Imperial Stout
Lagunitas Brewing Company

Imperial StoutImperial Stout
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From:
Lagunitas Brewing Company
 
California, United States
Style:
Russian Imperial Stout
Ranked #439
ABV:
9.9%
Score:
86
Ranked #18,806
Avg:
3.83 | pDev: 12.01%
Reviews:
737
Ratings:
2,254
Status:
Active
Rated:
Jun 10, 2023
Added:
Aug 31, 2001
Wants:
  93
Gots:
  505
Having downed his fourth Imperial Stout of the day, the wild eyed charlatan from Voldvrostronglaky belched and hollered for the Czarina to enter his chamber and bend herself to his will. The economy was a wreck and revolt was just around the corner. Nicky the Czar dude was off playing soldier like any pale nobleman with a hemorrhagic skin condition would. Such were the final days of the old empire. Reactionary, decadent, sputnik, stroganoff, weird, and drunk. But even as the proletariat countryside labored under inhuman conditions and the threat of being sent to a futile war in the east, they wisely took the time to slam back an Imperial Stout or two. After all, life can be a real 'suka' as they said in the old country. Big, black, bourgeois, Bolshoi, belligerent, buxom, and scary. This is our version of the end of an era in a bottle.

2010 8.2% abv
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Billybrewboy:
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Rated by Billybrewboy from New Hampshire

4.25/5  rDev +11%

Nov 17, 2014
More User Ratings:
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Reviewed by Rlcv

5/5  rDev +30.5%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
I am a stout lover. I used to be able to enjoy it at my local brewery. I have tried more than dozen since, all poor. Taste, smoothness, dept, - forget it. Lagunitas Imperial is the real thing. But, getting it can be hard in some parts of the country, like here in Texas (Austin).This is
Jun 10, 2023
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Reviewed by StonedTrippin from Colorado

4.19/5  rDev +9.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
probably the most unsung lagunitas beer of all time, truly at the genre defining level, in no need of adjuncts of any kind, about as good as it gets from any american brewer, and frankly, the fact that these were in sub five dollar bombers for so long makes me wish for the olden days of craft beer again, now everything has to be a 20 dollar pastry stout, so few hit at this quality and value level anymore, and i was saddened that this one was axed around covid time, a sign of the times i guess, a casualty of many factors, but still, a legendary brew. matte black, frothy headed and viscous but not all high gloss and leggy and sweet looking like many, its mellower, puffy and soothing looking. aroma is slightly muted compared to the flavor, but still really layered and without much middle malt richness. instead its deep roast without bitterness, dark chocolate nuance, subtle raisin and tobacco, even an apparent wood presence, and something almost english and old worldy about the yeast that adds a lot of depth, not at all overengineered, true to style all the way, and the alcohol is rather well hidden. the flavor is gorgeous, luxurious in texture, suggestions of high end espresso, sturdy roast, dark volcanic soil and attendant minerals, burnt wood but not smoke, and a silky chocolate thing, just stunning, sort of earthy and maybe oaty too, creamy feeling like that, but dry compared to what is common in the style. the alcohol stays way back even at temperature, there is a toasted bready middle that comes up, and an almost ashy dryness to it that makes the swallow fast. i love the complete and full of character ferment on this, and overall i think its technically outstanding. fuller feel but smooth as they come, sturdy but not big for the sake of it. truly fantastic beer, probably underappreciated in its time. if you know you know...
Jan 12, 2023
 
Rated: 3.86 by dms1767 from Nebraska

Oct 20, 2022
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Reviewed by Puddinhead48 from Illinois

4.38/5  rDev +14.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Best Lagunitas beer and one of my all time favorite beers. Unfortunately they stopped brewing it in Chicago so I'm boycotting all Heineken products until they start brewing it again.
Sep 30, 2022
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Rated by BuzzedNinthBeer from California

4.6/5  rDev +20.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5
The sun is greater than its parts… underrated and one of my favorites.
Sep 11, 2022
 
Rated: 4 by Dutchcraftbeergeek from Netherlands

Feb 17, 2022
 
Rated: 3.94 by bismarksays from Iowa

Jan 10, 2022
 
Rated: 3.84 by LesDewitt4beer from Minnesota

Oct 15, 2021
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Reviewed by Sigmund from Norway

3.82/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
650 ml bottle, Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 9.9%, OG 1092, IBU 72.45. Very dark brown to black colour, ruby in the highlights, large beige head. Moderate aroma, mild coffee notes, hints of dark chocolate. Sweet flavour with plenty of coffee, dark chocolate and liquorice, some bitterness in the finish. Quite good.
Apr 18, 2021
 
Rated: 4.4 by Argail from Louisiana

Dec 21, 2020
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Reviewed by mycousinvinny from New York

4.35/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
L- Pours a dark brown with a two finger, tan head. excellent lacing.
S- Nice chocolate malt smell
T- chocolate malt. right amount of bitterness.
F- Nice complexity and bitter amazing wonderful feel.
O- lagunitas still blows my mind and always a great brew
Dec 08, 2020
 
Rated: 3 by MrCPMJ from Texas

Jul 24, 2020
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Rated by eatsluggs from Florida

4.14/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Not my favorite of the style.
Jul 21, 2020
 
Rated: 4.36 by Chris20 from North Carolina

Jul 07, 2020
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Reviewed by imnodoctorbut from Texas

4.23/5  rDev +10.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
this was great and also screw putin, America wins again.
do it for America. they did.


or something.
shit, I'm drunk guys.
but this stout is great.
not like one of THE greats, but it's wet and sweet and dry in all the right places.
I rated this stone-cold-sober and figured I'd come back and scrape out the details.
that clearly didn't happen. but here we are.
bloop.
Jul 01, 2020
 
Rated: 4.29 by SushiSakeBeer from Oregon

Jun 01, 2020
 
Rated: 4 by TallGuyCM from California

May 29, 2020
 
Rated: 4.44 by chiefz1 from New York

May 02, 2020
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Rated by classysax from Oregon

4.72/5  rDev +23.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
So rich and full. Chewy! Even my wife loved it.
Feb 23, 2020
Imperial Stout from Lagunitas Brewing Company
Beer rating: 86 out of 100 with 2254 ratings