Imperial Stout
Founders Brewing Company

Imperial StoutImperial Stout
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From:
Founders Brewing Company
 
Michigan, United States
Style:
Russian Imperial Stout
Ranked #47
ABV:
10.5%
Score:
97
Ranked #709
Avg:
4.36 | pDev: 8.26%
Reviews:
1,979
Ratings:
8,073
Status:
Active
Rated:
Nov 26, 2023
Added:
Jan 13, 2003
Wants:
  823
Gots:
  2,473
Brewed with an abundance of malts, this stout is smooth as silk, yet complex and rich in body. Best enjoyed at cellar temperature to allow the notes of chocolate, dark fruit and caramel to soar. Put another log on the fire, sit back and enjoy the moment with this full-bodied and utterly delicious cold weather companion.

75 IBU
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by StoutHunter:
Photo of StoutHunter
Reviewed by StoutHunter from Michigan

4.53/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Well.... Looks like I made it to review 100, its been quite a journey and I figured I would celebrate this milestone by cracking something a little special. I picked up a four pack of this a couple weeks ago at a store I very rarely go to. I found this 4 pack sitting on the dark bottom shelf covered in dust. I have never seen this brew around before, so I figured I better give it a try. I asked the lady working there how old they were and she said they got them sometime in 2008. Poured from a stubby 12oz brown bottle into a pint glass. 08 vintage

A= I like the label on this beer, looks like a medieval crest. I know for sure this bottle is pretty old since it had a twist off cap, I have never had a founders that wasn't pry off. It made a nice pssst sound to let me know there was still some carbonation left in her. It poured a pitch black used motor oil color with a half of finger worth of brown head that died down to a super thin ring that left no lacing.

S- The aroma is pretty robust. Lots of heavy roasted grains that let some nice chocolate and coffee come through. I also pick up some molasses which makes the aroma a little on the sweet side.

T- As soon as I took my first sip I was hit with tons of sweet robust chocolate. In the middle I pick up some dark fruits and molasses that make the flavor just about as sweet as the aroma. All those flavors come together very nicely and well balanced. I can barely taste any alcohol in this beer, which makes it pretty deadly.

M- This a full bodied beer with ok carbonation, I know not to expect much carbonation in big stouts like this one especially aged ones.

D- This has to be the smoothest, easiest drinking Imperial Stout I have ever had the pleasure of drinking. It might be mainly impart to the age, but this beer is not boozy at all, in fact I can barely detect any alcohol.

Overall I thought this was a world class Imperial Stout and the best I have ever had. The flavors were incredible, as was just about everything else about this beer. Founders knocked it out of the park with this brew. I am glad I took the chance at that store and gave this beer a shot. I think age helped this beer out a lot, but I can't be sure since this was my first time trying it, but I will try one fresh when the new batch hits the shelfs, which should be shortly, I will edit it with my thoughts of it fresh. This is a kick ass beer that should be tried by every BA, and if you got the patience age them, you will not be disappointed. Founders is pretty much the king of stouts and one of the best brewery's in the USA.

EDIT- 1/30/12 I bought a fresh four pack this year and while the aged version was a little smoother, I found the mouthfeel and appearance were better so I adjusted the score because of that. This has to to be the best looking RIS I have had. I got three fingers worth of fluffy mocha head that left tons of lacing, this is the best looking RIS hands, as far as I am concerned this is the best RIS made in Michigan.
Jan 21, 2011
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.25 by Nyoder

Nov 26, 2023
Photo of Lanoke12
Reviewed by Lanoke12 from Michigan

4.55/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
Perfect example of the imperial stout style. Ages very well in the cellar and gets better over time. This beer really warms you up on a cold winter night.
Oct 31, 2023
Photo of not2quick
Reviewed by not2quick from Missouri

4.71/5  rDev +8%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
2015 vintage

Look- pitch black with a thick dark mocha head. Very tight bubbles that slowly dissipate.

Smell - dark cocao and roasty malt

Taste- chocolate up front with coffee notes on the finish

Feel - creamy with light carbonation. A little chewy

Overall- Not sure if this is one of those beers at just the right time moments, but this just hit me hard. Was really feeling it and was super impressed for this 8yr old stout. Almost no signs of oxidation. Drink em if ya got em!
Oct 24, 2023
 
Rated: 4.79 by SoundMakesSense from Indiana

Mar 05, 2023
 
Rated: 4.5 by bruindre from Massachusetts

Feb 09, 2023
 
Rated: 4.52 by NolaHopHead from Louisiana

Feb 03, 2023
 
Rated: 4.56 by sucail from California

Jan 04, 2023
Photo of BitteNochEinWeissbier
Reviewed by BitteNochEinWeissbier from Pennsylvania

4.56/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
12 oz bottle
Bottled On Date: 11/20/2016
Consumed on: 20 Nov, 2022
Glass: Snifter
ABV: 10.5%
Serving Temp: 49.3 F


Look:
Jet black with a brown head that is very thin. The head quickly dissipates to a ring with some film over parts of the beer. What lacing exists is excellent.

Smell:
Dark, bittersweet chocolate and coffee. Char. Molasses. Anise. Caramelized and somewhat burnt sugar. A fair amount of earth.

Taste:
An earthy and bitter hit up front, but nothing overwhelming. This becomes char, dark chocolate, and some coffee. Molasses and anise follow. The earthy notes return towards the end. The sip finishes bittersweet and this lingers into and through the aftertaste which is very much unsweetened chocolate.

Feel:
Silky and mouth-coating. A nice warmth from the alcohol. The body is only a shade or 2 lighter than full.

Overall:
An excellent (Russian) Imperial Stout. One of my favorites of the style. I buy it when I see it. Which last was in 2019.

I purchased this beer fresh back in December, 2016. It has been in my cellar ever since. It has handled its age (6 years) quite well I would say.
Nov 21, 2022
 
Rated: 4 by GFK from Michigan

Sep 02, 2022
 
Rated: 4.21 by JoeDKSki

Jul 21, 2022
 
Rated: 4.58 by Sinister from New York

Jul 02, 2022
Photo of RyanK252
Reviewed by RyanK252 from California

4.33/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
2015 Bottle poured into a Founders Brewing Co snifter

A: Pours basically black with a frothy cocoa brown head that settles to a light layer and leaves a little nice lacing.

S: Roasty, earthy, a little char, dark chocolate, coffee, molasses, burnt sugar, slight umami notes, and faint hints of dark fruit.

T: Roasted malt, dark chocolate, black coffee, a little char, earthy, molasses a touch of toffee, and faint dark fruit on the finish.

M: Full body, mild carbonation, creamy smooth.

O: Somehow I think this one went straight from the store to my cellar and has been there ever since, so it's about time I crack into it!
Total time capsule back to before every imperial stout was loaded up with adjuncts and it's aged beautifully. Another example of why Founders is quite possibly the best at brewing dark beers.
Apr 05, 2022
Photo of trevormajor
Reviewed by trevormajor from Ohio

4.69/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
12 oz bottle, born on 11/5/19, poured into a snifter at 55 degrees F:
L - dark mahogany with a hazelnut head that lingered around the edges
S - roasted malt, molasses, bitter chocolate, coffee
T - follows the nose very well
F - thick mouthfeel with minimal carbonation
O - this beer lives up to the founders standard; it is supposed to age well and just under 2.5 years in it is still sensational
Mar 14, 2022
Photo of TooManyGlasses
Reviewed by TooManyGlasses from Canada (AB)

4.43/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Single 12 ounce bottle from Founders in Grand Rapids Nov 2019 when travel was still a thing.
Pours pitch black with finger of creamy mildly reddish brown head.
Aroma of dark fruits, caramel, mildly roasty with notes of chocolate and just a hint of coffee.
Taste is rich with plummy note, chocolate; a brief wave of smoke drifts across the palate, caramel malt and a touch of espresso bitterness balancing the sweetness.
Rich and smooth full creamy mouthfeel with a hint of boozy heat - wonderfully bittersweet. Wish more had followed me home.
Jan 28, 2022
 
Rated: 4 by -Andrew- from Michigan

Nov 09, 2021
 
Rated: 3.96 by QuintusHorace from California

Oct 31, 2021
Photo of crm871
Reviewed by crm871 from Utah

4.23/5  rDev -3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Look: Poured from 12 oz bottle into a snifter. Midnight black with a creamy burnt amber head. Wonderful looking beer.

Smell: Roasted coffee beans, malts, caramel, dark chocolate.

Taste: Chocolate, cacao, malts, coffee. Also getting some dried fruits - possibly cranberry or cherry.

Feel: Creamy thick mouthfeel, this thing just rips as it goes down. Has a dark feel to it (literally and figuratively), great for sipping with a book. Gets better as it warms.

Overall: One of the best Russian Imperial Stouts you can find pretty widely available, highly recommend. If dark evil beers are your thing, pick this up.
Aug 13, 2021
 
 
Rated: 4.12 by Eltrandos from France

May 09, 2021
Imperial Stout from Founders Brewing Company
Beer rating: 97 out of 100 with 8073 ratings