-
Stop lurking! Log in to search, post in our forums, review beers, see fewer ads, and more. — Todd, Founder of BeerAdvocate
Imperial Stout
Founders Brewing Company
- 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:
- 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
75 IBU
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by veganmaniu:
More User Ratings:
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
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, 2023Reviewed by not2quick from Missouri
4.71/5 rDev +8%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
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, 2023Look- 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!
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
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, 2022Bottled 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.
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
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, 2022A: 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.
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
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, 2022L - 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
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
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, 2022Pours 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.
Reviewed by crm871 from Utah
4.23/5 rDev -3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
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, 2021Smell: 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.
Imperial Stout from Founders Brewing Company
Beer rating:
97 out of
100 with
8073 ratings
We love reviews (150 characters or more)! Check out: How to Review a Beer. You don't need to get fancy. Drop some thoughts on the beer's attributes (look, smell, taste, feel) plus your overall impression. Something that backs up your rating and helps others. Thanks!