Raspberry Russian Imperial Stout - Widmer Brothers Brewing Company

ElGordo

Oregon

4.1/5  rDev +15.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Body is a deep dark brown with garnet highlights, with a good coating of tan head. Aroma of sweet dark malt with notes of cocoa and coffee, and an underlying layer of sweet blackberries and a subtle smoky note. Palate is big on roasted dark malt, with notes of mocha and blackberries, along with a good dose of hoppy bitterness. Body is hugely creamy up front but strangely dry on the finish, an odd combo that actually seems to work pretty well here. A big and complex beer that doesn't betray itself as being as strong as 9% ABV.

Serving type: bottle

04-29-2012 04:36:21 | More by ElGordo

SHODriver

California

3.88/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: black with a one finger dense light tan head
S: smells of roast malt and chocolate and a whisper of raspberry
T: tart raspberry flavor up front that fades to a solid backbone of roast malt, coffee, some chocolate flavors and some burnt sugar type flavor. whispers of raspberry immediately on the swallow with another dose of roast malt and coffee to slowly fade away.
M: medium bodied with fairly light carbonation, typical for the style
O: pretty decent with a nice twist on the style. well made and the raspberry flavor is not overpowering and complements the flavors of the beer instead of distracting and detracting from them. I don't know if I'd buy another bottle at 12 bucks but it isn't bad at all and it has enough malt presence to age well. I'm sure the flavors will meld together and transition smoother in the future.

Serving type: bottle

04-28-2012 09:42:44 | More by SHODriver

harrymel

Washington

2.35/5  rDev -33.8%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Bottled 13FEB12
Pours a black beer with a solid quilt of tan foam. Smells of leather, coffee, black malts, maybe when I really focus, some berry comes through - but I almost feel like I'm trying to convince myself. Flavor of burnt malts, dark, really dark chocolate, coffee and the slightest hint of raspberry (this time not convincing myself). Taste is overly bitter for what I would expect from a fruited beer. Medium bodied and moderately carbed with a semi dry finish. Overall, this beer does not strike as the beer advertised. A previous review mentioned possible pedigree to KGB, wouldn't suprised me as much as I disliked this beer, but it wasn't nearly as poor as KGB for me. I will argue they missed the mark on the berries, and the bitter characters were overplayed. Needed a little sweetness, berry flavor and body with a hint less carb.

Serving type: bottle

04-20-2012 15:57:50 | More by harrymel

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

3.68/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

First had: on tap at Capone's, Norristown, PA

Poured a dark brown-black with a thick, foamy, cinnamon-colored head; nice retention and a thick blanket of lacing on the glass. Typical stout aroma, dark malts, moderately roasty. Dark chocolate and roasty malts in the taste, and a definite, permeating raspberry flavor that was more tart than sweet; surprising citrusy hop bitterness in the finish. Pretty smooth, on the heavier side of medium-bodied, and fairly good overall, though probably not something I'd want to revisit often.

Serving type: on-tap

04-18-2012 00:52:12 | More by Rifugium

Docer

Washington

4.03/5  rDev +13.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: (4.5)

- Pours a very dark jet-brown & black. A couple of pretty fingers of head formed which were a nice light mocha color. The head was rather spotty and mousse-like, like a fine dessert. The head slowly settles with lace all about the glass, and some spotty foam mixed in with an even paper-tin layer.

Smell: (4.0)

- Lots of roasted malt and a biscuit-like scent. Coffee seems to be a big aroma, while a soft and very subtle touch of tart currants and raspberry sit in the background. I like that this isn't melting my nose hairs like say - Widberry (Though I liked that beer). As it sits and warms a little, the raspberry really starts to shine. Smells very well blended and balanced.

Taste: (4.0)

- Yes. Very good. Lovely bittering hops which have a light grassy and earthy touch, balanced perfectly with a lightly sweet malt. Light chocolate, biscuit, and a touch of coffee make for a good base stout. The raspberry flavor is just the right strength. This is dangerously balanced. There is a slight tart quality about the raspberry, but it fits the stout very well. Certainly bitter! Sure some of that would settle over time, but it doesn't need to.

Mouth Feel: (4.0)

- This is lighter bodied than most imperial stouts. I personally find most of Widmer's stronger beers to be rather light in body compared to others, especially the last KGB stout release. This one has a heavier body than the KGB. Medium body, slightly drying while a touch cloying, and has a slight chalky texture to it. Overall it is nicely carbonated, and very easy to drink.

Overall: (4.0)

- Overall I am impressed with this beer. It is very tasty, very well balanced, and very easy to drink. It is sure to be a hit, even with the coming Spring days. One of my more favored beers of the last Brother's Reserve Series beers, and now the Alchemy Project. Still hard to top that 25th Anniversary Double Alt though. I really loved that beer. Get a few of these, and share them with many friends! It is sure to please even the most finicky of drinkers. And no, the fact that I was given this beer did not cause an increase in review marks.

Serving type: bottle

04-03-2012 03:51:28 | More by Docer

smulkowski

Idaho

3.5/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Purchased a growler from Enoteca in Post Falls, ID. The beer poured typically black and thick...I'd like to say that there was a but of a purple or blue tinge to the glass, but I'm probably imagining it. I'm not sure about the pedigree of this stout, but it very much reminds me of the Widmer KGB releases - I would be unsurprised to hear they are one and the same, with the addition of some raspberries before and after brewing.

This beer is pretty thin for being an imperial stout. The alcohol is relatively well masked. It smells slightly roasty, but I don't get a ton of aroma for this. The head is a bit anorexic. The flavor is not overwhelming. I would expect a beer of this stlye and ABV to have a great deal more character.

I think this is an enjoyable beer, but it seems a bit thin and tenuous for an imperial stout. Perhaps this is an imperial stout for novices?

Serving type: on-tap

03-25-2012 04:55:16 | More by smulkowski