KGB Imperial Stout - Widmer Brothers Brewing Company

ponbon63

Minnesota

3.75/5  rDev +2.5%

12-01-2012 02:09:17 | More by ponbon63

Topher78

California

3.75/5  rDev +2.5%

05-22-2013 21:42:29 | More by Topher78

tectactoe

Michigan

3.34/5  rDev -8.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to Kevin or Jeff for this one, not sure who it actually belonged to. It pours out nearly black with some very, very dark brown tints that stain the extremities. The khaki, almost half-inch head actually has decent retention (for a Russian Imperial Stout, anyway) and leaves a few spots of chunky lacing along the sides of the glass.

Straightforward and simple is the aroma, possibly almost to the point of being a little one-track minded. Heavy roasted malts, embarking on the modest trail of light ash and light char. Sprinkle something faintly reminiscent of cocoa powder over that, and you've pretty much summed up the aroma of this one. It's missing out on a lot of great, yet typical RIS elements, and that makes it seem kind of bland and boring.

After taking a few sips, it unfortunately doesn't seem like the flavor profile will end up being the redeeming factor of this beer. It's far from bad, offensive, or gross - it just happens to be far too stripped down and painfully average when other beers of the same style are considered. Some deeply roasted, almost charred and burnt malts scrape the palate along with a dark cocoa bean finish, and now I'm struggling to pick out anything else.

The one and basically only addition the flavor has that the aroma doesn't is a bit of alcohol. In retrospect, it really isn't good nor bad, it's just there. I guess it gives a bit of robustness to an otherwise basic and slightly wimpy RIS. Even the mouth feel is lacking a bit; it's medium bodied, but still thin within the style; more oily and wet than creamy or smooth. Carbonation is pretty good, and sadly, it looks like that may be the high-point.

A pretty big "meh" in regards to a style that's full of huge, robust, and complex beers. I'm not saying that there's anything wrong with lighter, simpler brews - hell, I love me a nice German Helles Lager... but when I pick up a Russian Imperial Stout, I have certain expectations and they just really weren't met here. Not bad, but uninteresting to say the least.

Serving type: bottle

05-22-2013 11:24:40 | More by tectactoe

SmellsofMahagony

Texas

3.75/5  rDev +2.5%

05-22-2013 02:45:43 | More by SmellsofMahagony

TMoney2591

Illinois

3.2/5  rDev -12.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.25

Served in a Lagunitas mason jar.

2013 edition. Has it really taken this long for a Russian imperial stout to be named in honor of the KGB? Regardless, this stuff pours a murky black-brown topped by a finger of khaki foam. The nose comprises mild roasted malts, light chocolate powder, and a dash of blackened pretzel. The taste brings in more of the same, with a strong roasty bitterness pervading the second half of things, along with a hint of nondescript booze. The body is a stolid medium, with a very light moderate carbonation and a thickly smooth feel. Overall, a middling RIS, one that just doesn't bring the proper amount of robustness or control necessary to communicate the style.

Serving type: bottle

05-21-2013 20:50:16 | More by TMoney2591

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