Russian Imperial Stout - Bourbon Barrel-Aged
Rock Art Brewery

Russian Imperial Stout - Bourbon Barrel-AgedRussian Imperial Stout - Bourbon Barrel-Aged
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From:
Rock Art Brewery
 
Vermont, United States
Style:
Russian Imperial Stout
Ranked #384
ABV:
10%
Score:
89
Ranked #10,817
Avg:
4 | pDev: 10%
Reviews:
23
Ratings:
143
Status:
Active
Rated:
Sep 11, 2023
Added:
Dec 13, 2013
Wants:
  3
Gots:
  28
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by smanson56:
Photo of smanson56
Rated by smanson56 from New Hampshire

4.23/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Apr 21, 2015
More User Ratings:
Photo of sulldaddy
Reviewed by sulldaddy from Connecticut

3.83/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Sampling a 22 oz bottle at cellar temp and poured into my snifter. Doesnt appear to have a date stamp on the bottle, but I bought this in New Hampshire in summer of 2022. It has been in my cellar since purchase.
The beer pours a dark cola brown with minimal creamy beige head of .5 cm. This foam fades quickly to only the thinnest of edge layers, even though there is an active bubbling on the surface from streams of carbonation.
Aroma is roasted malts a bit of black coffee, loads of bourbon and vanilla and a bit fusol black peppery booze note. No hop character and the booze catches me off guard as its only a 10% ABV stout.
The first sip reveals a medium body and smooth texture with fine and gentle carbonation. Beer drinks pretty easy for smelling so boozy.
Flavor is roasted malts and bourbon hits here too. Not overly complex flavor profile. Bitey booze comes back on the finish and there isnt really any hop presence. Strangely not a ton of warmth on the finish to accompany the black peppery boozy bite.
This feels and tastes like an olde school, no frills Bourbon Barrel Aged Impy Stout. I do think the body is little lighter than I would prefer and its sort of one dimensional. Its fine, but I wouldnt buy this one again.
Sep 11, 2023
 
Rated: 3.99 by howardnss from Pennsylvania

Sep 11, 2022
Photo of brentk56
Reviewed by brentk56 from North Carolina

3.83/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Appearance: Pours coffee colored with a slim tan head that fades; loads of spotty lacing

Smell: Chocolate, oak, brewer's licorice with hints of char and Bourbon

Taste: Chocolate forward with char and brewer's licorice flavors emerging; the Bourbon barrel adds a boozy character, after the swallow; the finish is really ashy

Mouthfeel: Medium to full body with moderate carbonation

Overall: More of an old school Imperial Stout with a lower ABV and lighter mouthfeel; I didn't care for the finish
Dec 12, 2021
 
Rated: 4 by Knapp85 from Pennsylvania

Dec 14, 2020
 
Rated: 4.41 by Stofko1992 from Pennsylvania

Dec 14, 2020
 
Rated: 4.19 by DaPan from Canada (ON)

Jan 23, 2020
 
Rated: 4.56 by rockrob from Massachusetts

Mar 07, 2019
 
Rated: 3.87 by SomethingClever from Ohio

Oct 07, 2018
Photo of jwhancher
Reviewed by jwhancher from Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours a jet black color with little head that leaves some lacing and soapy looking bubbles on the glass sides. Smells moderate to strong oak & bourbon with plenty of black licorice, star anise, dark chocolate, and booze. Tastes similar as in the nose with an oily, slick, heavy body, almost chewy & viscous. Aftertaste is bourbon & booze - not that i’m complaining one bit. A big bodied beer with plenty of oomph. A great winter warmer. Glad I picked it up. Think I paid $10 for a bottle right at the brewery during a visit in mid-January 2018.
Feb 18, 2018
 
Rated: 4.19 by REVZEB from Illinois

Jan 04, 2018
Photo of Lone_Freighter
Reviewed by Lone_Freighter from Vermont

4.25/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
22 oz. bottle to snifter.
The appearance was a pure thick black color with just a slim cap of a little off white foamy head that stifled into a light concave sort of lace touching around the glass.
The aroma had a nice blend of sweet licorice, light char/ash, milk chocolate, vanilla, a little bit of coconut, light earthiness and a touch of bourbon sweetness.
The flavor seemed to lean towards the sweet side initially and then develop some of the char/ashy dry taste that seemed to bring in some bitterness. Light smoke and then dark bread with the dryness of the char/ash in the aftertaste.
The mouthfeel was about medium bodied with a fair sipping quality about it. Definitely not one to gulp, by all means, that ashy/char factor does seem to penetrate a bit more in it's dryness along my tongue - some distractibility. Carbonation did feel good. ABV felt on par. Semi-dry and smooth with the bourbon on the finish.
Overall, this was aged in Maker's Mark casks for 6 months before bottled - me, well, I can tell that it's definitely a well brewed beer and a wonderful one for when it's close to sub zero temps outside. I'd definitely have this again.
Dec 31, 2017
 
Rated: 4.27 by Beerpicksbygeorge from Vermont

Mar 24, 2017
 
Rated: 4.03 by SadMachine from New Jersey

Feb 17, 2017
Photo of spacecake9
Reviewed by spacecake9 from Illinois

4.39/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Purchased last summer during my New England beer tour, aged in my cellar for 6 months.
A - Pours a very dark brown with a small tan head that disappears quickly.
S - Sweetness and bourbon on the nose.
T - There's a lot going on here. Some molasses and vanilla on the front end, then you get a bit of chocolate, then dark fruit on the finish.
M - Below average carbonation, thicker mouth feel.
O - I really like this beer. I love the different flavors that come through. Wish I'd purchased a second bottle.
Jan 18, 2017
Photo of stakem
Reviewed by stakem from Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Bomber into a snifter apoears black in color with a thin khaki head.

It smells of chocolate upfront than gets oaky with bourbon and caramel sweetness.

It tastes of toasted coconut, caramel and chocolate. Lots of wonderful barrel flavors integrated into a pleasant base beer.

This is medium in body with modest carbonation. A solid brew I would drink again.
Dec 16, 2016
 
Rated: 4 by Kegatron from Pennsylvania

Nov 25, 2016
 
Rated: 3.95 by Supergenou from Canada (QC)

Oct 29, 2016
 
Rated: 4 by rdoggg from Pennsylvania

Oct 09, 2016
 
Rated: 4.24 by Mikexw from New York

Oct 01, 2016
Russian Imperial Stout - Bourbon Barrel-Aged from Rock Art Brewery
Beer rating: 89 out of 100 with 143 ratings