Ivan The Terrible Imperial Stout - Big Sky Brewing Company

Oxymoron

Colorado

4.05/5  rDev -6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

What did he do that was so terrible? Oh. Pours a milky midnight black color with a light tan colored head. Thick head and good retention and lacing through the full tasting. Some good legs on this one with a good viscosity.

The nose is rich and malty. To start there is a sweet caramel note that mixes with a coffee and toffee mixture. Some noticeable oak and whiskey notes that blend in well. Limited to no astringency, there is more of a milk stout thing going on. A light lactic note that emphasizes this. Some molasses notes with a minerally note that I usually associate with black strap. Also some darker fruit esters, specifically prunes and some stone fruit notes. The yeast is very clean with some light alcohol notes.

The taste is similar but the whiskey note really come out and hinder the beer. The malt is there with a more super sweet caramel taste coming through. This is really emphasized by the body and milkiness of the beer. The oak notes really come out as well, with stronger vanilla notes (almost like Mexican vanilla). Very strong caramel notes. Again the astringency is really lacking and would like some bite. Some fruit notes, mostly plums but some raisins and figs as well. The molasses isn't as noticeable as the nose and no real off ie mineral. Very clean yeast as well but some booze notes on the back end and as it warms.

The body is very creamy. This really makes the caramel notes really come out. Carbonation is light but almost like a nitro feel in the body. Overall I think the whiskey notes are a bit over the top and would have liked to see more astringency. But this should age very very nicely.

Serving type: bottle

02-11-2009 23:22:51 | More by Oxymoron

midaszero

Washington

4.47/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Bottle 707/1125

My bottles says 8.75% on it for the ABV

A - Completely opaque black body with two solid fingers of coffee colored head

S - Sweet malts, chocolate, and molasses. A definite pronounced bourbon smell

T - WOW it is like melted chocolate with bourbon. Some coffee notes as well and a tad boozy but overall amazing.

M - Medium thick body with medium high carbonation

D - Pretty damn easy to drink and extremely enjoyable. I can't wait to put some time on this and let it mellow some.

Serving type: bottle

02-09-2009 04:54:45 | More by midaszero

JohnGalt1

Idaho

4.38/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750 picked up locally for a very reasonable $10.... poured into my New Belgium snifter.. bottle 108 of 1152.

beautiful 3 finger head that has been sticking around for about 5 minutes ... dark tan.. looks like a really thick espresso cap... great lacing and a huge cap..

The nose is thick and very complex... not boozy at all.. big milk chocolate with dark cherry essence and vanilla.. bourbon isn't as pronounced as expected... yet the smell is fantastic.

wow.. this is like a liquid brownie.. big roasty chocolate.. some sweetened coffee notes.. more vanilla.. and the bourbon is more of a component that is throughout and never becoming too large.. complex with a great semi-dry finish that lingers forever.. dried fruit esters lend another layer of complexity.

I had high hopes for this one, but sorta was expecting to be let down... but I am very happy to report, I was wrong.. not as viscous most of it's more famous brothers .. the carbonation may be a touch on the high side.. but it is small bubble carbonation that helps lend a very lush mouthfeel.. This is a great beer... I wish we would have gotten more of it... I have a very good feeling that this is going to age like a real champion.

Huge thanks to Matt and the people at Big Sky who listened to me bitch about not getting this in... and a huge props to jjanega08 for appeasing an over aggressive trader :-) gracias Jozef.

Serving type: bottle

01-22-2009 08:05:11 | More by JohnGalt1

imperialbigswig

Wisconsin

4.43/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I know my number look high here, but I don't love this beer as much as others that may have given a lesser rating. that being said, I really did love this and found it to be an unexpected treat!
The appearance was very dark, but this beer was all about the taste and smell. the vanilla, cherry and bourbon flavors were exceptionally balanced against the the notes of coffee and chocolate, although they were the more prominent aromas and floavors.
A very delicious and drinkable beer, wish it was available more often.

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2009 23:32:21 | More by imperialbigswig

mikesgroove

South Carolina

4.85/5  rDev +12.5%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I have to say this was really a tremendous RIS. I really did not think this one was really going to be as good as it was. Rich, and served chilled into an oversixed pint glass, this one was consumed on 01/06/2009. Bottle 216/1125

The pour was perfect. Rich dark black in color, no light coming through on this one at all. Lots of tan colored foam on top that just would not fade at all. Lots of side glass lacing here, really intense i have to say, this could not have looked better and I was psyched to get started.]

The aroma was loaded down with coffee, chocolate malts, hints of oak and whiskey, and a really nice touch of roasted touches. As I reach in for the first sip, ahh, this is what it is all about. Smooth, subtle, full bodied profile. Wonderful flavor of coffee and chocolate, dark prune like fruit notes and a very nicely balanced sweetness that was reminiscent of molasses really provided a very solid flavor here. I went back and forth with a score here, but ultimitaly I could not think of what i would do to improve the taste of this, so seriously this was that good ofr me.

Overall really, go find this one. One of the best RIS I have had ever, let alone lately. I would say you have to find this one.

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2009 04:07:22 | More by mikesgroove

jjanega08

Minnesota

3.08/5  rDev -28.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

A= thick black color with a small tan head that leaves some sticky lacing behind
S= whew! Alcohol up front hard! There's the obvious burbon smell following with chocolate and coffee... mostly the burbon alcohol
T= deep coffee taste with a lot of chocolate. The alcohol burned my throat before the sip hit my mouth as I inhaled. Very little but some hop bitterness is detected
M= heavy and sticky
D= maybe the style isn't for me but it's a sipper for sure. Good representation of a barrel aged beer though. Unique
Bottle number 929

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2008 04:14:16 | More by jjanega08

Bitterbill

Wyoming

4.4/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Silver wrapped and capped 750ML bottle(number 280 of 1152) purchased from LiquorMax in Loveland Colorado.

This pours a near pitch black with just the lightest reddish hues shining through. The head of tannish foam is about 1 finger in size and there's some nice lacing here.

The smell has big notes of the bourbon with lots of dark chocolate and some dark fruit. The alcohol is there as well.

The taste...there's the chocolate, more of a cocoa taste actually, lots of sweet malty tones, a nice dose of dark fruitness most noticeable when I swish the beer in my mouth, a light but right amount of hop bitterness and, a light presence of bourbon; much less so than I figured there would be judging from the smell but it works nicely. Oh, except it *does* dominate in the finish. Perfect place for it, me thinks. Ok, the barrel aging becomes more of a factor as the brew warms up but it still isn't overpowering. The alcohol is there with some warming after the swallow but otherwise, I think it's hidden pretty well.

The mouthfeel is full, the carbonation is on the low side of medium, and it finishes, like I said, with a nice burst of bourbon and dark fruity goodness.

Drinkability? I put this one on the "dangerously drinkable" department. I can't believe how easy this one goes down and all I'm doing is taking small sips but they're very frequent sips. Delicious! Awesome job here Big Sky Brewing!

Serving type: bottle

12-28-2008 15:50:14 | More by Bitterbill

Crosling

Colorado

3.95/5  rDev -8.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours dark brown with a solid black body in the glass. Natural carbonation adds to the appearance of the ale, producing a long lasting foamy tan head. Snickers bar aroma with notes of chocolate, caramel, nougat, nuts, bourbon, vanilla, coconut and wood. Flavor is well balanced, sweet, richly flavored. Finish is a touch short though. A nice ale all around.

Serving type: bottle

12-17-2008 15:33:43 | More by Crosling

hellbilly

Arizona

3.68/5  rDev -14.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

bottle # 495/1152...

fairly black pour... walnut stained brown black color with a large spongy orange tinted light brown head. moderate trails of lace.

the aroma is surprisingly quite floral... mixed in are notes of sour fruit possibly cherries?, roast, brown sugar, chocolate and mellow bourbon spiciness and woody vanilla.

i pick up a lot of tartness on the palate (weird? maybe from the grain?). it also has a dusty oatmeal quality which combines with the aroma characteristics... there's a bit of ash, nuttiness and smokiness before a spicy vaporous finish. it's pretty well balanced and nothing really wants to jump out. the aftertaste is of mediocre bourbon. light to medium body with a strange gritty texture. it is however, not sticky and is creamy/ smooth enough to make enjoyable.

it's good and certainly much better when warm. but, there isn't anything about it to make it memorable or stand out.
7/4/7/4/15/3.7

Serving type: bottle

12-16-2008 04:22:48 | More by hellbilly

oakbluff

Manitoba (Canada)

3.98/5  rDev -7.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at Stub & Herbs in beer haven Minneapolis this past weekend. Served in a nifty half pint, beer was a smoky ebony with minimal head, light mocha lacing. Nose was not overpowering, anise, dark chocolate. Taste- not all that thick, medium bodied, relatively dry and well attenuated. Moderate roastiness and overally just easy drinking for a RIS.

Serving type: on-tap

11-13-2008 04:12:03 | More by oakbluff

bigbelcher

Arizona

4.35/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Limited release barrel aged beer. Hand numbered bottles, only 1152 bottles were released. Very big Russian Imperial Stout, lots of vanilla aroma and flavor from the barrel. Very drinkable, one that would be great with a big cigar. Nice head. Goes down smooth. If you can find it get it. About $10 a bottle and well worth every penny.

Serving type: bottle

11-10-2008 23:39:26 | More by bigbelcher