Temporary Insanity Imperial Stout
Adventure Brewing South

Temporary Insanity Imperial StoutTemporary Insanity Imperial Stout
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From:
Adventure Brewing South
 
Virginia, United States
Style:
Russian Imperial Stout
ABV:
8.8%
Score:
79
Avg:
3.37 | pDev: 19.58%
Reviews:
22
Ratings:
31
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Sep 03, 2017
Added:
Dec 09, 2006
Wants:
  6
Gots:
  0
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by IBUnit63:
Photo of IBUnit63
Reviewed by IBUnit63 from Massachusetts

3.4/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5
22 oz. into Duvel tulip...

Pours a thick espresso-dark body with thick bready head and moderate lacing. Head goes somewhat quickly. Moderate carbonation.

Ample but subtle sweetness on the nose - a little wine characteristic - from carbonation emerges a little champagne - not a huge amount of roasted malt character. Not what we're looking for in an Imperial Stout but so far interesting nonetheless.

VERY austere...can feel the grain but not the roast. Quite alcoholic and thin but with a white winey character...chardonnay? Only a bit of slate roasted malt at first but starting to come out with warmth. Still mild. Spiced apples emerge, too. Not getting much of any hops.

Finish is a bit astringent with the dry white wine character. A little slate. Not much malt. Quite austere for an Impy.

It's light enough to drink but doesn't bring about the desired flavor profile. Rather aastringent, a bit winey with light chocolate/roasted malt (FINALLY!). Not entirely unpleasant but definitely not what we're looking for with the style. Recent threads about brewery QC issues make me wonder. Looks like an Impy but sure tastes like something a bit different. By no means horrible just definitely not true to style. The label, on the other hand, is quite informative and entertaining on at least some level. Best of wishes to the brewery for resolution of their QC issues which were so graciously addressed in this forum.
Dec 03, 2008
More User Ratings:
Photo of macrosmatic
Reviewed by macrosmatic from Florida

2.69/5  rDev -20.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 2.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5
Thanks to ZachKelly for this bottle! Reviewed from (very long-standing) notes. Poured from a 22 oz. bottle into a 7venth Sun goblet.

A: A bit of a gusher when the bottle is opened. Pours a very dark brown and opaque, with a big tan head that lasts but fairly low visible carbonation.

S: Roasted and chocolate malts. There's isn't really a huge aroma overall. Maybe a touch of vinegar here?

T: Big malts, both darkly roasted and chocolate. A very big roasted (and maybe some hop-derived) bitterness that seems acrid but not Band-aid. A hint of acetic acid. Mild bourbon and oak flavors. At the swallow, it's bitter, acrid and seems a touch acetic.

M: Medium to light-bodied for style. Average carbonation, and very low alcohol presence for a bourbon barrel-aged Imperial Stout.

O: This just was not really good. As stated, it did gush a bit when opened, and I think it might be just slightly infected. The bitterness seems overdone, and really was just not a well-put-together beer. It might not be quite a drain-pour, but really not very good. Never mind - ended up pouring it out.
Sep 03, 2017
Photo of BeerAndGasMasks
Reviewed by BeerAndGasMasks from Virginia

3.43/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
From the growler, it pours a dark brown with a tan head, quickly dissipating. The nose primarily detects roasted malt and the mouth follows. Some bitterness in the back.
Jan 22, 2016
 
Rated: 3.29 by Kegatron from Pennsylvania

Mar 17, 2015
 
Rated: 3.4 by hopkrid from Florida

Nov 03, 2014
 
Rated: 3 by atrocity from Virginia

Aug 25, 2014
 
Rated: 3 by Rhettroactive from Virginia

Jan 13, 2014
 
Rated: 2 by stereosforgeeks from Virginia

Dec 28, 2013
 
Rated: 3.75 by ZachKelly from Virginia

Dec 22, 2013
 
Rated: 4.25 by dmk91 from Virginia

Dec 14, 2013
 
Rated: 3.5 by Boone757 from Virginia

Nov 29, 2013
Photo of Rifugium
Reviewed by Rifugium from North Dakota

3.39/5  rDev +0.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
First had: on tap at B&G

Dark brown-black pour with a small cap of tan head that retained as a ringlet. Aroma of dark malts, cocoa, anise, indistinct berry sweetness. Taste was not quite what I would have expected. Typical stouty dark malts, notes of bittersweet chocolate, a pretty distinct licorice flavor, accompanied by a somewhat phenolic cherry cough syrup. Awkward, and maybe off, but I actually liked it to some degree. Body was on the heavier side of medium, mouthfeel was pretty smooth, despite the unusual taste, carbonation was on the lower side. Overall...interesting. Probably "a bit messy" would be my official stance, but I still found it enjoyable.
May 25, 2013
 
Rated: 3.75 by PoolFishGolf from Virginia

Oct 08, 2012
Photo of TracyfromVA
Reviewed by TracyfromVA from Virginia

5/5  rDev +48.4%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
This beer is excellent! It's got a beautiful dark color and tastes exceptional with citrus notes mixed with roasted coffee and chocolate flavors. There's a lot going on in this complex beer and savoring the flavors afterwards to taste all it has to offer is a treat. While not a session beer, it's definitely one you'll want to try again.
Nov 28, 2010
Photo of Pencible
Reviewed by Pencible from Virginia

3.73/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
A: This poured an opaque black ruby with some dark tan head.
S: It smelled surprisingly like strong orange hops, with some light caramel malt and cocoa powder and a hint of coffee.
T: It tasted like bold citrus hops with some roasted coffee and dry dark chocolate, and a bit of brown sugar. As it warmed, the hops died down some and the overall flavor became much more balanced. The aftertaste was bitter and initially had a strange mint flavor, but that turned into more standard stout bitterness.
M: It was quite thick, almost chewy, with a bit of carbonation.
D: This started out very hoppy, more like a black IPA than a double stout, which was unimpressive. But once it opened up, it turned into a fairly tasty brew. It was a bit hot, but not difficult to drink. It would be interesting to see how cellaring affects this, and I could definitely see how this might make for good bourbon aging.
Jul 09, 2010
Photo of deereless
Reviewed by deereless from Colorado

2.98/5  rDev -11.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5
A: Inch of thick frothy head, near pitch black in color, serious lacing and sticky spots along the interior of the glass - 3.50, S: Smells like ash with a hint of sour cherry, thin maple syrup-like sweetness - 3.00, T: The flavor prompts likenesses to burnt cherry and pine needle tea, quite sweet almost cloyingly so but the ash flavors tend to pull the sweetness back, some astringency - 2.75, M: Thick and slightly chewy - 3.50, D: I see with Blue & Gray was trying to do but the burnt grain has way too big of role in this beer and really takes away from the ability to enjoy it, not one I would probably drink again - 2.75
Mar 28, 2010
Photo of TMoney2591
Reviewed by TMoney2591 from Illinois

3.35/5  rDev -0.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
Served in a Dogfish Head snifter.

Pours an opaque deep space black with a small bit of oatmeal head. The smell is mostly dark malts, with some vanilla, rubber, plums, and anise. The taste is disappointing after the tasty aroma, with a harsh leather or rubber dominating the tongue, beating it into submission. Fringe-relegated notes of those dark malts and a very faint caramel (and possibly some woodiness) save the taste from sinking into the depths of abject negativity. The body is on the heaviest notch of the medium ladder, with only a hint of carbonation. Although this brew is pretty smooth, the overwhelming taste of rubber, which, thanks to the body, malingers on the tongue, weighing down the drinkability along with it. Gotta say, I'm pretty disappointed overall.
Feb 23, 2010
Photo of StrangeBrewer76
Reviewed by StrangeBrewer76 from Massachusetts

3.09/5  rDev -8.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
First thing that makes me raise my eyebrow is that upon opening, the pffft was like a homebrew bottled yesterday, very slight and a little curious.

As a result of the above, I gave it an especially vigorous pour and as I expected the resulting head is fleeting; as if this beer were not intended to be carbonated. I'm still feeling a little suspect.

Weak smell, not much to pick out. I'm having a hard time getting anything. Either my nose is broke or there is little emphasis on aroma for this one. I'm drawing a blank.

Tastes of oak and leather aged in a licorice barrel. Licorice is a dominant flavor. Black licorice, not Twizlers. Coffee grounds bitterness lingers in the aftertaste.

The mouthfeel is smooth and practically without carbonation as one may have previously guessed. The body is medium to heavy with a strong syrup quality. This is not a beer I would wish to warm too much. Keep it in the 40s and you should be OK.

Drinkability. Well, after seeing the brewery it all makes sense. this is a spectacular homebrew but somewhat short of a commercial success. I'd gladly accept another if offered but I would not go out of my way to get one.

Worth a try if you happen upon it.
Mar 02, 2009
Photo of esv
Reviewed by esv from Virginia

2.5/5  rDev -25.8%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Bomber - 22oz

A) Black. Almost zero head, despite a vigouros pour. No Lacing

S) Very meager nose. Just a hint of malt and I might be imagining it. Maybe a processed/plastic smell.

T) No plums. No raisins. No Chocolates. Lacking in complexity. Sweet up-front but not malty-sweet. Balanced with a hopy bitterness rather than burnt malts. No bitter chocolates or coffee. Some kind of raspberry flavor is lingering with the bitterness ... not altogether unpleasant.

M) Medium-Full. Nice and Heavy. My lips are not nearly as stickky as they are with most imperials, dubbels, barley wines and other high-malt beers.

D) This beer is drinkable enough.

While not a great or even good imperial stout, it's not offensive. I wish I could write a better review. This is a local beer for me and I intend to make it a point to drink more of their offerings.

Blue and Grey, I look forward to your future offerings and pledge to funnel more of my beer funds your way. I'm glad you are out there in Va, diversifying the offerings. Thanks!
Feb 12, 2009
Photo of dmamiano
Reviewed by dmamiano from West Virginia

2.32/5  rDev -31.2%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5
Wow... all I can say is I expected more. This beer was one on a bet from fellow BA and friens, Swillbilly. BTW, go Panthers!
This beer looked good enough, but when I smelled it, I was thinking something was amiss.
Smell was a bit roasty, sweet, but had a weird plastic like smell going on.
Taste reinforced the bad smell. Initial reaction to the taste was rubber! It tasted like a rubber bung had been floating in this beer. It was weird.
Not happy at all with this beer.
For an "Impy" stout, it left a lot to be desired.
Dec 28, 2008
Temporary Insanity Imperial Stout from Adventure Brewing South
Beer rating: 79 out of 100 with 31 ratings