Jolly Roger Imperial Stout
Otto's Pub and Brewery

Jolly Roger Imperial StoutJolly Roger Imperial Stout
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From:
Otto's Pub and Brewery
 
Pennsylvania, United States
Style:
Russian Imperial Stout
Ranked #263
ABV:
10%
Score:
92
Ranked #5,408
Avg:
4.13 | pDev: 8.72%
Reviews:
85
Ratings:
171
Status:
Active
Rated:
Dec 05, 2022
Added:
Jun 20, 2006
Wants:
  44
Gots:
  21
Jolly Roger himself blessed this big stout. This is a massive stout with a huge roasted maltiness with complex smoky, chocolate flavors coming through strong thanks to the gentle hand-pump and correct cellar temperature.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by OneDropSoup:
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Reviewed by OneDropSoup from Pennsylvania

4.03/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 3.5
From a bomber, procured at the source.

Pours into a shaker pint straight black, getting only some crimson highlights around the very edges. Finger of mocha head.

Smell is rich & on the sharp side: rich like raisins, dark chocolate, cocoa powder; sharp with a bourbon-like alcohol presence. Or rum-like, with those sugars. Subtle vanilla.

Taste is molasses up front, an earthy kind of sugar sweetness, then backed up by dark chocolatey malts, cooked dark fruit, & booze. This is just a little on the creamy side, has a lot more alcohol bite & some acidity to it. Not very bitter at all -- no notable hop presence, & more surprisingly no real roasty flavor. That really helps the mouthfeel: foamy without being creamy, but ends relatively clean with no cling or a huge impact on the palate. Later on I pick up a slight rauch/bacon-y flavor.

Definitely a heavy hitter -- the alcohol seems a little too prominent, both in the taste & on sobriety. Oddly enough, the mouthfeel is a big plus -- very flavorful, but recedes enough afterward that each sip is a renewal & not just layering on more of the same.
Jan 08, 2010
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.44 by Shantzak from Pennsylvania

Dec 05, 2022
Photo of BitteNochEinWeissbier
Reviewed by BitteNochEinWeissbier from Pennsylvania

4.19/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
12 oz bottle
Date: --- (purchased late 2016 @ Ottos)
Consumed on: 18 Nov, 2022
Glass: Snifter
ABV: 10.6%
Serving Temp: 53.3 F


Look:
Jet black through and through. The dark tan/light brown head starts at 1-finger high but quickly dissipates to a thin ring-and-filmy cover. What lacing there is is fine.

Smell:
Dark malts and char. Molasses and black licorice. Anise. There is a light smokiness to the aroma and even some ash. A faint earthy note is in the background.

Taste:
Everything from the nose is here. The char and the earthy notes are more prominent. The earthy notes take on a more bitter tone mid sip and are joined by a nice bittersweet (or even unsweetened) chocolate taste. Things finish somewhat dry and bittersweet with touches of smoke, earth, and dark chocolate lingering into the aftertaste.

Feel:
Slick and viscous with a some warming from the alcohol (which goes nicely on a cold night). The body is medium-full. Or thicker.

Overall:
A solid RIS. Nicely bitter without being overwhelmingly so. This is arguably the best beer that I have had from Otto's (their Maibock might have something to say about that :) ). It is a great wintertime beer. I always associate it with the Holidays, because that is about when it would show up on Otto's taps and in the bottle shop. Off of a gravity pour (which is how I remember Otto's serving it at their pub) it is absolutely sublime.

I must say that this beer has cellared very well. 6+ years old and still quite good, with noticeable bitterness and quite a thick body. I hadn't intended to cellar this for so long; it just sorta … happened.
Nov 19, 2022
Photo of NeroFiddled
Reviewed by NeroFiddled from Pennsylvania

4.12/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Otto's Pub and Brewery "Jolly Roger Imperial Stout"
via cask @ The Deli Restaurant & Z Bar, State College, PA

Notes: I'm not sure if anything has been added to this cask. It's black in color with a short head of densely foamy dark tan on top. The aroma is of chocolate and wood with a little ashtray added in. There's also a little bit of something like leather, and a suggestion of cedar chips. The flavor is mainly chocolate and roasty with some mild raisin, apple, and berry-like fruitiness. The alcohol has a presence but never really stands out. It has a median bitterness that balances it, and it finishes somewhat acidic and dry. Poured via hand-pump with a sparkler it's soft and smooth with a moderate carbonation. The body is light-medium in feel.
Jan 01, 2022
 
Rated: 4.1 by dsshuck from Delaware

Dec 07, 2020
Photo of MikeWard
Reviewed by MikeWard from Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
10oz pour into a small goblet at the US Hotel in Hollidaysburg pa Friday evening.

Classic RIS look, black as night body with a dark tan head that persists throughout, though leaves only a little lacing.

Aroma strongly of molasses, with some malt and boozy hits.

Good solid tasting RIS, thick and syrupy, a little meaty. Abv quite noticable.

Mouth full, finish molassess.

Overall, a rare same score across the board for me. A solid RIS, and the best beer I've had from Otto's.
Jun 09, 2019
Photo of jmdrpi
Reviewed by jmdrpi from Pennsylvania

4.09/5  rDev -1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
On draft at the brewpub, on hand pump into a snifter glass

Jet black in color, with thick dark tan colored head of tiny bubbles. Good lacing and head retention. Aroma is very roasty- coffee and bitter cocoa. Taste is heavy on the same flavor, but not overly dry, there is some sweetness in there too. Thick, full bodied
May 21, 2019
 
Rated: 4.4 by KensWorld from Florida

Apr 13, 2019
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Reviewed by Bluerabbitbell from Pennsylvania

3.88/5  rDev -6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Taste is better than nose. Sitting at the bar with DW back in State College after the Michigan vs PSU wrestling match. Sitting next to the father of 141#Keenan Storr.
Feb 02, 2019
 
Rated: 4.08 by z_21 from Pennsylvania

Jan 19, 2019
 
Rated: 3.83 by curlybird from Pennsylvania

Jul 01, 2018
 
Rated: 4.24 by deg from New Hampshire

May 17, 2018
 
Rated: 4 by orangesol from Pennsylvania

Sep 05, 2017
 
Rated: 4.75 by smaddock from Massachusetts

Aug 05, 2017
 
Rated: 4.18 by Knapp85 from Pennsylvania

Jul 19, 2017
Photo of SawDog505
Reviewed by SawDog505 from New Hampshire

4.17/5  rDev +1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Poured into a 13 oz teku tulip glass, not sure when it was bottled. Pours a very dark and attractive mayagony with a 2 finger mocha head that leaves webs of lace.

Smell is toffee, caramel, dark chocolate, vanilla, oats, leather, and coffee grounds.

Taste follows chocolate, toffee, coffee, and caramel with some leather and nutmeg.

Mouthfeel is about medium, moderate life, not dry, and excellent drink ability for 10% ABV.

Overall this is a very good Stout, a touch thinner than I would have wanted but still very well done. Thanks @jzeilinger for this brew.
Jul 18, 2017
Photo of jzeilinger
Reviewed by jzeilinger from Pennsylvania

4.24/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
A - Pitch black pour and very thin dark toffee colored lacing.

S - Dark roasted chocolate with a slight hint of char/smokiness, fudge brownies, a little bit of vanilla and cream.

T - Dark roasted chocolate, toasted fudge, some smokiness, and ends with a lingering chocolate char

M - Thick and full bodied, velvety with a silky finish. Alcohol warming on the way down is minimal.

O - Very nice Russian Russian Imperial Stout here!
Jun 30, 2017
 
Rated: 4 by Houser from Pennsylvania

May 17, 2017
 
Rated: 4.77 by DT85 from Pennsylvania

Mar 05, 2017
 
Rated: 4.29 by buzzy from Pennsylvania

Nov 07, 2016
Jolly Roger Imperial Stout from Otto's Pub and Brewery
Beer rating: 92 out of 100 with 171 ratings