Imperial Eclipse Stout - Heaven Hill Rittenhouse Rye
FiftyFifty Brewing Co.

Imperial Eclipse Stout - Heaven Hill Rittenhouse RyeImperial Eclipse Stout - Heaven Hill Rittenhouse Rye
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From:
FiftyFifty Brewing Co.
 
California, United States
Style:
American Imperial Stout
Ranked #668
ABV:
11.9%
Score:
95
Ranked #1,581
Avg:
4.28 | pDev: 9.11%
Reviews:
174
Ratings:
519
Status:
Active
Rated:
Jun 05, 2023
Added:
Dec 29, 2009
Wants:
  262
Gots:
  210
Imperial Stout aged 175 days in Rittenhouse Rye Whiskey barrels. The 2012 version contains a small amount of beer aged in Heaven Hill Pikesville Supreme Rye Whiskey barrels.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by ehammond1:
Photo of ehammond1
Reviewed by ehammond1

4.38/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Bottle (2011)

Super Junior Market
San Diego, CA

Very dark brown, nearly black in color, with a finger's worth of bubbly brown head that eventually leaves the glass oily and shiny with small bubbles of stick.

The aroma is packed full of sweet vanilla and caramel, bourbon, wood, chocolate, and a little bit of coconut, though not quite as strong as the Elijah Craig version.

The bourbon flavors, wood, vanilla, and chocolate come together really quite incredibly well. I don't really pick up much rye character specifically and there's hardly a bit of alcohol heat.

Medium to full bodied with moderate carbonation. The best carbonated variation yet, at least in my experience.

Terrific.
Jan 31, 2012
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.49 by dafla67 from Pennsylvania

Jun 05, 2023
 
Rated: 4.25 by brittanylicious from Indiana

Aug 19, 2021
 
Rated: 4.34 by heysuz from Indiana

Jun 12, 2021
Photo of edthehead
Reviewed by edthehead from Maryland

4.46/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Man these eclipse stouts are good. Dark brown with a limited but creamy tan head, and thin sticky lacing. Highly present whiskey notes on the nose and palate, along with molasses and faint chocolate. Body is moderate to thick, mouthfeel is smooth and coating.
May 23, 2020
Photo of CowCow
Reviewed by CowCow from Maryland

4.6/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
I had a 2018 lot, and still another that I am currently keeping; although they no longer mark the bottle number, they do hand write its type in gold paint marker. Excellent flavor, you can really taste the wonderful rye that this stout aged with.

It was opaque stout that was lacking an overpowering alcohol flavor, despite it being a heavy abv. You can taste a nice chocolate flavor, along with others that escape me (it has been a while since I first enjoyed this beer). I think I have to get a better glass before the next bottle is opened in order to get a better sense of smell it gave off. Any smell it may have is rather lacking in a standard pint glass.

Fifty Fifty definitely makes a wonderful stouts that are aged with rye; I do wish they had kept up with the Rittenhouse Rye in 2019, but my local store was not stocking it (if it still exists for 2019). The other rye, Rye Cuvee, from 2019 deserves its own review.
Mar 22, 2020
 
Rated: 4 by Eziel from Ohio

Jul 10, 2019
 
Rated: 4.35 by Beer-Ed from Netherlands

May 26, 2019
 
Rated: 4.17 by Ajlvt from Washington

May 12, 2019
 
Rated: 4.04 by vfgccp from New York

Apr 07, 2019
Photo of eric5bellies
Reviewed by eric5bellies from Australia

4.43/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.25
Had this one stashed in the cellar for 7 years. Boxing Day 2018 so decided to crack it

A - Classic engine oil Ebony color with a tanned head that retains well.
S - There is some sweet vanilla and coffee on the nose.
T - The taste is so very smooth. Heavy vanilla flavours with an almost ice cream like taste. The back end is caramel and toffee, it seems that the whiskey barrel flavors have completely blended in.
M- Full mouth feel with minimal carbonation.
O - Well this beer has aged extremely well. There is plenty of flavour with a full body to enjoy. Carbonation seems to be at its absolute peak. Recommended
Dec 26, 2018
Photo of SHODriver
Reviewed by SHODriver from North Carolina

4.5/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
2011 Vintage

A: Poured into a snifter to a black beer topped by a dense light tan head which fades slowly to a collar around the edge of the glass with minimal lacing
S: Smells of spicy and fruity rye barrels, chocolate, roasted malts and a little coffee
T: Taste is chocolate, spicy rye and slight fruits along with some nice roasted malts and coffee. Slight oxidation but not detrimental. Swallow is more roasted malts, spice, fruitiness, chocolate, coffee, and oak with some more slight oxidation.
M: The beer is fairly full bodied with a slightly creamy mouthfeel. Carbonation is low but adequate for the style while the beer has a slightly drying finish.
O: Overall this is a fantastic beer. The barrel treatment is awesome and the flavors are top notch. Even with this much age on it it still tastes fantastic and has only minimal signs of oxidation. This one is definitely worth a try if you can find it. I've had some with less age on it and it's just as outstanding.
Oct 28, 2018
 
Rated: 4.25 by Rifugium from North Dakota

Feb 28, 2018
 
Rated: 4.23 by Gambyt20 from Illinois

Dec 11, 2017
 
Rated: 4.48 by heddar33 from Pennsylvania

Nov 27, 2017
Photo of BillRoth
Reviewed by BillRoth from Maryland

4.43/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
2011
Bottle # 392
Purchased @ release from Matt Capone / Capones, Norristown, PA
Cellared since; opened 6/21/17 and poured into Bishop Arms rastal snifter.

Wow. Where does the time go. Bought this with most of the 2011 variants; one to go.

Pours a rich deep dark pour but shimmers with beautiful amber orange accents around the rim in the back light. Already suggests complexity. Nose is gentle but clearly displays dark cacao, wood and vanilla/caramel accents. Very pleasant booze noticeable as well. Taste mirrors the nose especially dark chocolate bitterness and caramel vanilla sweetness , but here also you can really pick out the rye. Not a pushy grainy rye, but one that has mellowed over time and now shows off its uniqueness from barley, wheat and corn without the face slap that you sometimes get with rye. Thin-medium mouthfeel. I love a heavier fuller IS or RIS, but this one is just a great sipper. Absolutely perfect for this beer. Have to think it really benefited from the 6 years wait...but scares me what it might have been if wait extended.
Regardless I can say is that this is an extraordinarily well crafted brew that has become an excellent beer.
Scuse me while I kiss the sky. Thanks FF.
Jun 21, 2017
 
Rated: 4.21 by rab53 from Washington

Apr 30, 2017
 
Rated: 4.45 by Corson from Canada (AB)

Mar 28, 2017
Photo of EMV
Reviewed by EMV from Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Poured from a bomber into a wine goblet (all we had in a condo on vacation).

L: Inky black pour with thin off-white head. Spotty lacing.

S: Boozy and rich. Roasted grains and spicy rye whiskey.

T/F: Follows the nose nicely. Rich and full bodied... roasted malts/sugars and char, boozy and delicious, with a nice spicey note from the rye whiskey. Hints of coffee and cocoa... smooth and creamy. Warming... expected oak and vanilla notes from the barrel. Finish is sweet tinged with whiskey.

O: Another awesome edition of Eclipse. Great barrel-aged stuff, and a winner no matter which variant you can acquire. A+++
Feb 22, 2017
 
Rated: 4.5 by bigred89 from Maryland

Feb 18, 2017
Imperial Eclipse Stout - Heaven Hill Rittenhouse Rye from FiftyFifty Brewing Co.
Beer rating: 95 out of 100 with 519 ratings