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iStout
8 Wired Brewing Co.
- From:
- 8 Wired Brewing Co.
- New Zealand
- Style:
- Russian Imperial Stout
Ranked #345 - ABV:
- 10%
- Score:
- 91
Ranked #7,950 - Avg:
- 4.06 | pDev: 9.36%
- Reviews:
- 120
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Feb 21, 2024
- Added:
- Nov 06, 2010
- Wants:
- 23
- Gots:
- 53
Beware, this is a BIG beer. Brimming with luscious roasted coffee and chocolate malt flavours which are balanced by a brisk bitterness and bold freshness from the hops.
If you’re feeling politically incorrect try it with your favourite cigar, or a dram of your best single malt whisky. Or, if your tooth is sweeter, why not jump in at the deep end with the most decadent dessert of all; half a bottle in a glass with a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream on top (beer geeks like us know it as the Imperial Stout Float). Or simply enjoy it on its own as a decadent dessert or night cap - the perfect winter warmer!
If you don’t already know the history of Russian Imperial Stouts please check it out on the internet, it’s a good story. But remember, although based on that century-old classic style, this beer is a very modern interpretation, like all our beers!
70 IBU
If you’re feeling politically incorrect try it with your favourite cigar, or a dram of your best single malt whisky. Or, if your tooth is sweeter, why not jump in at the deep end with the most decadent dessert of all; half a bottle in a glass with a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream on top (beer geeks like us know it as the Imperial Stout Float). Or simply enjoy it on its own as a decadent dessert or night cap - the perfect winter warmer!
If you don’t already know the history of Russian Imperial Stouts please check it out on the internet, it’s a good story. But remember, although based on that century-old classic style, this beer is a very modern interpretation, like all our beers!
70 IBU
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by jkblr from Indiana
4.1/5 rDev +1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
4.1/5 rDev +1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
14.9oz undated can poured into a Spiegelau stout glass at fridge temp 10% ABV. The beer pours pitch black with no light penetration and medium brown colored head. The head recedes to a thin ring and single layer of bubbles. Slight lacing. The aroma is moderate in strength featuring dark chocolate, coffee and earthy notes. The taste is bittersweet roasted malt notes of coffee, very dark chocolate and black licorice. Moderate bitterness. The mouthfeel is medium plus bodied with just less that medium carbonation and a mostly dry finish. No hint of the ABV in the aroma or taste. Overall, very good to excellent.
Oct 02, 2023Reviewed by Brutaltruth from Ohio
4.19/5 rDev +3.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.19/5 rDev +3.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
From the can in a snifter. This excellent brew pours a coal black with a
nice head of khaki foam that settles to a thick ring, thin dusty layer, and
sports some very nice lacing. Nose of smoke, char, dark cocoa, dark coffee,
and subtle dark fruits. Flavors nail it for the style. Smoke and char waft around
layers of bakes chocolate, dark coffee, and dark fruits of blueberry and blackberry
lightly touched by brulee. Mouth feel is full, rich, coating, smooth, lightly warming,
and finishing with a perfect balanced bitter malt note.
Overall----near perfect for the style!
Cheers
Aug 12, 2023nice head of khaki foam that settles to a thick ring, thin dusty layer, and
sports some very nice lacing. Nose of smoke, char, dark cocoa, dark coffee,
and subtle dark fruits. Flavors nail it for the style. Smoke and char waft around
layers of bakes chocolate, dark coffee, and dark fruits of blueberry and blackberry
lightly touched by brulee. Mouth feel is full, rich, coating, smooth, lightly warming,
and finishing with a perfect balanced bitter malt note.
Overall----near perfect for the style!
Cheers
Reviewed by tradershmulie from Connecticut
4.06/5 rDev 0%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.06/5 rDev 0%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Great pour, as good as any. Deep black color with carbonation visible. Nice thick head that slowly dissipates.
Smells like a RIS. Nothing special comes through.
Tastes like a pretty typical stout. Nothing bad, but nothing outstanding.
Overall, fine beer, but expensive.
May 11, 2023Smells like a RIS. Nothing special comes through.
Tastes like a pretty typical stout. Nothing bad, but nothing outstanding.
Overall, fine beer, but expensive.
Reviewed by hman43 from North Carolina
4.49/5 rDev +10.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
4.49/5 rDev +10.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
Look: It pours very dark brown with a brown head. Head retention is low.
Smell: It has aromas of chocolate and alcohol. It also has strong prune notes with some coffee and roast. Additionally that are some light sherry elements.
Taste: The roast is forward in the flavors with coffee and chocolate. There are some prune and cherry notes with some light sherry elements.
Feel: It has strong, but smooth alcohol warming with a medium full body. It also has quite a smooth texture.
Overall, for such a strong beer, it is quite smooth in the finish. The bitterness is a tinge harsh, but really doesn't take away from the other complex flavors.
Mar 17, 2023Smell: It has aromas of chocolate and alcohol. It also has strong prune notes with some coffee and roast. Additionally that are some light sherry elements.
Taste: The roast is forward in the flavors with coffee and chocolate. There are some prune and cherry notes with some light sherry elements.
Feel: It has strong, but smooth alcohol warming with a medium full body. It also has quite a smooth texture.
Overall, for such a strong beer, it is quite smooth in the finish. The bitterness is a tinge harsh, but really doesn't take away from the other complex flavors.
Reviewed by colts9016 from Idaho
4.25/5 rDev +4.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.25/5 rDev +4.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
1874
Name: iStout
Brewery: 8 Wired Brewing
Location: Warkworth, NZ
Style: Imperial Stout
ABV: 15%
Date: Unknown
This is my second beer from this brewery. The first was Latte stout of storts, and it fell short. I am hoping for some redemption with this stout. Using a tulip glass, I served this beer at around 52 degrees. The pour created a frothy, creamy light tan two-fingered head with excellent retention. The slow dissipation left some lacing on the glass. I am charting the dark brown beer around SRM 34, almost nearly black. The appearance is above average for this style.
Nosing the glass, I smell dark chocolate, medium-roasted coffee, molasses, caramel, bready, dark roasted malts, a slight char, a hint of smoke, a touch of earthiness, and some floral esters.
I tasted dark chocolate, medium roasted coffee, molasses, figs, caramel, raisins, toasted bread crust, bready, a hint of char, some Maillard, and earthiness.
The mouthfeel is creamy and smooth. The body is heavy, has low carbonation, and finishes long.
I was expecting a hot beer but only got some alcohol warming. The stout is well made, and I prefer it over the other stout I had from this brewery. The beer is above average, and I would drink it again.
Mar 13, 2023Name: iStout
Brewery: 8 Wired Brewing
Location: Warkworth, NZ
Style: Imperial Stout
ABV: 15%
Date: Unknown
This is my second beer from this brewery. The first was Latte stout of storts, and it fell short. I am hoping for some redemption with this stout. Using a tulip glass, I served this beer at around 52 degrees. The pour created a frothy, creamy light tan two-fingered head with excellent retention. The slow dissipation left some lacing on the glass. I am charting the dark brown beer around SRM 34, almost nearly black. The appearance is above average for this style.
Nosing the glass, I smell dark chocolate, medium-roasted coffee, molasses, caramel, bready, dark roasted malts, a slight char, a hint of smoke, a touch of earthiness, and some floral esters.
I tasted dark chocolate, medium roasted coffee, molasses, figs, caramel, raisins, toasted bread crust, bready, a hint of char, some Maillard, and earthiness.
The mouthfeel is creamy and smooth. The body is heavy, has low carbonation, and finishes long.
I was expecting a hot beer but only got some alcohol warming. The stout is well made, and I prefer it over the other stout I had from this brewery. The beer is above average, and I would drink it again.
Reviewed by jzeilinger from Pennsylvania
4.18/5 rDev +3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.18/5 rDev +3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Best By: 07-14-23
A - Pitch black pour with a moderate ring of dark caramel, no visible carbonation.
S - Dark roasted chocolate malt and coffee aroma dominate the aroma on this beer. Overall, this smells great!
T - Chocolate malt roast up front followed with a wave of coffee beans and a slight bit of smokey char and alcohol presence with some pine bitterness. Ends with a lingering coffee chocolate bittersweetness with some hop resin buried underneath.
M - Full bodied and silky with minimal warming on the way down.
O - Definitely noteworthy, not a stand out. But would definitely buy this again. Worth a try.
Jan 25, 2023A - Pitch black pour with a moderate ring of dark caramel, no visible carbonation.
S - Dark roasted chocolate malt and coffee aroma dominate the aroma on this beer. Overall, this smells great!
T - Chocolate malt roast up front followed with a wave of coffee beans and a slight bit of smokey char and alcohol presence with some pine bitterness. Ends with a lingering coffee chocolate bittersweetness with some hop resin buried underneath.
M - Full bodied and silky with minimal warming on the way down.
O - Definitely noteworthy, not a stand out. But would definitely buy this again. Worth a try.
Reviewed by WillieThreebiers from Connecticut
3.89/5 rDev -4.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
3.89/5 rDev -4.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Pours a shiny black with a finger of tan foamy head that slowly settles to a cap with ample lacing. Boozy, bourbon, and some chocolate sweetness. Medium body.
Jan 14, 2023Reviewed by GuyFawkes from Illinois
4/5 rDev -1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4/5 rDev -1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
"Best before 1/7/29" (!); drank 12/25/22 @ Pokemon Communion.
Black appearance. Nice tan head; a thick curtain of lace.
Bourbon, oak, dark chocolate & black pepper notes in the nose.
Creamy, medium thick mouthfeel.
Marshmallow, bourbon, oak & dark chocolate flavors.
A nice stout! Tastes more like an American than a Russian in my opinion, though.
Dec 28, 2022Black appearance. Nice tan head; a thick curtain of lace.
Bourbon, oak, dark chocolate & black pepper notes in the nose.
Creamy, medium thick mouthfeel.
Marshmallow, bourbon, oak & dark chocolate flavors.
A nice stout! Tastes more like an American than a Russian in my opinion, though.
Reviewed by RonaldTheriot from Louisiana
4.85/5 rDev +19.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
4.85/5 rDev +19.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
iStout has a medium, beige head and a dark-brown appearance, with minimal lacing. The aroma is of dark brown bread crust, black cherries, and possibly prunes. The flavor is of those elements, with deep char and strong bitterness. iStout has a medium body, a slightly-velvety mouthfeel, and a mostly-dry finish.
RJT
Aug 14, 2022RJT
Reviewed by Snowcrash000 from Germany
4.24/5 rDev +4.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.24/5 rDev +4.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Pours a pitch-black coloration with a large, creamy. mocha-colored head. Smells of roasted, caramel malt, chocolate and coffee, with hints of licorice and herbal hops coming through as well. Taste is an excellent balance of quite roasted, caramel malt and strong notes of coffee and dark, bitter chocolate, as well as some red berries, tobacco, licorice and hints of herbal, bitter hops. Finishes with a medium bitterness and some caramel malt, coffee, chocolate and licorice lingering in the aftertaste. Full mouthfeel with a medium body and carbonation.
This is a Stout right after my own heart, with its dry, roasted and bitter flavor profile, although the caramel malts add a bit of sweetness to this as well, which feels rather light and just adds to the balance here though. There's a hint of acidity as well, probably from the quite roasted malts, which again integrates itself well into the overall flavor profile though. The intense notes of roasted, slightly acidic, dark and bitter malts, coffee and chocolate really stand out here, with some red berries, tobacco, licorice and herbal hops adding depth and character to this.
Feb 03, 2022This is a Stout right after my own heart, with its dry, roasted and bitter flavor profile, although the caramel malts add a bit of sweetness to this as well, which feels rather light and just adds to the balance here though. There's a hint of acidity as well, probably from the quite roasted malts, which again integrates itself well into the overall flavor profile though. The intense notes of roasted, slightly acidic, dark and bitter malts, coffee and chocolate really stand out here, with some red berries, tobacco, licorice and herbal hops adding depth and character to this.
Reviewed by zeff80 from Missouri
4.21/5 rDev +3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.21/5 rDev +3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
14.9oz can. Poured out an opaque, jet-black color with a small, bubbly, light brown head of foam. It left sudsy trails of lace on the glass. It smelled of rich, roasted coffee, dark chocolate, toffee and toasted caramel. Great roasted coffee, molasses, dark chocolate and toffee taste with a sharp bitterness.
Jan 12, 2022Reviewed by Sigmund from Norway
4.23/5 rDev +4.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
4.23/5 rDev +4.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
330 ml bottle, from Ales By Mail. ABV is 10.0%. Pitch black colour, moderate brown head. Aroma of roast malts, coffee, dark chocolate, vanilla, exotic woodwork. Rich mouthfeel. The medium sweet flavour is roasty with notes of strong coffee and dark bitter chocolate, some vanilla, and distinct bittering hops. Impressive.
Feb 16, 2021Reviewed by JonnoWillsteed from England
4.1/5 rDev +1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.1/5 rDev +1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
L- Inky black, pours with 2Cm fat dark tan head.
S- Deep, fireplace embers.
T- Cocoa, coffee, chocolate, milk-chocolate. Big.
F- It's clear what the proposition is.
O- Well it's lovely. It's absolutely ideal for a cold New Year's Eve. A massively complex yet clever and balanced Imperial Stout.
440ml can. Bought from TremblingMadness/York for home delv. to London BB: 17/06/23 £6.45. Ouch, but worth it.
Dec 31, 2020S- Deep, fireplace embers.
T- Cocoa, coffee, chocolate, milk-chocolate. Big.
F- It's clear what the proposition is.
O- Well it's lovely. It's absolutely ideal for a cold New Year's Eve. A massively complex yet clever and balanced Imperial Stout.
440ml can. Bought from TremblingMadness/York for home delv. to London BB: 17/06/23 £6.45. Ouch, but worth it.
Reviewed by Eddieeight from Ohio
4.25/5 rDev +4.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.25/5 rDev +4.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Purchased for about $10 16.9 oz in October 2020. Not really a fan of the name because it sounds like it was made by Apple. But who really cares. Dark brown. No head. Typical smells from this kind of stout beer. Getting date and raisin and cherry and a slight alcohol burn. Tastes sweet to start then fades into extreme bitterness. Heavy on the cocoa and very chocolatey at the outset. Then the coffee washes over the palate. Not bad! Mouthfeel is medium bodied with slight effervescence. Overall I would call this a respectable stout and it makes my burps taste great. Not my favorite stout and nothing particularly unique about it but it’s straightforward, robust, strong, and manly. Cheers!
Nov 15, 2020
iStout from 8 Wired Brewing Co.
Beer rating:
91 out of
100 with
340 ratings
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