Boris The Spider
Spider Bite Beer Company

Boris The SpiderBoris The Spider
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From:
Spider Bite Beer Company
 
New York, United States
Style:
Russian Imperial Stout
Ranked #424
ABV:
10%
Score:
87
Ranked #15,479
Avg:
3.9 | pDev: 11.54%
Reviews:
61
Ratings:
254
Status:
Active
Rated:
Mar 26, 2022
Added:
Jan 17, 2012
Wants:
  8
Gots:
  47
Boris pours black and opaque like a moonless sky over Siberia. Eight different malts bring a complex aroma and flavor of chocolate, coffee and roasty sweetness. Just in case the winter gets too cold, we brewed this giant spider to 10% abv. So grab your snifter and ushanka and enjoy.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Jwburns75:
Photo of Jwburns75
Reviewed by Jwburns75 from New York

4.1/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Last night a friend and I shared 4 bottles of 4 different Russian Imperial stouts, Founders, Bells Expedition, Ten Fidy, and this one. After those three classics I was expecting a significant drop off with this one, but I gotta say Boris held its own. Picked up a fair amount of chocolate in the nose, strong roastyness throughout. Smooth mouthfeel. Taste was what I expect from the style. We both agreed that Ten Fidy was the best of the four, followed by Bells, then Founders, then this one, but Boris was in the same league for sure.
Mar 28, 2015
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.94 by Knapp85 from Pennsylvania

Mar 26, 2022
 
Rated: 4.08 by Sinister from New York

Feb 21, 2021
Photo of JohnniEMc
Reviewed by JohnniEMc from Pennsylvania

4.21/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Popped open a pint can and poured its contents into a clear Imperial pint glass. It's the color of black coffee with a short lived brown head. Sweet evidence of roasted malt reaches the nose. There's no lacing in the glass, even as the liquid drains. The taste is very consistent from front to finish. Malty, but not overly sweet and slightly bitter at the same time. The finish is rather clean. There's no notice of the ABV being as high as it is. This is one nice RIS.
Feb 12, 2021
Photo of 57md
Reviewed by 57md from Pennsylvania

3.96/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours a deep dark brown color with a finger of tan head. The nose has roasted malt but it's not particularly pungent. The roasted bitterness on the flavor profile is solid but not remarkable.
Dec 23, 2020
Photo of cjeep
Reviewed by cjeep from Pennsylvania

4.34/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
canned 1/7/2020. this is a worthy entry in a strong class...
L: drinking from the can. the can is amusing.
S: nose is sweet, coffee, chocolate, roasted. very nice
T: builds on the nose. toffee. coffee, chocolate. toasted malts
F: smooth, rich light carbonation...
O: this is one excellent beer. check it out.
Jul 16, 2020
 
Rated: 3.55 by nyrblue2 from New York

Jun 16, 2020
Photo of stevoj
Reviewed by stevoj from Idaho

3.91/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
16 oz can from Beer Heaven. Black pour , collar of beige head. Sweet roasty aroma, dark chocolate. Taste stays focused on the roast, chocolaty flavors, semi-sweet. Smooth, tasty, mildly bitter.
Feb 18, 2020
Photo of Msp004
Reviewed by Msp004 from New York

4.19/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Pours black with one finger light brown head and some lacing.
Nose is chocolate layer cake, toasted malts and dark roast coffee.
Mouth is rich but not thick. Minor carbonation and ABV well hidden. Bitter sweet chocolate and toasted malts, black licorice.
To be fair this bottle has a few years on it so a fresher batch may be even better.
Jan 03, 2020
 
Rated: 4.03 by jhlosito75 from Pennsylvania

Oct 20, 2019
 
Rated: 5 by Wesmaze from New York

Aug 06, 2019
 
Rated: 4 by srw from Virginia

Jun 20, 2019
Photo of beerloserLI
Reviewed by beerloserLI from New York

3.98/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A pure black pour with a thin brown head of bubbles. The nose is all malt. Big time chocolate malt on the initial sips. Lots of nice roasted, and robust notes. Additional notes of charred oak, smoke, and burnt toast. Pretty full bodied on the mouth feel with a rather dry feel to the overall drinking. The abv is there but still rather drinkable.

Overall, this is a pretty straight forward good RIS.
Jun 17, 2019
 
Rated: 3.59 by rab53 from Washington

Apr 06, 2019
Photo of StJamesGate
Reviewed by StJamesGate from New York

4.33/5  rDev +11%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Jet with tan film; prune, licorice, Baker’s chocolate + booze; Fig Newtons, chocolate truffles, some Manischewitz, black forest cake finish; round, medium-heavy, no burn.

4 4 4.5 4.25 4.5

A couple of good moves but without any heat and without the usual coffee/roasty bite. Finishes like a feather with a light grape soda. Classic, different enough, delicate + well-executed.
Feb 04, 2019
 
Rated: 3.79 by mholdefer from Alabama

Jan 31, 2019
 
Rated: 4.25 by RochefortChris from North Carolina

Jan 27, 2019
 
Rated: 3.83 by psweendogg from Connecticut

Dec 29, 2018
 
Rated: 3.89 by PhineasMcClintock from Massachusetts

Dec 06, 2018
 
Rated: 4 by 1971bernat from Virginia

Oct 29, 2018
Boris The Spider from Spider Bite Beer Company
Beer rating: 87 out of 100 with 254 ratings