Kingpin Imperial Stout
Watch City Brewing Co.

Kingpin Imperial StoutKingpin Imperial Stout
Beer Geek Stats | Print Shelf Talker
From:
Watch City Brewing Co.
 
Massachusetts, United States
Style:
Russian Imperial Stout
ABV:
8.4%
Score:
85
Avg:
3.73 | pDev: 16.35%
Reviews:
15
Ratings:
20
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Apr 21, 2014
Added:
Nov 28, 2001
Wants:
  2
Gots:
  0
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by OldFrothingSlosh:
Photo of OldFrothingSlosh
Reviewed by OldFrothingSlosh from Pennsylvania

3.88/5  rDev +4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
On tap at the AOBF 5/24/03.

Inky black in appearance with no potential for any light to pass through. Very dark, chocolatey head that ,despite its miniscule size, manages a nice lacing of the glass. Toasted coffee notes, with a bready sweetness are noticed. Taste is smooth, with a almost burned dark chcolate flavor along with roasted nutty flavor. Just a slight amount of bitterness nicely balances this beer. Mouthfeel is silky smooth and the alcohol is well-hidden. Drinkability is good, with a "toasty" flavor lingering on the palate

Not my favorite imperial stout by any means, but still quite drinkable.
May 28, 2003
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.75 by Durge from Connecticut

Apr 21, 2014
 
Rated: 3 by dunlap926 from Illinois

Apr 05, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by Mikeluzzjr from Massachusetts

Mar 31, 2014
 
Rated: 3 by Dave_Treat from Virginia

Mar 23, 2014
 
Rated: 2 by dcisco44 from Massachusetts

Mar 23, 2014
Photo of GbVDave
Reviewed by GbVDave from Illinois

3.97/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pouured from a 22oz bottle into multiple glasses. Thanks to jayli for this!

Bottling Date 5/11/10
9.2% abv

A: Pours a thinnish black with a healthy amount of lighter brown at the edges. Tiny whisp of light brown head disappears quickly but leaves a bit of lace behind.

S: Interesting aromas of dark roasty malt, coffee, bakers chocolate, and cherries.

T: Very much like above with the cherry stepping out a little bit. Roasty flavors are a little untamed.

M: A little on the thin side and a bit raw. Cherry flavor was right...not too tart, not too sweet. Nice that this wasn't a syrup-y sweet RIS.

O: A good effort. I like their stuff, just wish they would bottle more often.
Jun 26, 2011
Photo of Deuane
Reviewed by Deuane from Pennsylvania

3.44/5  rDev -7.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
Thanks to FooFaa for sharing a bottle of this one.

A-Deep, dark brown with a thin tan head that reduced to a wispy veil and left light ringing lace.

S-Bright sour cherries, roasted malt, coffee, dark chocolate--really nice. Wondering though if this should really have a sour aroma though?

T-A touch too tart with cherries up front and then it comes in with coffee and roast later. Is this bottle infected?

M-Med bodied a bit on the thin side with mild lingering bitterness.

D-Not sure about this one. Quite tart and I am not sure it should be. It does get better with warming. Would like to try this one again if I ever get the chance.
Nov 22, 2009
Photo of ffejherb
Reviewed by ffejherb from Pennsylvania

3.15/5  rDev -15.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
22oz. bomber into Imperial pint on 4/22/09. Thanks to FooFaa for sharing.

A - Poured a dark brown, almost black body with a thin burnt tan head that reduced to a thin ring of retention and left spotty lacing.

S - Surprising cherry tartness with chocolate notes and a roasted malt character. Touch of soy or Worchestershire sauce Pleasant aroma overall.

T - Hmmm... here's where they lose me, unfortunately. The flavor is pretty sour and tart for an Imperial stout. While there is a bit of chocolate bitterness, the flavor is offthe mark and unbalanced overall. It's sweet with quite a bit of sourness and not too roasty at all.

M - Medium body with a smooth, oily texture and soft carbonation. Finishes with a mild sourness on the palate.

D - Too bad this didn't taste like the aroma. Not bad per se, the the flavor is too sour and unbalanced for the style. This one has potential, and they're halfway there with a great-looking stout with a pleasant aroma. Lose the sourness but keep the chocolate and beef up the roasted character and coffee flavor and you'll have a solid Imperial stout.
Apr 24, 2009
Photo of TheManiacalOne
Reviewed by TheManiacalOne from Rhode Island

4.2/5  rDev +12.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Purchased at the brewpub in August 2008, hand-written bottled date of 02/08. Poured from a 22oz bottle into an imperial pint glass.

A: The beer is a deep black color with a very thin brown head that fades quickly and leaves a thin lace on the glass.

S: The aroma is of chocolate, roasted malts and dark fruit with a touch of hops.

T: The taste is exactly what you'd expect from this type of beer, a strong bitter-sweet dark chocolate flavor up front, very hearty dark roasted malt character and there's a fruitiness that is a little bit stronger than most beers in the style. The after-taste is slightly sweet.

M: Crisp and smooth, medium body, medium carbonation, finish is slightly sticky.

D: Tasty, goes down very easily, not too filling, strong kick, good representation of style, this is a good RIS that isn't as big as most, but it's worth drinking for a while. I'm interested to hopefully try this beer on-tap at some point.
Mar 21, 2009
Photo of Jayli
Reviewed by Jayli from Massachusetts

4.58/5  rDev +22.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Purchased a bottle of the Feb brew from Watch City.
The beer pours a deep, dark brown, quite potentially black. A very thin brown head that leaves slight lacing to it. This is an amazingly smooth stout - dark chocolate and coffee-ish taste to it.
The beer itself is smooth, with a fantastic drinkability. It's the perfect blend of chocolate and coffee, medium body beer. This one is a keeper!
Sep 06, 2008
Photo of brewandbbq
Reviewed by brewandbbq from New Hampshire

3.85/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Vintage 12/05/02

Pours oily black and opaque.
A minimal beige froth makes a brief appearance, leaving a placid, slick surface.
Aromatics are sweetish and chocolatey, with caramel undertones and sugar dusted coffee beans.
A hint of cherries comes after a whiff of vanilla-laced nougat.
Mouthfeel is slick and oily, sweet and sticky. Carbonation is similar to a cask ale, very light.
Pallet is full of roasted malt, burnt caramel, and dark chocolate.
Honey- spiked espresso and cocoa round out the brew.
Hopping is only found in the bitterness, which is minimal.
Finishes sweet and warming, with a lingering Hershey's syrup note.

No oxidation whatsoever, and in terrific condition for an almost four year old brew.
Residual sugars take away from the drinkability as well as the low carbonation.
Oct 13, 2006
Photo of sulldaddy
Reviewed by sulldaddy from Connecticut

3.98/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Thanks to UncleJimbo for the hookup!
I am sampling a chilled sample of the brew in a pint glass. 12/5/02 bottle date.
The beer pours pitch black with no light escaping. A rich, tan, frothy head foams up easily and forms a tight edge layer around my glass.
The aroma is a little on the mild side, with espresso notes, cocoa powder, and some general roastiness coming through. First sip, an above average body with almost non-existent carbonation. Flavor is similar to nose, with coffee roastedness and a bit of bitterness too. SOme mild chocolate hits and even a nice earthy hop presence which I wasnt really expecting. I also get some faint sweet molasses. The beer finishes a little light but overall is very nicely crafted and I enjoy it thoroughly.
Sep 13, 2004
Photo of elmocoso
Reviewed by elmocoso from Nebraska

4.2/5  rDev +12.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
First of all, thanks to the BA for making this review possible.

Second of all, this was a good beer. It poured a dark black with no visible light escaping its inky depths. The head was a tan color and found its Nirvana in a lacy blanket that covered the muddled brew.

There was a very malty nose present here. I kind of detected a fruitiness, a dark dark fruitiness - raisins?

The taste was sweet, but appropriate. Like the sweetness of a stone fruit - a plum?

Drinkability is sippable. I wouldn't want to guzzle this baby, for possible lack of appreciation. It is a nice warming beer that would be best enjoyed in the depths of a winter funk.
Jul 08, 2003
Photo of UncleJimbo
Reviewed by UncleJimbo from Massachusetts

3.98/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
2002 Vintage, sampled at the brewpub. 72 IBU, 9.2% abv.

This imperial stout poured an opaque black color with tan foam that dissipated relatively quickly. The smell was very mild: dark malt and a whiff of alcohol. The taste was sweet, dark malt, bourbon, and alcohol, but balanced with a chicory hop flavor. The mouthfeel was smooth and creamy. This stout was thick, and full bodied with low carbonation. This imperial stout was very drinkable.
May 22, 2003
Photo of scottum
Reviewed by scottum from Vermont

3.91/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Dark dark dark brown. Almost black with a very small head. A fruity sweetness comes through. The 8.4% is apparent in the flavor lowering the drinkability. Chocolate and roasted malt flavors drive the taste. Hops add some balance. A good stout, but not overwelming good.
Apr 06, 2003
Photo of goz
Reviewed by goz from Massachusetts

4.2/5  rDev +12.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
22oz bomber from the brewpub, bottled date 12/05/2002.

Pour is jet black, with a small dark brown head which quickly recedes and leaves almost no lace. Aroma is roasty, doughy, sweet, with some grape raisin hinting in the back. Flavor is a good punch of sweet chocolate cookie, hints of the grape and raisin, and ends with some good roasty character to it. Full body, slight touch of alcohol in the end, long lingering roastiness adds a good finish.
Mar 26, 2003
Photo of CharlesRiver
Reviewed by CharlesRiver from Connecticut

4.33/5  rDev +16.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
One of the more smooth Imperial Stouts that I have had on tap. Pours a very dark body with a nice creamy off white head. Roasted malt with a bit of chocolate coming through in the flavor. Doesn't have a big smell at all. Not as powerful as other imperials that I have had, but still a great beer. If you are in the area, please try!
Nov 22, 2002
Photo of Bierman9
Reviewed by Bierman9 from New Hampshire

4.5/5  rDev +20.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
I really enjoyed this brew, on tap at Watch City... dark, dark brown, perhaps black; small tiny head which diminishes quickly, but leaves a bit o' lace on the glass... The aroma hits you with alcohol, sweetness, and notes of dark fruit. The taste comes back with more of the same....alco, sweetness, dark fruit, but ends with a nice hoppy balance... Medium-full body and medium-smoothness on the tongue enhance the pleasure. Served in 10 oz glasses, but be careful how many you have...it'll sneak up on you. Good job, Aaron! Cheers!!

overall: 4.5
appearance: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | mouthfeel: 4.5 | drinkability: 4.5

79
Mar 23, 2002
Photo of Todd
Reviewed by Todd from Finland

3.28/5  rDev -12.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Presentation: Hand bottled @ Watch City for BeerAdvocate.com

Appearance: Pitch black with an awesome cascading dark, chocolate coloured head. It starts off quite massive and thick, eventually settling into a creamy ring lace.

Smell: Wet cardboard / sherri-like aromas (oxidized), big dark malts and esters.

Taste: Rich and slightly sweet with notes of wet cardboard / sherri, molasses, chocolate, raisin with semi-astringent roasted flavours in the back that melds nicely with a mellowed, albeit raw on the palate and still kickin', dry bitterness. Smooth too, with a full and even body. The hefty alcohol % is not noticeable. Not at all, which is spooky. Finish is dry with residual malt flavours.

Notes: Aged for 8mths, and bottle conditioned. A little too oxidized and homebrew-like for me, but still a good brew and well worth a visit to the brewpub for a try -- where I remember it being much better.
Nov 28, 2001
Kingpin Imperial Stout from Watch City Brewing Co.
Beer rating: 85 out of 100 with 20 ratings