliky smooth, thick viscous and minimal carbonation

O - A great bourbon stout, and one of the best I have tried so far.

Serving type: bottle

03-02-2013 09:22:14 | More by eric5bellies

writerLJBerg

Oregon

3.8/5  rDev -12%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

750mL bottle split 2 ways. 2010 vintage.

A: Rambunctious head, a full inch of fluffy cappuccino foam, after a glugging pour. Nice legs. Absence worthy black.

N: Bourbon, oak, prunes, chocolate. Slight roast and moderate licorice. Some soy sauce. Caramel and fudge - more of the wood and bourbon.

T: Oak, prune, raisin, fudge. Honey and low levels of roastiness. Espresso sweetened with two lumps of sugar in the grind. Very sweet, but it's not cloying as some of its competitors are wont to be. Hints of soy sauce. Hops are here with some earthy bite, but they mostly add balance.

M: Creamy mouthfeel which is on the lighter side of the spectrum. Lots of booze still.

O: A really well balanced and fairly delicate beer. Very enjoyable, and worth recommending.

Serving type: bottle

02-26-2013 01:44:33 | More by writerLJBerg

CooperEllis

New York

5/5  rDev +15.7%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

I had the 2009, 2010 and 2012. This is the review from the 2012: Bottle # 1472/4200

I genuinely love this beer in every incarnation that I've been able to sample - and I've had several bottles of each of the above listed years. I haven't noticed any bottle variation, this is great fresh and it ages (for at least 3 years) very well when properly cellared.

Nose has a good amount of wood and booze when fresh and more of the malt comes to the front the longer it sits. The pour looks thin going into the glass, but there is a full tan head and robust lacing. The mouthfeel also does not reflect a 'thin' feel at all.

Taste and mouthfeel compliment each other perfectly, a well-balanced stout that benefits from the barrel treatment and is in no way overpowered by the bourbon notes. A smooth, velvety entrance with no bitterness or booze at the end. This reminds me more of a Kate, subtle complexity and lighter, than a big in-your face -bal STOUT that is ever so popular. Perhaps one for the less-is-more file.

A damn fine glass of beer. Big thanks to azaaron for the hook-up. I hope you enjoy your end of the trade as much.

5/5 across the board.

(199th)

Serving type: bottle

02-08-2013 22:59:17 | More by CooperEllis

Beerandraiderfan

Nevada

4.38/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

2010 bottle, drank at the 2012 poker game between xmas and nye. Shockingly pours out black! Ok, this looks like your standard well built imperial stout aged in a bourbon barrel, it is deep, rich, thick and black, but leaves little in the way of head, lacing or retention. Aroma was dark bittersweet chocolate up front, some mildly boozy bourbon notes lying in wait underneath it.

Taste, here's where it really excels, reminds me of a stronger Central Waters bourbon barrel beer. You get the light bourbon toasted notes, coconut coming through stronger than your average bourbon barrel beer. Plenty of vanilla in their too, tastes like it could be Jim Beam, but far from certain.

Its mouthfeel is full bodied, its never hot, and relatively silky smooth. Slightest aged or old school british hops provide some nice balance to this. The oak is there, just in the right proportion to the other flavor components. Carbonation is low, but perfectly matched to allow everything to delicately envelope your palate. Maybe a dash of brown sugar to help keep any booziness from becoming a detraction.

This is a top notch bourbon barrel beer. Big Sky, with their ipa, trout slayer, slow elk, cowboy coffee and Ivan are all underappreciated beers. Now their kriek, ugh, that's an abomination, but you gotta like those odds!

Serving type: bottle

02-04-2013 17:15:30 | More by Beerandraiderfan

cnbrown313

Illinois

3.91/5  rDev -9.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

2012 Cork and cage 750ml bottle poured into a snifter glass

A - Pours almost totally black, but with a nice amount of carbonation and a beautiful chocolate colored head (maybe 1.5 fingers worth)

S - Smells of dark fruit, chocolate, and oak.

T - Initially you get a touch of bitter dark chocolate, but that is well balanced by some sweet, dark fruit flavors. It is surprisingly easy to drink for a big imperial stout. Being a bourbon fan though, I was let down by the fact that there just wasn't a lot of bourbon flavor or bourbon barrel characteristics. There is definitely a strong oaky taste and finish to the beer, but I feel like it's lacking the bourbon.

M - This was actually my favorite part of the beer. The mouth feel was silky and smooth - it glides down easily. And why don't more big RIS's have awesome bubbles like this? They really mastered the fine carbonation on the 2012 batch.

O - If I had to chose between this and say a BCS or a KBS, I would take those every time. But, this was a unique barrel aged imperial stout with a nice mouth feel and nose, so if you're a fan of the style and you see one, I would check it out.

Serving type: bottle

01-30-2013 16:22:40 | More by cnbrown313

kawilliams81

Illinois

4.05/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

2012 vintage. Poured from a 750 ml cork n cage bottle into a Pipeworks snifter.

A- pours black with a 2 finger cola head. Big blotches and trails of lacing remain on the glass.

S- dark fruits, chocolate, light bourbon and vanilla.

T- chocolate, dark fruits, vanilla, bourbon, and some roast.

M- full body and medium carbonation. Drinks very well fresh for a 12% beer.

O- good RIS. Not a ton of barrel characteristics which is why I didn't rate it higher, but nice dark fruit notes that add some complexity to this beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-19-2013 05:02:12 | More by kawilliams81

Dope

Massachusetts

4.28/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

2012 vintage from Daniel, thanks!

A: Not-quite-pitch black pour with an enormous and dense medium brown head. Fades extremely slowly. Top notch head retention as the head never seems to disappear fully, and revives easily. Moderate splashes of lacing here and there.

S: Big bold bourbon aroma. Burnt sugars including brown sugar along with some toffee and oaky vanilla. Some dark fruits. Notable stinging alcohol. Very fresh indeed. A little roasted malt character, mainly chocolate. Mostly covered by the boozy bourbon.

T: Lots of bourbon up front but not as overpowering as the aroma. Loaded with caramel, brown sugar, toffee and vanilla. A boatload of chocolate mingles in, making for a great combination. Get a little char and anise in the middle, but mainly chocolate. Finish is a little bit chalky with some charred wood, bitter chocolate and burnt sugar. Decently boozy too. Lingering oak and alcohol sting between sips.

M: Pretty heavy and boozy. Not as thick as you'd expect some big ABV RISes to be, the bourbon seems to cut it a bit.

O: Awesome RIS. Huge variety of flavors making this one very complex. Surprisingly good balance of flavors though the bourbon and chocolate dominate overall - which I don't mind. Quite fresh and boozy, bordering on harsh but what do you expect from a just-bottled 12.2% bourbon barreled RIS? I bet this would be amazing if it mellowed for a few years in the basement. Not to say that it's not already amazing, it's just the nature of the beast.

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2013 03:45:33 | More by Dope

Gobzilla

California

4.38/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A: poured a dark as night black in color with a thin dark brown bubbly head that left some good creamy frothy lacing sticking to the glass.

S: definitely had some a lovely chocolatey aroma with a bit of roast, tobacco blunt wrap notes, signs of bourbon barrel booze with hints of dark fruits, molasses, toffee, and brown sugar sweetness.

T: It had a nice dark chocolatey base with good roastiness, good bourbon barrel character but well balanced booze heat, a touch of dark fruitiness, tobacco blunt wrap accents alongside toffee, molasses and vanilla sweetness.

M: the brew was full in body with a moderate amount of carbonation which had a roasty, mild dark fruity, slightly boozy, bourbon wood barrel, sweet, rich and creamy finish.

O: definitely good as I thought it was going to be, a bit surprised on the tobacco character in it but it was still very good. Finally conquered this elusive beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2013 05:32:33 | More by Gobzilla

yamar68

Minnesota

4.7/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

2012 vintage (12.2% abv):

Gorgeous looking stuff... motor oil body with edges of copper clarity, a dense pale khaki head retains well, producing smears of oily lacing and beading beneath. It looks alive and quite scary. A second pour provides a darker shade of brown, making a yin yang in the glass.

The nose is even more impressive... smooth bourbon and chocolate layered with mushy cherries, vanilla, fudge, molasses... all the tasty things you would hope to find in a big barreled stout like this. No individual aspect steals the show, everything is totally in sync which is remarkable to me given the size of the beer.

Delicious. Booze soaked dark fruits that fall just short of "hot." It's very hard to believe that this one packs the 12 percent alcohol that it claims to. Sweet bourbon with chocolate, creamy vanilla flavors, cocoa beans, faint bitter coffee presence surfaces at the finish. I've heard people say that 2010 was better... if that's the case, 2010 Ivan must be the best beer on earth because this stuff can hang with the best of 'em.

Hot damn. Fantastic.

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2012 01:19:28 | More by yamar68

Phyl21ca

Quebec (Canada)

4.98/5  rDev +15.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Bottle: Poured a pitch-black color stout with a large dark brown foamy head with good retention and some lacing. Aroma of roasted malt with light lactose and deep creamy black chocolate note is pretty much perfect. Light bourbon and vanilla notes are also perceptible. Taste is pretty much a perfect mix between some bourbon with creamy black chocolate notes, light lactose and light dry roasted malt notes. Body is full with perfect nice creamy texture and good carbonation with no apparent alcohol. Wow, what a surprise this one was with perfect balance and not too much barrel-aging.

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2012 04:02:10 | More by Phyl21ca

Treebs

Illinois

4.33/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

750 ml C&C bottle served in a Westbrook tulip. Bottle # 1088/4200

A: Pours an opaque black color with a dark khaki head forming on the pour. It recedes slowly to a thin ring that leaves some splotchy lace down the glass.

S: Light bourbon, some dark fruit and a little oak. Sweet chocolate, a little toffee and some roasted malts.

T: Light bourbon, milk chocolate and some nice roasted malts. Incredibly smooth with some caramel, oak and dark fruits also popping up in the flavor. There's barely any heat on the finish.

M: Highly drinkable. Light barrel flavors give way to a medium low carbonation level and a heavier mouthfeel. Creamy and smooth with an almost velvet like texture. Not overly chewy or viscous.

O: This drank like it was 8%. So incredibly smooth and velvety with just the right amount of carbonation. The barrel flavors were definitely on the light side which added to the drinkability obviously. I'd like to know how many months this spent in the barrel, but either way it was a flavorful and had just enough restraint in the booze department to make it very drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2012 13:56:17 | More by Treebs

dgilks

Australia

4.58/5  rDev +6%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

2010 bottle opened for as part of a birthday celebration.

Inky black. Light sucking. Small, creamy, dark tan head. Good head retention.

Very rich aroma. Lots of nuts and alcohol. Caramel and toffee. Vanilla. Oak. Bourbon. A little earthy in the background. Sweet chocolate. Very nice.

Medium-sweet malt with some very light fruitiness. Lots of toffee. Bourbon oak and chocolate. Excellent.

Medium-full body with moderate carbonation. Nice and very creamy.

An excellent stout. Wonderfully creamy and complex. Nice chocolate and malt flavours. Well integrated oak. It has been a while since I've had a nice Bourbon Barrelled Stout and I'm loving it.

Serving type: bottle

10-14-2012 12:07:51 | More by dgilks

spicelab

Australia

4.53/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Bottle 2010. Props to Mr Kennedy for sharing. Reviewed from notes.

Dark molasses with a beige head of mostly fine bubbles. Leaves decent lacing as it gradually falls in on itself.

Lifted and refined aromas of raspberry, dark fruits, cocoa, vinuous oak and molasses.

Taste articulates the same blend of mildness and satisfying complexity. The dry woody character from the barrel continues to cut through the sweeter, richer cherry-ripe and coconut flavours.

Amazingly clean and uncannily light for a RIS. Buzzy carbonation dusts the palate and transitions into a dry finish.

Excellent RIS. Impressively approachable, in contrast with the more hulking RISs (not that I'm at all averse to them). Feels a little ironic to rate this highly for being unlike what I expect from a RIS, but whatever. A great beer, only lacks the high-end wow-factor.

Serving type: bottle

09-26-2012 02:18:44 | More by spicelab

bamadog

Kentucky

4.38/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Got this one back in 2009 in one of my earliest trades that I can remember. Pretty pumped and I'm celebrating tonight -- my first night off this month with a full weekend to come. Review is from notes taken on 8/24/2012 and poured from the bottle (176/3000) into a snifter.

Appearance: Pour looks pretty decent, comes out a dark and deep brown like fresh coffee and settles into the glass with a near black hue to it; starts with a decent 1 and 1/2 finger tan head with solid retention -- eventually dwindles down to a full, slightly uneven, cap; I'm kind of surprised that the carbonation looks this strong still after spending a few years in the bottle, as well as being a big RIS; decent swaths and splotches of lacing are left behind -- looks like a good stout should, but it doesn't quite "glug" out

Smell: Smell is really good -- nice, rich and bittersweet chocolates with a strong vanilla/oaky/bourbon presence that seems creamy and smooth; bit of an earthy, burnt coffee/espresso roastiness to it as well; the only thing it's lacking is potency -- it could be a bit more robust like a lot of big stouts are, and now I kind of have to compare everything to Hunahpu as it's really set the bar high.

Taste: Wow, tastes like a mudslide with some bourbon splashed into it -- creamy, almost milky smooth chocolate with a bit of a bittersweet, dark aspect; earthy bitterness, like chocolate covered espresso beans; definitely alcohol presence; in all that sweetness is also a chocolate covered cherry, complete with sweet syrup; very nice stout.

Mouthfeel: Body is medium/heavy in terms of weight, and in all honesty, I wish it were just a touch thicker, but I've gotta be honest, I don't know if I've had a creamier, smoother stout, so the body despite being a touch thin (and I'm being very picky here), is fantastic; a semi-dry, sticky coating is left on the roof of the mouth and a grittiness is left on the teeth; gums and belly are left quite tingly from the ABV.

Overall: I wish I could get a hold of this, as I would love to start a vertical. Great smell, better tastes, solid, super solid, body makes for a great drinking experience; would be an excellent dessert accompaniment or as a dessert on its own; the ABV and weight make it a sipper, but with as much as it has going for it, I'll sip it all night long and into the morning.

Serving type: bottle

08-25-2012 01:38:41 | More by bamadog

LiquidAmber

Washington

4.6/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a Lucifer snifter. Pours a dark, dark black with a chocolate colored head and nice lacing. Delicious bourbon and toasted malt aroma with a hint of chocolate. Intense oak and bourbon and dark and toasted malts. Vanilla, coffee and more oak middle and finish. Kinda boozy, which which lowers the score and should improve with aging. Medium bodied with some creaminess. On second taste, the alcohol is so firey and overwhelming, I down graded this one by a point. I hope it mellows with age. The positive elements are excellent, but it's covered with a pure alcohol burn. 2012 update: I was lucky enough to stumble on a fresh bottle of the current Ivan. The aroma and taste is similar, but the booziness noted in the earlier review is well covered by the flavor in this version. A nicely balanced and well made RIS, that I will revisit whenever it's made; score for taste adjusted upward.

Serving type: bottle

08-02-2012 22:37:56 | More by LiquidAmber

birchstick

Missouri

4.1/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

2010 vintage, bottle 37 of 3800

A - pours a deep, dark black color with a minimal head that forms a light taupe color around the glass

S - nose is lots of nice vanilla, some molasses, cola, milk to dark chocolates

T - taste starts off with milk chocolates that moves to a nice vanilla flavor imparted from the barrel aging. Moves on to a nice spicy bourbon flavor with some more vanilla in the mix. Ends spicy and a little hot.

M - mouth is medium to light bodied with a nice amount of carbonation - goes down really nicely

D - overall, this is a pretty nice barrel aged RIS. Personally, I think this is a nice example of barrel aged beer, however due to the bottle count being low I think this demands a little more than its worth. That being sad, I am glad I landed a bottle and would try to get again off the shelf if the opportunity presents itself in the future.

Serving type: bottle

07-14-2012 04:16:16 | More by birchstick

draheim

Washington

4.35/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

750mL (2010, #0871 of 3800) into a tulip. Pours a deep chocolate brown/black w/ a thick 3-finger mocha had that leaves a web of lace on the inside of the glass.

Aroma is strong bourbon, oak, chocolate, dark fruit, and booze. Pretty classic bourbon barrel stout aroma.

Taste is rich and chocolatey. Bourbon, molasses, oak, licorice, nuts & prunes, boozy heat. A roasty bitterness on the finish.

Mouthfeel is medium-bodied, slick, slightly sticky. Neither thick nor chewy. Bourbon and roasted malt leave a lingering aftertaste.

Overall a good bourbon barrel stout, perfect for a rainy Seattle evening. Maybe a little uneven, unbalanced. The strong bourbon taste could have used the counterbalance of an even darker, roastier malt. Still, very tasty, definitely a sipper. Think I'll age my other bottle for a while, see what develops.

Serving type: bottle

06-23-2012 05:04:44 | More by draheim

cpetrone84

Pennsylvania

3.7/5  rDev -14.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Had again, drank the 09.

pour has very little head, a few bubble tan in color, jet black beer. The nose is rich, dark chocolate, light olive, notes of roast, and light sweetness in back. The taste is a bit sweeter, similar to Adam but sweeter, light roast and vanilla note, nice rich chocolate, smooth body, a bit thin, decent carbonation especially for 3 years old.
***
Shared at our recent tasting, either an 06 or 07, 8.75% ABV with an 1152 bottle count.

A-pours a jet black liquid with a nice dense tan head with good retention.

S-strong notes of oak and vanilla up front, anise comes in behind, lightly roasted malts, dark rich chocolate in the back.

T-the oak and vanilla are right up front, notes of bourbon behind. light anise, lots of roasted malts and rich decatant dark chocolate. the back has a hint of sweetness, dark fruits of plums and cherries. there is some heat throughout and in the back but very light and just let you know its a big beer.

M-good full body with lots of carbonation still and a good crisp finish. smooth and velvety on the palate with a good creamy feel.

D-this is a delicious RIS with a good complexity. the oak is done well, present but not dominant. tons of roasted malty goodness with a nice light sweetness in the back. great feel and good carb, not too heavy but definitely big.

Serving type: bottle

06-18-2012 16:53:16 | More by cpetrone84

chugalug06

Colorado

4.65/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

2010 - Bottle 0986 of 3800

Awesome two layered Coffee cream colored head. Brew is pitch black. Decent lacing too.

Lots of cherries and bananas. Smooth dark chocolate. Very light, but well put together. Slight alcohol burn on the nose.

Awesome dark chocolate flavors, but it drinks like a milk stout, nicely sweet. Nice light flavor, not a heavy stout flavor. Great carbonation, zero bitterness, drinks wonderful!!! Thin body, but it's a great beer.

Highly recommended brew! One of the most underrated stouts I've had. Awesome! It could be thicker, but it would lose some of it's appeal, it's a great afternoon drinker

Serving type: bottle

05-24-2012 22:58:14 | More by chugalug06

stephens101

Oklahoma

4.45/5  rDev +3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I believe this is a 2008 vintage, but would welcome a correction if not. 36 of 1152.

Pours black as black with a shout of flowing bourbon aroma. Nice fizzy dark tan head stays put. Initially notice a deep aroma of milk chocolate and cocoa. This baby is showing big promise. Wood, bourbon, vinegar and dark fruits (plums, raisins, grapes) are also noticed. Tastes big and malty with a profound dark fruitiness, oak, spice and weak black coffee. Big and boozy but smooth as silk. One of the best beers have had in a very long time, and now I wish I wouldn't have opened it, but hey, somehow I feel there are more great beers to be had.

Serving type: bottle

04-20-2012 20:21:40 | More by stephens101

tjkinate

Texas

4.58/5  rDev +6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

2010 Vintage

A: 1+ fingered head formed atop this deep brown brew from a hard pour into a snifter. Head had decent retention settling to a thick foam that left some lacing in its wake.

S: Dark fruits, vanilla, hefty amount of bourbon with a pungent sweet caramel backbone.

T: The beer tastes nothing like it smelled, trust me, that is not a bad thing this time. Big difference is that the beer smelled so sweet, but doesn't taste sweet. I detected hints of light coffee, semi-sweet chocolate, pecans and chestnuts followed by bourbon undertones. Perfect beer for a cold winter night, or a warm spring night like the one during my tasting!

M: Medium bodied for the style, mild carbonation, creamy and smooth.

O: Fantastic brew that I will definitely be seeking again in the future.

Serving type: bottle

04-16-2012 18:17:41 | More by tjkinate

UCLABrewN84

California

4.1/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle pour sampled at mrbubbler's tasting courtesy of mrbubbler himself.

2009 vintage. Bottle # 336/3000.

Pours an almost opaque super dark brown with a khaki head that settles to an oily film on top of the beer. Small streaks of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of dark roasted malt, cocoa, wood, vanilla, and bourbon. Taste with the same with a woody finish and a slight alcohol kick with each sip. This beer has a good level of carbonation with a crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a good barrel aged stout but I like the way it smells more than the taste.

Serving type: bottle

04-09-2012 05:03:36 | More by UCLABrewN84

BEERchitect

Kentucky

4.55/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

When talking with folks from Montana about the local craft beer scene, the conversation moves to Moose Drool, Moose Drool, and then Moose Drool some more. Little do they know that one of the more delectable Imperial American Stouts is brewed underneath their nose.

Ivan the Terrible pours with a voluminous and froathy pour that takes several seconds for the liquid to separate from the bubbles. Jet black in color, or dark enough brown to make me think black, the beer shows complete opaqueness. The absolute froathy sandy brown head forms a thick cap on the beer and reduces ever so slowly until it forms a thick blanket on the surface. Moderate lace shows intermittent patterns of foam on the glass.

Incredibly malty and rich aromas awaken the nose with the savory scent of heavy whipping cream, whoppers candies, brown sugar, vanilla, candied almonds, sweet booze, and all of the rich notes of french toast from the kitchen that would wake me as a child. Chocolate, dark roast coffee, and fruity plumbs and cherries all start to define the complex aromas as the beer warms.

Flavors start out much the same- with the succulent and savory taste of vanilla, chocolate, almonds, molasses, and whipped cream sweetness, just before the hops and alcohol remind me that this is indeed a fortified Stout. Grape, plumb, and blackberry fruits come across similarly as port wines and brandies. Grassy flavors, oaken woods, maple, coconut, and bourbon (almost rum-like) alcohols rise midway through and morph into a semi-sharp hop bitterness and intensifying bourbon aggression nearing the finish.

Vast, creamy, and robust in body as the beer opens with strong and expansive carbonation which accents the cream and velvet textures. The mouthfeel actually improves after the distraction of excessive carbonation subsides and leaves the tongue with a silky and smooth texture that recedes at mid palate to usher in the hop bitterness and alcohol warmth that allow the beer to dry toward a malty-dry semi-sweet finish. But the aftertaste of starchy malt and chocolate linger with the taste of whoppers candies and french toast.

The American Stout signatures of dryness and hops are well displayed, but the smooth chocolate and milky taste and textures work wonderfully in this beer. The 65 ibus are kept in check by the wonderfully varying malt flavors for ultimate complexity and roundness.

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2012 04:36:49 | More by BEERchitect