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Otter Creek Russian Imperial Stout
Otter Creek Brewing
- From:
- Otter Creek Brewing
- Vermont, United States
- Style:
- Russian Imperial Stout
Ranked #374 - ABV:
- 10%
- Score:
- 90
Ranked #9,661 - Avg:
- 4.02 | pDev: 9.95%
- Reviews:
- 300
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Oct 26, 2023
- Added:
- Jan 09, 2009
- Wants:
- 44
- Gots:
- 48
Every so often we brew this tasty treat that clocks in at 10% ABV. A silky smooth, motor-oil black pour reveals rich, roasty notes of caramel, chocolate and coffee. Like the first stouts brewed for Russian Czars, this offering is big, bold and built to last. Grab a few for the cellar, a couple for your comrades and enjoy because—like those Czars of yesteryear—this beer may be gone soon.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Jaybirdbrew:
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by tradershmulie from Connecticut
4.41/5 rDev +9.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.41/5 rDev +9.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Found an old 4 pack in a local store - so this was "shelf-aged"
Poured beautiful deep black color. Head was nothing special.
Not much smell.
Very good taste. Nice balance of dark rich flavors and only a slight hint of bitterness.
Smooth and silky as it should be.
Overall a very fine Russian Imperial Stout.
Second bottle update. Better than first. Really exceptional and absolutely stunning. Great balance of sweetness and bitterness. Not too much of either. Like liquid dark chocolate.
Nov 29, 2020Poured beautiful deep black color. Head was nothing special.
Not much smell.
Very good taste. Nice balance of dark rich flavors and only a slight hint of bitterness.
Smooth and silky as it should be.
Overall a very fine Russian Imperial Stout.
Second bottle update. Better than first. Really exceptional and absolutely stunning. Great balance of sweetness and bitterness. Not too much of either. Like liquid dark chocolate.
Reviewed by Lone_Freighter from Vermont
4/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
This was poured into a snifter. The appearance was a dark brown close to black color with a thin wisp of tan foamy head. Gentle thin lacing slides into the beer. The smell had a nice sweet to roasty blend of coffee, cocoa and a light amount of vanilla. Light bitter coffee grounds slide in underneath. The taste was mainly sweet with a nice roasty to sweet blend of the coffee to cocoa once again. A light dry sweet to roasty coffee aftertaste leads into the finish. On the palate, this one sat about a medium on the body with a fairly decent sipping quality about it. Carbonation seemed good as an RIS, as there’s enough dry and bitter roastiness on my tongue. Overall, I say this was a pretty good RIS that I would have again.
Jun 10, 2017Reviewed by DraconusDesanctus666 from Florida
4.15/5 rDev +3.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
4.15/5 rDev +3.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
P- Poured from a 12 oz bottle,into a large Funky Buddha snifter.No date on the bottle.
L- Thin brown head with low retention,and minimal lacing.Jet black body with no light showing through the glass.Low on carbonation.
S- On the nose I get roasted malt,with some trace noted of coffee,dark chocolate,and caramel.
T- The palate follows the nose with roasted malt and coffee up front,caramel in the middle,and dark chocolate and roasted malts on the back end.A little bit of alcohol flavor,but not bad.
F- The mouth feel is full bodied,with minimal oxidation on the tongue.Smooth on the finish,with slight alcohol warming.
O- This is a pretty damn good RIS.Not one of my favorites,but definitely up there.I would absolutely drink this one again.And if you are a Russian Imperial Stout lover like myself,I suggest you give this one a try.I just wish it had more dark fruit characteristics.Still a really good one.
Apr 27, 2017L- Thin brown head with low retention,and minimal lacing.Jet black body with no light showing through the glass.Low on carbonation.
S- On the nose I get roasted malt,with some trace noted of coffee,dark chocolate,and caramel.
T- The palate follows the nose with roasted malt and coffee up front,caramel in the middle,and dark chocolate and roasted malts on the back end.A little bit of alcohol flavor,but not bad.
F- The mouth feel is full bodied,with minimal oxidation on the tongue.Smooth on the finish,with slight alcohol warming.
O- This is a pretty damn good RIS.Not one of my favorites,but definitely up there.I would absolutely drink this one again.And if you are a Russian Imperial Stout lover like myself,I suggest you give this one a try.I just wish it had more dark fruit characteristics.Still a really good one.
Rated by GuitarIPA from Connecticut
4.18/5 rDev +4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
4.18/5 rDev +4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Classic Russian Stout - black, dark roast coffee and chocolate - nice bite on the finish
Feb 25, 2017Reviewed by Gajo74 from New York
4.08/5 rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.08/5 rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Pours an opaque black. Coming out of the bottle there is no visible head, however, once all contents have been emptied, a nice tan foam head suddenly materializes. It soon disapates into a very thin collar with some lacing.
The nose is predominantly sweet and comprised of chocolate, vanilla and dark fruit. There is a roasted malt, toasted dark bread, and subtle coffee presence that compliments things nicely. There are also hints of liquorice and alcohol.
The taste mostly aligns with the nose in terms of the chocolate and dark fruit sweetness. Despite the 10% ABV, the alcohol flavor is so well masked, thus making it unique amongst other Russian Imperial Stouts I've had that can be downright boozy. There is even a nice touch of hops that provides slight bitterness, herbal qualities and balance.
Full bodied but not too thick. A cross between a sipper and something that is easy to drink. Viscuous but not too heavy. A great balance. Smooth and velvety to boot, with a soft carbonation.
A real fine RIS that is tasty, not over the top boozy and balanced.
Oct 04, 2016The nose is predominantly sweet and comprised of chocolate, vanilla and dark fruit. There is a roasted malt, toasted dark bread, and subtle coffee presence that compliments things nicely. There are also hints of liquorice and alcohol.
The taste mostly aligns with the nose in terms of the chocolate and dark fruit sweetness. Despite the 10% ABV, the alcohol flavor is so well masked, thus making it unique amongst other Russian Imperial Stouts I've had that can be downright boozy. There is even a nice touch of hops that provides slight bitterness, herbal qualities and balance.
Full bodied but not too thick. A cross between a sipper and something that is easy to drink. Viscuous but not too heavy. A great balance. Smooth and velvety to boot, with a soft carbonation.
A real fine RIS that is tasty, not over the top boozy and balanced.
Otter Creek Russian Imperial Stout from Otter Creek Brewing
Beer rating:
90 out of
100 with
619 ratings
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