Stone Imperial Russian Stout | Stone Brewing Co.
YOUR RATING = None |
Brewed by:
Stone Brewing Co.
California, United States | website
Style: Russian Imperial Stout
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 10.60%
Availability: Spring
Notes / Commercial Description:
No notes at this time.
Added by BeerAdvocate on 09-21-2001
View: Beers | Place Reviews | Events
Reviews: 2,692 | Ratings: 8,073
4.46/5 rDev +2.8%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Pours inky black with half-finger of brown foam, almost as viscous as Ten Fidy. Promising start! Aroma is surprisingly mellow - just mild toasted malt and a faint nutty-sweet. Taste is amazing, beginning with a blast of roast, semisweet in the middle, never harsh or over-bitter. Mouthfeel is medium, much lighter than expected. Finishes a slight bitter begging for another sip. This stuff has danger written all over it. 2nd favorite by only a slight margin.
★ 459 characters
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Pours inky black with half-finger of brown foam, almost as viscous as Ten Fidy. Promising start! Aroma is surprisingly mellow - just mild toasted malt and a faint nutty-sweet. Taste is amazing, beginning with a blast of roast, semisweet in the middle, never harsh or over-bitter. Mouthfeel is medium, much lighter than expected. Finishes a slight bitter begging for another sip. This stuff has danger written all over it. 2nd favorite by only a slight margin.
★ 459 characters
4.29/5 rDev -1.2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
pour from bomber into flute glass. freaking black as night. almost like looking into a black mirror. head dissipates quickly. nose is dark roasty malts with licorace. taste is lucky booze up front with lithinner mouthfeel than expected. burnt toast with some candy sweetness mid palate. sight wiskey taste in the end palate but masked by some coco and vanilla flavors. nice warming sensation as it goes down. ive had this beer before and prefer the espresso version. but this is a great russian stout with tons ofcomplex layers to it. mouthfeel to me is a little thin but great beer.
★ 597 characters
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
pour from bomber into flute glass. freaking black as night. almost like looking into a black mirror. head dissipates quickly. nose is dark roasty malts with licorace. taste is lucky booze up front with lithinner mouthfeel than expected. burnt toast with some candy sweetness mid palate. sight wiskey taste in the end palate but masked by some coco and vanilla flavors. nice warming sensation as it goes down. ive had this beer before and prefer the espresso version. but this is a great russian stout with tons ofcomplex layers to it. mouthfeel to me is a little thin but great beer.
★ 597 characters
4.47/5 rDev +3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
2011 bomber into my imperial stout glass.
Appearance- from a hardy pour it's the typical stout black with a frothy beige head that leaves some heavy lacing. poster child of stouts.
Aroma- a weird dark malt with a wiff of some hops. different and good. not boozy.
Taste- get some dark malts but balanced by hops. It feels like both sides battled and just left a taste of impartial stout goodness. alcohol is not detected. has a smoothness like a milk stout. slight chocolate with a slight dark fruit/ raisiny taste. has a bitterness that balances shit out. alcohol is well hidden which is great for 10+ abv. detecting a slight hint of vanilla.
Mouthfeel- very slick. medium to heavy bodied. just awesome.
Drinkability- it would be wise to buy a case of this and occasionally drink them here and there. keep a few for down the road.
Overall- I don't know if it's just because it's aged for awhile but it's sooo slick. the slickness almost tricks you thinking it's light bodied. you do get the chocolate/dark fruit/ raisiny taste. has a smoothness like a milk stout. to be fair i'm no way a stout fan. 10 out of 10 times i'm going with an ipa but for some whacky chance I feel stout(or imperial) this one would be a great choice.
★ 1,235 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
2011 bomber into my imperial stout glass.
Appearance- from a hardy pour it's the typical stout black with a frothy beige head that leaves some heavy lacing. poster child of stouts.
Aroma- a weird dark malt with a wiff of some hops. different and good. not boozy.
Taste- get some dark malts but balanced by hops. It feels like both sides battled and just left a taste of impartial stout goodness. alcohol is not detected. has a smoothness like a milk stout. slight chocolate with a slight dark fruit/ raisiny taste. has a bitterness that balances shit out. alcohol is well hidden which is great for 10+ abv. detecting a slight hint of vanilla.
Mouthfeel- very slick. medium to heavy bodied. just awesome.
Drinkability- it would be wise to buy a case of this and occasionally drink them here and there. keep a few for down the road.
Overall- I don't know if it's just because it's aged for awhile but it's sooo slick. the slickness almost tricks you thinking it's light bodied. you do get the chocolate/dark fruit/ raisiny taste. has a smoothness like a milk stout. to be fair i'm no way a stout fan. 10 out of 10 times i'm going with an ipa but for some whacky chance I feel stout(or imperial) this one would be a great choice.
★ 1,235 characters
4.47/5 rDev +3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
Poured on-tap at the Escondido brewery into tulip.
A: Pours extremely dark brown-black with 1/4 inch dark mocha head with good retention.
S: Dry dark chocolate, cacao nibs, vanilla, whiskey, and a hint of molasses.
T: Dark bittersweet chocolate, cacao nibs, whiskey, leather, molasses,vanilla, and a hint of dark honey.
M: Heavy body, yet delicately sweet. Drinks a bit lighter than ABV. Decadent and deep. Lingers and matures nicely on the palate.
D: An outstanding brew! Hits all the right notes and is ten times more drinkable than most RISs. Well done, Stone!
★ 568 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
Poured on-tap at the Escondido brewery into tulip.
A: Pours extremely dark brown-black with 1/4 inch dark mocha head with good retention.
S: Dry dark chocolate, cacao nibs, vanilla, whiskey, and a hint of molasses.
T: Dark bittersweet chocolate, cacao nibs, whiskey, leather, molasses,vanilla, and a hint of dark honey.
M: Heavy body, yet delicately sweet. Drinks a bit lighter than ABV. Decadent and deep. Lingers and matures nicely on the palate.
D: An outstanding brew! Hits all the right notes and is ten times more drinkable than most RISs. Well done, Stone!
★ 568 characters
4.54/5 rDev +4.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
I feel I must demarcate this beer:
Fresh:
Kinda hot, but there's an underlying smoothness. The chocolaty flavors that shine with some age don't yet dominate. Fairly hoppy for an IRS/RIS.
Aged (~3 years):
The bite smooths out, the chocolate notes shine through, and a sublime beer for aging commences. While I consider Bell's Expedition the premier RIS for aging, Stone's in only a hair behind.
★ 398 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
I feel I must demarcate this beer:
Fresh:
Kinda hot, but there's an underlying smoothness. The chocolaty flavors that shine with some age don't yet dominate. Fairly hoppy for an IRS/RIS.
Aged (~3 years):
The bite smooths out, the chocolate notes shine through, and a sublime beer for aging commences. While I consider Bell's Expedition the premier RIS for aging, Stone's in only a hair behind.
★ 398 characters
4.33/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
**
10/11/2012
Chocolate, barley.Dark Black Pour. Small, but creamy head. Caramel, Dark Chocolate. Great Flavor. High Alcohol.A really nice beer
**
★ 150 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
**
10/11/2012
Chocolate, barley.Dark Black Pour. Small, but creamy head. Caramel, Dark Chocolate. Great Flavor. High Alcohol.A really nice beer
**
★ 150 characters
4.6/5 rDev +6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
Had one aged for about 6 years. It was pretty amazing. All booze was settled. Had tons of chocolate and fudge flavors up front with little bitterness to finish. Mouth feel was rich and creamy, something I'd expect for something cellared that long. Great beer, will try one that is 'fresh'.
★ 289 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
Had one aged for about 6 years. It was pretty amazing. All booze was settled. Had tons of chocolate and fudge flavors up front with little bitterness to finish. Mouth feel was rich and creamy, something I'd expect for something cellared that long. Great beer, will try one that is 'fresh'.
★ 289 characters
3.98/5 rDev -8.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
L: Black, dark brown head that dissipates
S: Smoke, roasted malt, raisins
T: Raisins, toffee, burnt sugars, roasted malt, dark fruits, smoke
F: Mildly thin
O: A classic example of a RIS
★ 185 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
L: Black, dark brown head that dissipates
S: Smoke, roasted malt, raisins
T: Raisins, toffee, burnt sugars, roasted malt, dark fruits, smoke
F: Mildly thin
O: A classic example of a RIS
★ 185 characters
4.44/5 rDev +2.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
2015 Vintage bottle (22oz) dates 11/2015
Look: deep black with a thin brown head. Great lacing
Nose: dark fruits: raisins, prunes, figs, cocoa, fruitcake, massive dried fruit, cherry
Taste: Smokey, roasted malt followed by the dark fruit flavors. Very nice. Alcohol is well masked
Feel - Medium to heavy dank goodness. A little bitterness to the tongue and medium carbonation.
Overall: Love the dank goodness here...The fruit makes it different than the Yeti, Old Rasputin, etc.
★ 485 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
2015 Vintage bottle (22oz) dates 11/2015
Look: deep black with a thin brown head. Great lacing
Nose: dark fruits: raisins, prunes, figs, cocoa, fruitcake, massive dried fruit, cherry
Taste: Smokey, roasted malt followed by the dark fruit flavors. Very nice. Alcohol is well masked
Feel - Medium to heavy dank goodness. A little bitterness to the tongue and medium carbonation.
Overall: Love the dank goodness here...The fruit makes it different than the Yeti, Old Rasputin, etc.
★ 485 characters
4.36/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Sampling of 2009 vintage. Was amazed from all the roasted characteristics that were still coming from this bottle after so many years. A true classic that can withstand the test of time.
★ 188 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Sampling of 2009 vintage. Was amazed from all the roasted characteristics that were still coming from this bottle after so many years. A true classic that can withstand the test of time.
★ 188 characters
4.04/5 rDev -6.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
2015 vintage poured from a bottle. Black with a tan head. Aromas of chocolate and dark fruits, with some brown sugar sweetness. Roasty flavor follows with more chocolate and dark fruits, raisins, dates. Feel, along with the flavors, is very rich and smooth. Full bodied. Overall, a tasty and rich imperial stout with a nice touch of heat. Very well crafted.
★ 357 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
2015 vintage poured from a bottle. Black with a tan head. Aromas of chocolate and dark fruits, with some brown sugar sweetness. Roasty flavor follows with more chocolate and dark fruits, raisins, dates. Feel, along with the flavors, is very rich and smooth. Full bodied. Overall, a tasty and rich imperial stout with a nice touch of heat. Very well crafted.
★ 357 characters
4.42/5 rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
2015 Vintage bottle (22oz) dates 02/2015 from my cellar served at cellar temps in a snifter
Appearance: creamy black with a thin brown head. Tons of cling to the side of the glass.
Nose: this thing is just pouring off dark fruit notes from the moment I opened the bottle. Raising, prunes, figs, cocoa, fruitcake, massive dried fruit, cherry
Taste: hit of bitterness in the front leads to all of those dried fruits, cherry, raisins, prunes, figs, plums, spice cake, fruitcake, middle is chewy with more fruit, finish is a bit boozy with a lingering roasty and bakers chocolate bit. Very nice.
Overall: fruit bomb here. I can't believe all of the dried dark fruits in there. It reminds me of an aged Samuel Smith Imperial Stout with all the fruit but more intensified. That is high praise. I do feel like Samuel Smith's is more balanced but this is still an excellent beer.
★ 876 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
2015 Vintage bottle (22oz) dates 02/2015 from my cellar served at cellar temps in a snifter
Appearance: creamy black with a thin brown head. Tons of cling to the side of the glass.
Nose: this thing is just pouring off dark fruit notes from the moment I opened the bottle. Raising, prunes, figs, cocoa, fruitcake, massive dried fruit, cherry
Taste: hit of bitterness in the front leads to all of those dried fruits, cherry, raisins, prunes, figs, plums, spice cake, fruitcake, middle is chewy with more fruit, finish is a bit boozy with a lingering roasty and bakers chocolate bit. Very nice.
Overall: fruit bomb here. I can't believe all of the dried dark fruits in there. It reminds me of an aged Samuel Smith Imperial Stout with all the fruit but more intensified. That is high praise. I do feel like Samuel Smith's is more balanced but this is still an excellent beer.
★ 876 characters
4.66/5 rDev +7.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Purchased at the Bevie several months ago, can't remember the price. Bottling date is 2/2015. Pours the typical high ABV stout black, dark as night, with a nice coffee-with-cream colored head, about an inch high, that hangs on for a good while. The smell that first hit me was licorice, followed by dark chocolate, molasses, and dark roast malt. Taste drops the licorice, but is heavy with dark chocolate and sweet dark sugar. Not a lot of bitterness here, but still doesn't come off as cloying at all. Mouth is about perfect for a big ol' stout, viscous, silky, medium-full bodied, but goes down pretty easy. Overall, a great RIS (IRS?). Way to go Stone!
★ 663 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Purchased at the Bevie several months ago, can't remember the price. Bottling date is 2/2015. Pours the typical high ABV stout black, dark as night, with a nice coffee-with-cream colored head, about an inch high, that hangs on for a good while. The smell that first hit me was licorice, followed by dark chocolate, molasses, and dark roast malt. Taste drops the licorice, but is heavy with dark chocolate and sweet dark sugar. Not a lot of bitterness here, but still doesn't come off as cloying at all. Mouth is about perfect for a big ol' stout, viscous, silky, medium-full bodied, but goes down pretty easy. Overall, a great RIS (IRS?). Way to go Stone!
★ 663 characters
4.75/5 rDev +9.4%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
Like a fine dessert. Stone's Imperial Russian Stout stands up among the best of them. Although it is not as highly sought after as Bourbon County line, they are quite delicious. I have had a 2015 rather fresh, but I am also aging a 2014 to see what happens
★ 256 characters
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
Like a fine dessert. Stone's Imperial Russian Stout stands up among the best of them. Although it is not as highly sought after as Bourbon County line, they are quite delicious. I have had a 2015 rather fresh, but I am also aging a 2014 to see what happens
★ 256 characters
4.43/5 rDev +2.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Pours black with a tan brown head. Smells of dark fruit and abundant chocolate coffee roast. Taste is dark chocolatey with dark fruit and roasted coffee notes. Medium body with mild carbonation. It feels smooth and goes down easy for 10.6%. Overall a really good Russian Imperial Stout.
★ 286 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Pours black with a tan brown head. Smells of dark fruit and abundant chocolate coffee roast. Taste is dark chocolatey with dark fruit and roasted coffee notes. Medium body with mild carbonation. It feels smooth and goes down easy for 10.6%. Overall a really good Russian Imperial Stout.
★ 286 characters
4.22/5 rDev -2.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
This was poured into a nonic pint glass.
The appearance was a black color with a thick dark tan colored head. Dissipated slowly and evenly. A nice amount of lacing roamed the glass.
The smell had a faint coffee/chocolate over some black licorice.
The taste was sweet and roasty with nice bitter coffee beans delicately weaving into the aftertaste and coming across with a dry finish.
The mouthfeel was about medium bodied with a good sipping quality and a low carbonation subjugating my tongue with roasty and bitter feels.
Overall, glad I have another in my cellar and am looking forward to next Spring's coming out.
★ 617 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
This was poured into a nonic pint glass.
The appearance was a black color with a thick dark tan colored head. Dissipated slowly and evenly. A nice amount of lacing roamed the glass.
The smell had a faint coffee/chocolate over some black licorice.
The taste was sweet and roasty with nice bitter coffee beans delicately weaving into the aftertaste and coming across with a dry finish.
The mouthfeel was about medium bodied with a good sipping quality and a low carbonation subjugating my tongue with roasty and bitter feels.
Overall, glad I have another in my cellar and am looking forward to next Spring's coming out.
★ 617 characters
4.44/5 rDev +2.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
pours black with a thick dark-cream colored head. nice looking in the glass!
smell is faint but still exists. smells of coffee/chocolate. not a bad smell just not a strong scent.
tastes like coffee. nice roast to it. very smooth.
this goes down very easy and smooth which makes this dangerous at 10.6%!
overall this is a really good beer. one of my favorite RIS' instantly! Ten Fidy has more character and is better, IMO, this is a close 2nd. very smooth and easy to drink, i have one aging in my cellar as well. excited to see how easy that will be to drink.
★ 563 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
pours black with a thick dark-cream colored head. nice looking in the glass!
smell is faint but still exists. smells of coffee/chocolate. not a bad smell just not a strong scent.
tastes like coffee. nice roast to it. very smooth.
this goes down very easy and smooth which makes this dangerous at 10.6%!
overall this is a really good beer. one of my favorite RIS' instantly! Ten Fidy has more character and is better, IMO, this is a close 2nd. very smooth and easy to drink, i have one aging in my cellar as well. excited to see how easy that will be to drink.
★ 563 characters
4/5 rDev -7.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Beer pours dark brown-black with a nice mocha head that dissipates pretty quickly. Smell is a nice coffee, chocolate, dark roasty malts but also a little hop character in there - pine/grapefruit. Taste follows the nose, with coffee, chocolate, dark roasty bitterness, but then also a bitter hop character in addition. Mouthfeel is medium-heavy, alc is covered, aftertaste is roasty coffee, dark malts. Overall I think the extra hop character is detracting a little bit from this beer, if you put it next to other RIS's it almost tastes like a black IPA. Especially when this bottle has been sitting for 7 months - bottled 3/7/2015 drank 10/11/2015.
Update: now drinking a bottle bottled 3/7/2015 on 4/3/2016, and an extra 6 months makes this much smoother, the hop character is less present and the roastiness has smoothed out
★ 827 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Beer pours dark brown-black with a nice mocha head that dissipates pretty quickly. Smell is a nice coffee, chocolate, dark roasty malts but also a little hop character in there - pine/grapefruit. Taste follows the nose, with coffee, chocolate, dark roasty bitterness, but then also a bitter hop character in addition. Mouthfeel is medium-heavy, alc is covered, aftertaste is roasty coffee, dark malts. Overall I think the extra hop character is detracting a little bit from this beer, if you put it next to other RIS's it almost tastes like a black IPA. Especially when this bottle has been sitting for 7 months - bottled 3/7/2015 drank 10/11/2015.
Update: now drinking a bottle bottled 3/7/2015 on 4/3/2016, and an extra 6 months makes this much smoother, the hop character is less present and the roastiness has smoothed out
★ 827 characters
4.54/5 rDev +4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
Pours a dark brown color with a chocolatey medium sized brown foam head. Recedes quickly.
Roasted coffee and chocolate malts with some smoky, woody notes. Vanilla. Booze is fairly strong.
Taste is heavenly. Deep, dark chocolate malts, heavily roasted, with a gob of molasses on the finish.
Very easy drinking for a RIS. Could easily drink a few of these.
Overall, definitely worth the hype.
★ 396 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
Pours a dark brown color with a chocolatey medium sized brown foam head. Recedes quickly.
Roasted coffee and chocolate malts with some smoky, woody notes. Vanilla. Booze is fairly strong.
Taste is heavenly. Deep, dark chocolate malts, heavily roasted, with a gob of molasses on the finish.
Very easy drinking for a RIS. Could easily drink a few of these.
Overall, definitely worth the hype.
★ 396 characters
4.09/5 rDev -5.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Pours almost black with a short lived brown head. Smells like yeast, bread, a little malt & chocolate. Tastes like a Starbucks mocha Java, a bit sweet, with a slight alcohol aftertaste. I like it. Very good.
★ 207 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Pours almost black with a short lived brown head. Smells like yeast, bread, a little malt & chocolate. Tastes like a Starbucks mocha Java, a bit sweet, with a slight alcohol aftertaste. I like it. Very good.
★ 207 characters
4.25/5 rDev -2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Yum! Stone did it again with their 2014 RIS. Deep, dark brown, almost black and completely opaque with a creamy, tan head a finger high. Roasted malt and molasses fill the nose while molasses, licorice and malt bathe the tongue in velvety viscous flood of alcoholic warmth. Wonderfully rich and reasonably priced for a brew of this quality.
★ 340 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Yum! Stone did it again with their 2014 RIS. Deep, dark brown, almost black and completely opaque with a creamy, tan head a finger high. Roasted malt and molasses fill the nose while molasses, licorice and malt bathe the tongue in velvety viscous flood of alcoholic warmth. Wonderfully rich and reasonably priced for a brew of this quality.
★ 340 characters
4.28/5 rDev -1.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Bottled 2/21/2014. Darker than average, mahogany pour. Absolutely opaque in the glass with a dark cocoa colored head and streams of carbonation rising up all over the place. Aroma seems pretty muted for some reason, but I get strong notes of roasted malt, char, dark fruit, bittersweet chocolate, molasses, and oak. Medium-full mouth feel with good carbonation, very well balanced and easy to drink. On the taste, I get lots of dark malts, bitter, unsweetened coffee, slight licorice, vanilla, bakers chocolate, and raisins.
★ 529 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Bottled 2/21/2014. Darker than average, mahogany pour. Absolutely opaque in the glass with a dark cocoa colored head and streams of carbonation rising up all over the place. Aroma seems pretty muted for some reason, but I get strong notes of roasted malt, char, dark fruit, bittersweet chocolate, molasses, and oak. Medium-full mouth feel with good carbonation, very well balanced and easy to drink. On the taste, I get lots of dark malts, bitter, unsweetened coffee, slight licorice, vanilla, bakers chocolate, and raisins.
★ 529 characters
4.62/5 rDev +6.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
2014 edition, 8oz draught at Tap 'n' Handle. Pitch black with a nice thick head which was quite a dark brown. Didn't get much smell out of it, some roasty chocolate. I think it was served a little too cold. Let it warm up a bit before drinking, and it was well worth waiting a few minutes. Big dried fruit (prunes, raisins) and stone fruit (plums), mixed with some spice notes (vanilla, cinnamon) and the expected chocolate/coffee vibe. Pretty rich mouthfeel, matching the flavors nicely. Excellent RIS. Now I need to try this year's...
★ 536 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
2014 edition, 8oz draught at Tap 'n' Handle. Pitch black with a nice thick head which was quite a dark brown. Didn't get much smell out of it, some roasty chocolate. I think it was served a little too cold. Let it warm up a bit before drinking, and it was well worth waiting a few minutes. Big dried fruit (prunes, raisins) and stone fruit (plums), mixed with some spice notes (vanilla, cinnamon) and the expected chocolate/coffee vibe. Pretty rich mouthfeel, matching the flavors nicely. Excellent RIS. Now I need to try this year's...
★ 536 characters
4.63/5 rDev +6.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
Deep black with 1 inch khaki head
Minimal chocolate/roasty espresso
Slight chocolaty taste along with roasted malt and slight coffee
On the thinner side in mouth
One of the best basic RIS...makes me look forward to the Bourbon aged fyodors I have in the cellar
★ 260 characters
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
Deep black with 1 inch khaki head
Minimal chocolate/roasty espresso
Slight chocolaty taste along with roasted malt and slight coffee
On the thinner side in mouth
One of the best basic RIS...makes me look forward to the Bourbon aged fyodors I have in the cellar
★ 260 characters
Stone Imperial Russian Stout from Stone Brewing Co.
96
out of 100
based on 2,692 ratings.
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
22 ounce bomber poured into a snifter. This is a review of 2015 Stone RIS
A: Pours black with a mocha colored head, no head retention, some slight lacing, nice creamy collar after the head died down, low carbonation, no light comes through.
A: Dark coffee, dark fruits like plums and figs, roasted malts, slight aroma of alcohol coming through, pretty solid aroma.
T: Has aged well, touch of espresso up front, moderate coffee like bitterness in the middle, finishes with dark fruits that linger in the aftertaste, well balanced and the ABV is well-hidden.
M: Oil like mouthfeel, while heavy, not as heavy as other RIS, dry coffee like finish with a good amount of carbonation to add some mouthfeel, solid.
O: Not mind blowing, but very good, outstanding, good balance of espresso and dark fruits, oil like mouthfeel, definitely going to pick up another bottle or two for the cellar.
★ 889 characters