KGB Imperial Stout - Widmer Brothers Brewing Company

BeerAdvocate

Massachusetts

3.73/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Review from BeerAdvocate Magazine Issue #49 (Feb 2011):

Tan lacing crowns this deep, sooty brew. Stewed dates, leather, hint of mace, carob, mild coffee and a watery charcoal fill the nos- trils. Smoothness is there, but the creaminess is over the top--sip after sip enjoyment. Choco-burnt character comes off a little bitter; burnt sugar and charcoal. Hops jump in there with their own bitterness to balance the malt, and the fruitiness struggles a bit to stay in the game. Inner warmth grows after each taste, with hints of vanilla or nougat and with a burnt black currant flavor in the charred semidry finish. Perhaps not of epic proportions, yet sized just right, it's a welcome surprise this winter.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2011 00:43:32 | More by BeerAdvocate

ksimons

New York

3.5/5  rDev -4.4%

05-18-2013 02:44:25 | More by ksimons

iHeartMNBeer

Minnesota

3.75/5  rDev +2.5%

05-16-2013 20:23:41 | More by iHeartMNBeer

bigbeers84

Minnesota

4.25/5  rDev +16.1%

05-13-2013 02:31:55 | More by bigbeers84

Kubrickx

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -4.4%

05-12-2013 18:33:04 | More by Kubrickx

metter98

New York

3.74/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: The beer is jet black in color. It poured with a finger high tan head that died down, leaving a thin layer of bubbles covering the surface and the sides of the glass.
S: Light aromas of dark roasted malts are present in the nose; these become a little stronger as the beer warms up.
T: The taste has flavors of dark roasted malts along with notes of coffee beans and faint hints of raisins. It has a light amount of bitterness.
M: It feels a little more than medium-bodied on the palate and has a moderate amount of carbonation. The roasted malts leave some dryness in the finish.
O: This Russian Imperial Stout is really easy to drink compared to other beers in the style because it's not overly full-bodied, bitter or roasty and hides its alcohol very well.

Serving type: bottle

05-08-2013 01:31:35 | More by metter98

markcp

Iowa

3.5/5  rDev -4.4%

05-07-2013 21:15:22 | More by markcp

screamking

Ohio

3.11/5  rDev -15%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3

12oz bottle poured into snifter.

Pours pitch black with a thin tan head that disappears very very quickly. Lacing from side to side. The aroma in this is quite faint, for such a strong style there is just not a lot here. Dark fruits are present but just barely. That's all.

The taste leaves me wanting more also, there's a nice bitter rasian quality but that turns to a bad old coffe flavor. Worse than that its watered down bad coffee. I would be completely disappointed with this beer if I had any indication of its quality. This was a complete shot in the dark and it missed badly.

Serving type: bottle

05-05-2013 04:01:42 | More by screamking

Huffaroma

Montana

4.5/5  rDev +23%

05-01-2013 06:16:43 | More by Huffaroma

tourdot

Wisconsin

4/5  rDev +9.3%

04-28-2013 23:54:49 | More by tourdot

zonker17

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -4.4%

04-25-2013 01:18:02 | More by zonker17

silverking

Florida

3.5/5  rDev -4.4%

04-16-2013 17:07:03 | More by silverking

Jackdevilbiss

5/5  rDev +36.6%

04-15-2013 22:53:48 | More by Jackdevilbiss

DrunkinYogi

Connecticut

3.75/5  rDev +2.5%

04-13-2013 17:23:20 | More by DrunkinYogi

ShawneeIrish

Indiana

3.5/5  rDev -4.4%

04-09-2013 22:29:30 | More by ShawneeIrish

PorterLambic

Florida

3.85/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Arrives a decadently rich brown with a creamy, thick, golden cocoa colored head. Great lacing but the retention is not so special having dropped to a few chunky islands and a partial ring within 3 minutes.
Smell is a bit weak. Some sweetness, some malt, some chocolate and vanilla all in good balance but the search is annoying.
Taste is better and more pronounced. Bittersweet chocolate, malt, some light hops, vanilla and just a hint of some spice in the background. Really good balance.
Exceedingly smooth, this full bodied brew just slides across your tongue and down your throat willingly. Effervescence is almost non-existent, more of an afterthought once the head formed. Drying finish works well. And it only gets better as it warms.

Serving type: on-tap

04-03-2013 22:01:28 | More by PorterLambic

powdersoldier

Washington

4.5/5  rDev +23%

04-01-2013 17:19:34 | More by powdersoldier

SHODriver

California

3.15/5  rDev -13.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25

A: pours black into a snifter with a fingr and a half of dense and deep tan head that slowly fades to a small mat
S: my nose is trashed from cleaning my bathroom but I get a bit of hop bitterness(or cleaning agent astringency) some roast malt and a bit of chocolate
T: surprising hop bitterness up front with a bit of roasted malt and some dark chocolate. swallow brings more roastyness, piney hops and some chocolate
M: seems a bit thin for the style but still feels smooth and a bit creamy in the mouth. carb is a bit too high as well
O: it isn't terrible but it isn't great.

Serving type: bottle

04-01-2013 01:01:25 | More by SHODriver

ystazi

Illinois

4/5  rDev +9.3%

03-30-2013 23:55:23 | More by ystazi

zestd

Idaho

4/5  rDev +9.3%

03-29-2013 22:27:19 | More by zestd

TheSixthRing

California

3.54/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.5

Appearance - Pours an opaque black with a cocoa powder colored head that sits just over a finger thick. Fair retention. Streaky lacing with good stick.

Smell - Not much, to be honest. Earthy, with mild hints of chocolate and roasted malt.

Taste - Moderate notes of deep roastiness. Darkened caramel. Earthy. Mild bitter chocolate tones. Finishes with a lingering coffee bitterness.

Mouthfeel - Medium to full body. Moderate carbonation. Super smooth and creamy. Entirely drinkable; near quaffable. That's not nearly the case with most imperial stouts.

Overall - Pretty tame by RIS standards. Might be a good intro brew for the style. Even near room temps this thing didn't have much kick to it. In a way, trades a punchy flavor for a smooth, drinkable experience. Old Rasputin's doppelganger, if you will. Certainly nothing that's going to satisfy the hardened Imperial Stout drinker, but I wouldn't call it unpalatable, either. Just a bit safe, is all.

Serving type: bottle

03-29-2013 06:48:48 | More by TheSixthRing

jmccraney

Washington

3.5/5  rDev -4.4%

03-23-2013 07:42:50 | More by jmccraney

Herky21

Iowa

3.75/5  rDev +2.5%

03-13-2013 01:54:47 | More by Herky21

MadeInOregon

California

4.25/5  rDev +16.1%

03-11-2013 04:57:05 | More by MadeInOregon

Jasonrm72

Colorado

3.5/5  rDev -4.4%

03-09-2013 20:32:28 | More by Jasonrm72