Imperial Russian Stout
Stone Brewing

Imperial Russian StoutImperial Russian Stout
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From:
Stone Brewing
 
California, United States
Style:
Russian Imperial Stout
Ranked #61
ABV:
10.6%
Score:
96
Ranked #925
Avg:
4.33 | pDev: 9.24%
Reviews:
2,798
Ratings:
8,494
Status:
Active
Rated:
Feb 25, 2024
Added:
Sep 21, 2001
Wants:
  846
Gots:
  2,317
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by StroppyMare:
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Rated by StroppyMare from California

4.75/5  rDev +9.7%

Jul 16, 2012
More User Ratings:
Photo of Sandis
Rated by Sandis from Minnesota

4.25/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
2022 version poured from a 12oz can into a styrofoam coffee cup in a hotel room. Creamy and roasty though on the thin side.
Feb 25, 2024
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Rated by JWSRPh from Virginia

4.54/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Great stout
Dec 17, 2023
Photo of Pivopijak
Reviewed by Pivopijak from Washington

4.24/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
draught
Medium level of non stop, light brown head. Very dark and opaque brown with no light transmission, for the look. Sweet, medium heavy roasted grain and spiced wood with a mixed fruit aroma. Very present, nearly burnt grain flavor, which provides an ample hop like bite, with a caramel note, supplying a good base, for the taste.
Dec 12, 2023
 
Rated: 2.64 by NicolaRenaldini from Italy

Dec 02, 2023
 
Rated: 4.25 by Nyoder

Nov 26, 2023
 
Rated: 4.29 by not2quick from Missouri

Nov 23, 2023
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Rated by PLACKERS from England

4.66/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.75
beautiful beer: taste, smell
May 27, 2023
 
Rated: 4.35 by RMW66 from Australia

May 19, 2023
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Reviewed by travis1108 from Missouri

3.21/5  rDev -25.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 2 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
I thought this beer was nasty but damn it sure is beautiful in the glass.
Syrupy boozy whiskey barrel (or wine?)
Beautiful cut with a knife thick long lasting dark head.
May 15, 2023
 
 
Rated: 4.53 by MikeZim

Apr 29, 2023
Photo of klarcbarr3
Reviewed by klarcbarr3 from Michigan

4.4/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Stone Imperial Russian Stout pours a deep, dark black, with a 2 finger dark tan head perched above. nicely carbonated and beautifully laced, this beer is a visual treat for stout lovers. As bold as the beer looks, the nose is surprisingly muted, but I do detect coffee, chocolate, and malt in equal measure, which is reassuring. The taste is bounces right back to the boldness of the look, and is complex. Coffee, chocolate and malt notes are there, but hops push right in. This is one of the hoppiest imperial Russian stouts I have ever had, and I find that amazingly appealing. As you swallow, a fully rounded sweet aftertaste arises... bold, like molasses. This brews' balancing act of coffee, chocolate, malt, hops, and molasses is artfully composed, and unique. Each flavor stands out, and taken as a whole, this is a fascinating brew. I have been wondering for a decade why everyone speaks lovingly of Stone Imperial Russian Stout, and now that I have tried it, I believe the rave reviews I have read are all fully justified. What can I say? I WILL be stocking up!
Apr 07, 2023
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Reviewed by cjgiant from District of Columbia

4.31/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
A jet black pour produces a deep tan, creamy head. Lacing is streams and spots with varying stickiness. Feel is pretty aggressively bitter, fitting in with Stone's reputation but it has the effect of roughing up the nearly full body of the beer for me. Aromas open with chocolate and coffee emphasized in the dark malts, with the piney hops starting to play in as the beer warms up. Bitterness is up front in the taste, seeming at first coming from the hops, but the roasted notes of coffee, hiagh-cacao dark choclate, and even a little campfire ember combine and take over by mid-taste. Carbonation level is nice, keeping the dark malt richness from weighing down each sip too much.
Mar 19, 2023
 
Rated: 4.5 by AGoodStout from Kansas

Mar 05, 2023
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Reviewed by puck1225 from Texas

4.32/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Haven’t had this in a very long time. Found it on draft in Dallas.

Poured into a snifter. Absolutely beautiful beer. Dark brown color with a gorgeous brown head and excellent curtain lacing. Smell and taste of dark chocolate and burnt rye toast. Licorice and dark berries. Bold bitter finish. Dry and old school. Very nice!
Feb 25, 2023
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Reviewed by cmb

3.53/5  rDev -18.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Can. Certainly fits promotional description and some of the recent reviews. Very dark, black, lots of head, dry bitter chocolate and coffee taste. One reviewer compared it to soy sauce which I can see. Apparently a top selection of this style which I don’t seem to resonate to. My ratings reflect my preferences, would omit if I could. I think I like sweeter stouts like Oatmeal Stout better, and those with caramel notes or less bitterness.
Feb 21, 2023
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Reviewed by highdesertdrinker from Arizona

3.81/5  rDev -12%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Pours black with a little head. The aroma is dark malts, maybe some vanilla and hops. The taste is citrus hops, dark malts, licorice, some bitterness with a little bit of vanilla and a tad bit like soy sauce. This is an OK stout but drinks somewhat like a strong black ipa and I’d just prefer having one of those over this. Now the Espresso IRS was something special but this is a one and doner and I did have a higher opinion when I had it a few years back but many good stouts later my palette has probably shifted as it has with other beers as well, cheers!
Feb 19, 2023
 
Rated: 4.67 by bruindre from Massachusetts

Feb 10, 2023
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Reviewed by defunksta from Wisconsin

4.12/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Canned 10/2022 (4 months ago)

Appearance: Pours a completely dark, black color with a massive dark tan head. SRM of 23-24. (4.25)

Aroma: Strong aromas of dark chocolate, cocoa, some bitter coffee roast underneath. Somewhat dry. (4.00)

Flavor: Strong and rich flavors of dark chocolate, cocoa, some vanilla, dark fruit, light espresso roast. Yeasty in the middle and ultimately finishes with lingering dark chocolate notes. (4.00)

Feel: Medium-bodied, strong carbonation. Somewhat clean on the palate. Surprisingly dry. (4.50)

Compared to Sierra Nevada Narwal 2/2023: Pours similar with a larger head. Milder aromas. More dark chocolate and roast. Less pine. More of a roasty bitterness with less pine.
1/2024: Pours with a larger head. Milder aromas. Less earthy smoke and pine. Less roasted. More sweet chocolate, dark fruit, and vanilla. Shows the booze more. Less bitter and clean. Not a fair battle since this was a year older.

Compared to North Coast Old Rasputin 3/2023: Pours similar, darker head. Stronger aromas. More Dark chocolate, and bitter pine. Less bittersweet chocolate, English black malt and cream. Darker, heavier, and more bitter pine.

Overall: A very-well made Russian Imperial Stout. Dark chocolate, coffee roast, yeasty, yet incredibly dry and drinkable. The drinkability and dryness is the key here and how it hides the alcohol. Only this one and Old Raspy are the two that I've had that can do this. This may be a close second to Old Raspy. (Rating: 4.12)
Feb 01, 2023
Imperial Russian Stout from Stone Brewing
Beer rating: 96 out of 100 with 8494 ratings