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Imperial Eclipse Stout - Heaven Hill Rittenhouse Rye
FiftyFifty Brewing Co.
- 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:
- 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 warnerry:
Reviewed by warnerry from Michigan
4.12/5 rDev -3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.12/5 rDev -3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
2011, bottle #1778
A - Pours near black with one and a half fingers of brown head. Head has decent retention, eventually fading to a thin cap. Spotty lacing.
S - Lots of chocolate, with some roasted malt, a sweet aroma that could be some residual honey or a bit of molasses, vanilla, a bit of wood and some faint alcohol.
T - Taste is a little sweeter than the aroma would suggest, but not overpowering sweetness. Again a big chocolate presence, combining bittersweet and milk chocolate. A bit of spicy spirit undercuts the chocolate. Some nice vanilla. Roasted malt comes in near the finish. Finishes with a bit of rye whiskey. Very tasty, but a touch too sweet.
M - Medium mouthfeel, a touch on the light side for an imperial stout, but I don't mind. Definitely not thin.
O - This is a very nice Eclipse variant, but the honey sweetness is a bit too apparent. Still very enjoyable. I like that these are relatively low on the abv scale for barrel-aged imperial stouts at "only" 9.5%, but the price tag will definitely keep me from revisiting, considering other options for the style.
Dec 07, 2012A - Pours near black with one and a half fingers of brown head. Head has decent retention, eventually fading to a thin cap. Spotty lacing.
S - Lots of chocolate, with some roasted malt, a sweet aroma that could be some residual honey or a bit of molasses, vanilla, a bit of wood and some faint alcohol.
T - Taste is a little sweeter than the aroma would suggest, but not overpowering sweetness. Again a big chocolate presence, combining bittersweet and milk chocolate. A bit of spicy spirit undercuts the chocolate. Some nice vanilla. Roasted malt comes in near the finish. Finishes with a bit of rye whiskey. Very tasty, but a touch too sweet.
M - Medium mouthfeel, a touch on the light side for an imperial stout, but I don't mind. Definitely not thin.
O - This is a very nice Eclipse variant, but the honey sweetness is a bit too apparent. Still very enjoyable. I like that these are relatively low on the abv scale for barrel-aged imperial stouts at "only" 9.5%, but the price tag will definitely keep me from revisiting, considering other options for the style.
More User Ratings:
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
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, 2020Reviewed by CowCow from Maryland
4.6/5 rDev +7.5%
look: 5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
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, 2020It 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.
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
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, 2018A - 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
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
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, 2018A: 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.
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
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, 2017Bottle # 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.
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
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, 2017L: 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+++
Imperial Eclipse Stout - Heaven Hill Rittenhouse Rye from FiftyFifty Brewing Co.
Beer rating:
95 out of
100 with
519 ratings
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