Le Coq
Harvey's Brewery

Le CoqLe Coq
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From:
Harvey's Brewery
 
England, United Kingdom
Style:
Russian Imperial Stout
Ranked #457
ABV:
10%
Score:
78
Ranked #26,758
Avg:
3.44 | pDev: 25.87%
Reviews:
407
Ratings:
487
Status:
Active
Rated:
Apr 23, 2023
Added:
Feb 19, 2001
Wants:
  26
Gots:
  16
The style “IMPERIAL RUSSIAN STOUT” and the name “ALBERT LE COQ” are synonymous. In the early 1800’s the Belgian A. LE COQ exported Imperial Stout from England to Russia and the Baltic area.

After the import traffic increased dramatically in the early 1900’s, A. LE COQ was invited by the TSARIST government to brew his legendary IMPERIAL EXTRA DOUBLE STOUT within the Russian Empire. In 1912 the first Imperial Extra Double Stout left the Brewery in TARTU, the former province of LIVONIA, now ESTONIA. World War I and the Russian Revolution, however, brought a dramatic end to A. LE COQ’s venture. Production ceased until 1921 and his brewery was nationalized by the BOLSHEVIK government. The facsimile label on each bottle of Imperial Extra Stout pays homage to A. LE COQ without whom this classic style would never have reached its legendary place in the world of beers.
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Ratings by DoubleJ:
Photo of DoubleJ
Reviewed by DoubleJ from Wisconsin

3.71/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5
This is the closest I've come to tasting an authentic Russian Imperial Stout, for the Russian court. 2008 vintage from a 9.3 ounce bottle, listed at 9% ABV, on to the beer:

Black like charcoal, mocha tanned head on top is healthy, leaving some settling lace on the glass. The nose, at first, is full of chocolatey malts, but the intenisty really drops and cherry begins to mix with the chocolate. Meh.

There is little like the imperial stouts made in America. First, there is some dark chocolate. Then appears quite a bit of cherry flavor. Roasted/smokey flavors perfume around in the mouth. Put it all together and it's an interesting experience. Mouthfeel is great, it's leaning towards thick, but doesn't get in the way, and the sticky sweetness it leaves around my lips is welcomed.

I feel like I'm been taken back 100 years. After this, I can see why the Russian court would be fond of the style. Put it in your favorite snifter and sip away.
Apr 23, 2010
More User Ratings:
Photo of cambabeer
Reviewed by cambabeer from New York

4/5  rDev +16.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Served out of an imported to the US 9.8 oz bottle, with no findable bottle date. Jet black body, dark cappuccino head, with reddish hues. Nose is tart fruit, smokey chocolate, meats, booze. Taste has a tartness that I think is putting some off to this beer... I'd echo others that I'm not sure if it's the age of this bottle or the desired result, but it's not bad. Tart dark fruits, like candy cherry, chocolate, a bit of booze. Vinous both in taste and mouthfeel. Interesting, probably not a daily go to, but worth a try for certain.
Apr 23, 2023
 
Rated: 3.75 by mmilyko from Nevada

Feb 12, 2021
Photo of GuyFawkes
Reviewed by GuyFawkes from Illinois

4/5  rDev +16.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
2013 vintage; drank 5/28/17 @ the Yarchives.

Brown/black appearance.

A rough pour yielded a nice dark tan head; decent lace.

Tart raspberry, dark roast coffee bean & dark chocolate notes in the nose.

Medium thick, creamy mouthfeel.

Brown sugar, mildly tart raspberry & black coffee flavors; an odd amalgam, but one that actually coalesces quite nicely.

I'm not sure if the tartness is the beer going "bad" or not (I've never had it fresh), but if so, it's not a bad thing at this point!!. Worth a quaff, surely.
May 01, 2019
Photo of ljdrinksbeer
Reviewed by ljdrinksbeer from North Carolina

4.53/5  rDev +31.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
2013 bottle, 9% abv, capped storage conditions unknown
L - pours thick and dark, thin dark tan head waits around.
S - Tart fruits, raisin, hint of booze.
T- Vineous tang upfront, coffee and rum raisin flavors follow. Incredibly complex. Dark chocolate covered sour cherries? The flavors linger around after each sip. Would have guessed that the abc was higher or the beer fresher because the booze is there, but pleasantly so.
F- thick, heavy bodied ale, leaves a sticky coating on the lips. Not much carbonation which makes sense given the age.
O- This is an exceptional beer. I imagine the sour flavors put some off, however, I find them intriguing and this thing keeps me coming back for more sips even as the chocolate and coffee flavors still linger on my tongue. Wish I had a fresh on to compare. Picked this up at a bottle shop that is shutting its doors and selling off inventory.
Dec 27, 2018
Photo of janubio
Reviewed by janubio from Spain

2.27/5  rDev -34%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 1.75 | overall: 2.25
Black colour with a big beige head that last for a while. Small lace. Aroma is a bit smokey, with coffee, licorice, roasted malts and ginger. Medium to full body, creamy texture, good carbonation. Sweet finish with cola notes. Taste has a lot of cola, coffee, ginger, licorice and chocolate.. If it wasnt for the cola thing, it would mediocre. It's even worse than that.l No way I'll drink it again.
Jun 23, 2018
 
Rated: 1.47 by sweemzander from Illinois

Feb 02, 2018
Photo of StonedTrippin
Reviewed by StonedTrippin from Colorado

4.03/5  rDev +17.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
thanks to the wonderful bull and bush christmas party, i had the opportunity to taste vintages from 2000 and 2011 side by side, which i have to say, was a rare and special treat! having never had these before, the age is immediately evident, no clue what it would be like fresh, but the older of the two now exhibits a certain stage of decomposition that flatters it. english yeast still present, but the beer has turned slightly acidic, not funky or weird or infected, but just past that old ale phase, almost a soy element to it, still some sugar, and a permanent marker aspect as well. the flavor is better, licorice and tobacco and figs, some oxidation obviously, but its flattering to the beer. a relic at this point, this would be hard to drink a lot of, but was insanely interesting to taste. i liked the 2011 vintage much better, still mature, slightly oxidized, and super well integrated, but the flavors of the malt are much more nuanced, i still get some breadiness out of it, bran and dark cereal grains, a slight dairy aspect somehow, and cognac. a little paint thinner on the nose, this is hotly alcoholic even after all this time, but its attractive to me too. it feels wintery, possibly partially sour mashed, roasted like crazy, and with a faint anise character. its almost dead still, but i like it being sort of mellow yet slippery feeling. something to appreciate in small doses and share, and i am thankful for bull and bush allowing me to have this wonderful experience. i will seek this out fresh, but it sure ages with the best of them!
Dec 06, 2017
Photo of VoxRationis
Reviewed by VoxRationis from New York

4.15/5  rDev +20.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Decanted from a 9.3 oz (264 ml) bottle into a Chardonnay glass; no production information.
A: Pours a very dark brown, almost black color.  Less than a quarter inch, mocha to brown head with little retention.  Little or no Belgian lacing.
S: Dark roasted, almost burnt malts evident with aromas of rum, raisins, and coffee grinds.
T: Flavor of sherry and burnt coffee predominate, offset by mild bitterness.  Sweet aftertaste.
M: Medium bodied, persistent effervescence evident.
O: Interesting take on Russian Imperial Stout.  Tastes as if aged in port/sherry casks.  Would certainly try again.
Jul 05, 2017
 
Rated: 4.28 by RochefortChris from North Carolina

Feb 25, 2017
 
Rated: 3.97 by CwrwAmByth from England

Jan 13, 2017
Photo of TheMadJack
Reviewed by TheMadJack from Virginia

3.83/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 3.75
Poured from 12oz brown glass bottle into nonic glass

A: Pours like old motor oil. Thick, almost syrupy appearance which forms a stout pool of completely opaque beer only a shade lighter than true black. A deep tan head rises to an inch and a half from the vigor of my pour before settling down to a quarter inch over the next two minutes. When I swirl the beer I see signs of viscosity and a light lacing clings to the glass about an inch high. This small head retained itself throughout the entire tasting.

S: Surprisingly sweet. Dark chocolate covered fresh fruit which I am still trying to identify. Some kind of berry is coming to mind, and maybe plums. A back note of powdered sugar and dark toast.

T: Very subtle for the style. Gentle background of dark, nearly charred toast carries berries and a peppery alcohol kick. Medium bitterness. Charred notes rise to the nose on swallow. Very clean finish.

M: Rich without being heavy or oily. There is a slight sensation of it perhaps being salty or gently foamed. The overall impression is perhaps closest to chocolate milk, frothed by hand.

O: Well executed, very drinkable due to the toned down flavor. I usually expect something more robust from an Imperial stout, especially one labelled "Exra Double" so I marked it down points. However, don't steer clear of it on that account. It solidly hits every quality a Russian Imperial should have.
Oct 06, 2016
Photo of bobhits
Reviewed by bobhits from Kentucky

3.75/5  rDev +9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Jet black, viscous, and flat. Reasonable legs but doesn't compare to higher abv stouts.

The nose brings out the smell of an aged stout, a certain mix muted aroma of old something is always present when I open a stout more than a few years old.

The same old aroma is in the flavor as well. I think of this is an interesting flavor but not good or bad. Chocolate, sherry, perhaps some almond, with a lingering coffee note once the beer is gone.

Flat but with enough body to support the beer.

I'm pretty indifferent on this one. It's a tasty beer. 2003 vintage so about 13-14 years old now.
Sep 11, 2016
 
Rated: 4.38 by Bunuelian from Minnesota

Sep 08, 2016
 
Rated: 3.73 by Odysseyalien from New Jersey

Aug 28, 2016
Photo of Beginner2
Reviewed by Beginner2 from Illinois

3.98/5  rDev +15.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
I Had Le Coq several times with varied freshness and off-ness, often a sour-ness like an old ale that had gotten too old ...
But the subject of this review had 2013 stamped on its bottle top. Here I am in February 2018 and it still has a decent foam and only a little sediment on the bottom compared to the past. So, not too old.

Basically, it Tastes as I remember it; figgy balanced by very few hops, but mostly lots of heavily roasted malt for bitterness.
I'm guessing there is less brewers sugar in the Le Coq recipe than the typical RIS. I speculate this explains the average low score at 3.43. This is a better stout than 81. When it sits in my mouth, I think "classic."

Le Coq is listed in "The 1001 Beers" and the reviewer re-tells the story of how Le Coq's joint venture with the Russian royal family got interrupted by the Revolution.... but started up again in the 1920s. (I speculate that the Commissars liked the stout's warming qualities in winter.) Even without that story, it deserves to be on the list.
As further proof of this stout's legendary power, it is reviewed in Roger Protz' "300 Beers To Try Before You Die!"
And as final proof, MJ's 1999 "Guide" gave it 3.5 of 4 stars calling it "oily and as heady as marijuana." ... just in case you needed more evidence of the master's diverse background.
May 03, 2016
Photo of GreesyFizeek
Reviewed by GreesyFizeek from New York

4.75/5  rDev +38.1%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 5
Bottle purchased at Beers of the World in Henrietta, NY.

This one pours a pretty deep dark black, with a small quarter inch creamy looking head, and a little bit of lacing.

Smells like earthy roasted malt, tobacco, raisin, plum, red wine, and slight tartness.

There is quite a lot going on here in this one. This might be the biggest gulf in expectations vs actual taste in a beer I've had- this one of the best stouts I've ever had. I had fairly low expectations for it. The slight tartness- much less pronounced than people are saying in other reviews- gives a wonderful counterbalance to the other flavors, and seems to make them even more pronounced. It's like a chocolatey red wine, with heavy roast, vanilla cream, leathery tobacco, slight soy sauce, and dry smoke. It's quite dry, but not bitter. This is a superb sipping beer.

This is medium bodied, with a pretty low level of carbonation. It is quite creamy.

This was quite a revelation- it was a highly enjoyable way to end this evening. One of the most complex beers I've ever had.
Apr 25, 2016
Photo of sjccmd
Reviewed by sjccmd from Minnesota

4.32/5  rDev +25.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Dark fruits, licorice, saddle soap, leathery funk, figs, and cherries. A whole lot going on. Raspberries, and maybe a bit of barnyard. Burnt fruitcake and some bubblegum. Some industrial asphalt kind of aroma as well. This is crazy complex.

Pours black with a small dark tan head. Head just leaves a ring around the glass but sticks around. Thick gloopy. Serious sediment at the bottom.

Straight up burnt fruitcake. Raisins and caramelized sugars. Bitter espresso. Sweet upfront but surprisingly balanced. Bitterness from roasted malts balances out the sweetness. A touch of acidity is surprising, but adds complexity.

Full body, low carbonation. Silky and chewy. Finish is surprisingly dry leaving behind a touch of sweetness and acidity.

I can see why some don't enjoy this beer. The wild character may be off putting, but it does seem likely that this is what the original RIS's tasted like. I find the funk and acidity to subtle and complimentary. Despite everything going on in this beer, I find it easier drinking than many of the high abv sweet american-made RIS's.
Mar 01, 2016
 
Rated: 3.39 by REVZEB from Illinois

Jan 30, 2016
Photo of Josh_Leonard84
Rated by Josh_Leonard84 from Pennsylvania

2.39/5  rDev -30.5%
look: 2.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5
Aged this way to too long, no carbonation horrid vinegary taste
Jan 15, 2016
Le Coq from Harvey's Brewery
Beer rating: 78 out of 100 with 487 ratings