Marshal Zhukov's Imperial Stout - Brandy Barrel Aged
Cigar City Brewing

Marshal Zhukov's Imperial Stout - Brandy Barrel AgedMarshal Zhukov's Imperial Stout - Brandy Barrel Aged
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From:
Cigar City Brewing
 
Florida, United States
Style:
Russian Imperial Stout
ABV:
11.5%
Score:
96
Avg:
4.37 | pDev: 11.21%
Reviews:
61
Ratings:
104
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Mar 20, 2016
Added:
Jan 17, 2010
Wants:
  119
Gots:
  4
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by bsuedekum:
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Rated by bsuedekum from Missouri

4.75/5  rDev +8.7%

Jul 28, 2012
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.25 by DVMin98 from North Carolina

Mar 20, 2016
 
Rated: 4.68 by Aoneil from Florida

Feb 28, 2016
 
Rated: 4.41 by wethorseblanket from California

Apr 07, 2015
 
Rated: 4.75 by johnyb from Florida

Dec 09, 2014
 
Rated: 4.75 by 5YearWinter from Florida

Feb 12, 2014
 
Rated: 5 by Bartos from Florida

Jan 16, 2014
 
Rated: 5 by BrandonDZ from Indiana

Aug 20, 2013
Photo of tectactoe
Reviewed by tectactoe from Michigan

4.63/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.5
Super huge thanks to Jeff for busting this one out as a nice surprise. In a flip-top growler for around a year, hopefully it has held up okay. It pours out of the growler inky and oily, completely black in color, much like the regular iteration of Zhukov. Understandable, there is basically no head that forms; simply a minuscule, deep-mocha ring that surfaces at the circumference of this black-hole brew and nothing else. Very quiet and still in the glass.

Whatever was lost in terms of appearance can be forgiven as soon as you finally smell this beer - it's absolutely fantastic. Sensational brandy notes, both sweet and warming with fine hints of booze and apples. Rich, dense, fudge-covered chocolate cake, backed with mounds of dark fruits; dates and figs, rolled and covered in brown sugar. It sounds like a diabetic's nightmare, but the sweetness is really monitored so well.

Some warmth brings forth even more aromas; more molasses, more brown sugar, and more, sweet, sweet apple brandy. The coffee that was so heavy in the original Marshal Zhukov's stout seems to have lots it's magic here, but no matter - the apple brandy aging (and possibly a year in the growler) has turned the base beer into a whole new monster, at least aromatically.

I take a sip, and immediately I am both surprised and enthralled to find that the flavor actually does have some intense, roasted coffee notes in it - much akin to the regular Zhukov stout - and it blends perfectly with the other flavors here. Roasty coffee beans, chocolate cake, rich and dark fudge, burnt, sticky toffee, and a whole lotta wet oak in the background.

The apple brandy flows through the entire profile so perfectly. Warm, boozy, and ever-present, yet it's miles and miles away from ever being "hot". This is certainly only of the smoothest inclusions of brandy barrels I've ever tasted. Lots of silky, sweet prunes and dates in the finish, along with more apple-like, boozy brandy and mild after-notes of chocolate and coffee.

Even with virtually no carbonation (although there was still a *touch* left in the growler), this brew was insanely palatable. It was definitely huge on the palate; silky, chewy, thick, and beyond viscous, and there's not doubt that a year of mellowing out did nothing but help. I would imaging that just a touch more carbonation would be excellent, but I still don't have much to complain about at this point.

So out of the 20+ beers that were consumed this night, this beer was far and away the best in show. Just insane, really. Marshal Zhukov is an amazing stout, first and foremost, and tossing that sucker in apple brandy barrels just takes things to a whole different level and gives you a completely out-of-this-world, barrel aged stout. Again, such a huge thanks to Jeff for this nice surprise. What an amazing brew.
Jul 15, 2013
 
Rated: 5 by mrebeka from Michigan

Jul 12, 2013
 
Rated: 4.25 by birchstick from Colorado

Jul 09, 2013
 
Rated: 5 by 1noa from Virginia

May 21, 2013
 
Rated: 4.25 by hopkrid from Florida

Apr 08, 2013
 
Rated: 5 by lionssoccer13 from Florida

Feb 26, 2013
 
Rated: 4.75 by MikeMoriendi from Pennsylvania

Jan 24, 2013
 
Rated: 4.75 by SmallestArt from Michigan

Jan 22, 2013
 
Rated: 4.25 by spycow from Illinois

Jan 13, 2013
 
Rated: 4.75 by Bluecane from New York

Jan 10, 2013
 
Rated: 4.25 by seeswo from Ohio

Jan 08, 2013
Photo of ColForbinBC
Reviewed by ColForbinBC from New Jersey

4.32/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
On-tap, served in a snifter

This bad boy sits a sinister ink black in the glass. A true motor oil type of body when swirled. A thin dark khaki cap rises and falls quickly, leaving some sporadic bubbles along the edges. The nose is extremely bold and robust. Huge roasted malt, brandy, oak, molasses, licorice, vanilla, and dark Belgian chocolate. On the palate, it follows the nose. Huge roast notes up front, before sticky toffee, licorice, and molasses through the middle. Brandy notes all over the place with vanilla and chocolate presenting in the finish. Whoa boy. I can't get over just how bold this beer is. I wasn't the biggest fan of the regular Zhukov but this beer is phenomenal. I got a huge char presence in the regular Zhukov that seems to be much more subdued and tolerable in this guy. Definitely one of the most in your face beers I have ever had. Big, thick, full body with low carbonation. Lingering roast and brandy just never seems to go away.
Sep 21, 2012
Marshal Zhukov's Imperial Stout - Brandy Barrel Aged from Cigar City Brewing
Beer rating: 96 out of 100 with 104 ratings