Big Deluxe
Ritual Brewing Co.

Big DeluxeBig Deluxe
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From:
Ritual Brewing Co.
 
California, United States
Style:
Russian Imperial Stout
Ranked #274
ABV:
12.2%
Score:
91
Ranked #6,102
Avg:
4.12 | pDev: 10.44%
Reviews:
15
Ratings:
93
Status:
Active
Rated:
Mar 03, 2024
Added:
Dec 23, 2012
Wants:
  9
Gots:
  16
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by dbrigham10:
Photo of dbrigham10
Rated by dbrigham10 from California

4.75/5  rDev +15.3%

Feb 17, 2013
More User Ratings:
Photo of WoodBrew
Reviewed by WoodBrew from Ohio

4.19/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
I am trying this beer off the tapper at the brewery as part of a six sample flight. It poured an opaque dark mahogany amber with tan head that is leaving some lace. The scent had rich sweet malt notes. The taste was nicely balanced and easy to drink with sweet chocolate malt base with bold molasses and earth presence. The mouthfeel was fuller in body with good carbonation. Overall it is a solid beer.
Mar 03, 2024
Photo of NickyMac
Reviewed by NickyMac from California

5/5  rDev +21.4%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Very dark, chocolatey, Smokey... One of my new favorites. I love it. Very strong. I guess it's everything you would expect from an imperial Stout, but I would say that it is well above average among the imperial stouts.
Aug 01, 2023
 
Rated: 4.22 by Wisconsin_IPA_Lover from Wisconsin

Aug 05, 2022
Photo of Radome
Reviewed by Radome from Florida

4.23/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Tasted from a bomber bottle into a brandy snifter.

L - Mahogany brown and totally opaque in the glass. Moderate amounts of light brown head pulls back to a thick ring around the glass made up of tiny pin-head sized bubbles.

S - Strong malt notes of rich chocolate, espresso, roasted grain, light smoke. Has a light fruity note that could be from yeast or alcohol; maybe a bit of flowery hops as well, but only at an extremely low level. The impression is complex and inviting.

T - Flavors of rich malt: chocolate, espresso, raisins and prunes at a lower level. Late in the palate there is a low fruity note that seems mostly from yeast. The finish is off-dry and includes a moderate brandy-like alcohol flavor.

F- Medium to heavy body with a silky feel, likely from the oats. Low carbonation. Heavy duty hops bitterness that is well-proportioned for the other strong sensations in the beer. Moderate alcohol burn.

O - This is a delicious, strong and assertive stout. Lots of big flavors and aromas of a classic imperial stout.
Nov 04, 2018
Photo of Captain69
Rated by Captain69 from Illinois

3.98/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
strong tasing beer - great to drink - but one is enough at 12 %
Jun 30, 2018
Photo of sulldaddy
Reviewed by sulldaddy from Connecticut

3.95/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Just picked up a 2014 bottle of this brew. Pouring the 22 oz bottle into a snifter. Got the bottle as part of a trade.
the beer pours cola brown with a dense beige head. Foam is about 3 cm and fades slowly to the thinnest of edge layers.
The aroma is brown sugar and roasted malt with a heavy dose of general booziness and some molasses. No hops show up here, but this is not a secret big beer.
the first sip reveals a slightly chewy body with sticky texture and fine tingly carbonation. Physical traits make this a sipping beer.
Flavor is roasted malt and coffee grounds with a good dose of brown sugar and anice. The booze is big and brings some black pepper after each sip. The hops dont show up and This beer is a sipper through and through.
very malty big boozy brew, if that is what you are looking for this is a winner.
Mar 18, 2018
 
Rated: 3.5 by DerwinWentworth from Utah

Feb 02, 2018
Photo of alexanderc994
Reviewed by alexanderc994 from California

4.55/5  rDev +10.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
Pours dark, dense viscosity with little head retention. Smells of chocolate, molasses, espresso, cold-brew coffee, with notes of cherry, sassafras root and black pepper. Strong roasted malt taste with smokey, bitter floavor and assertive hop presence. Moderately viscous mouthfeel and moderately dry finish. Quite astringent on the palate. Would pair with: grilled asparagus or summer squash with balsamic reduction; chocolate pot de creme or mousse; oak-smoked short rib; caramelized onions.
Dec 21, 2017
 
Rated: 4.47 by aaron205pc from California

Oct 24, 2017
 
Rated: 3.75 by Lucoli from New York

Dec 14, 2016
 
Rated: 4.75 by IceAce from California

May 08, 2016
 
Rated: 4.36 by C-roll32 from California

Apr 08, 2016
 
Rated: 4 by kylemckinnis from Colorado

Apr 06, 2016
Photo of KettleBellFreak
Reviewed by KettleBellFreak from Tennessee

4.8/5  rDev +16.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
Very appealing deep, dark color, no light passing through even the edges. Smells of hazelnut, coffee and cigarettes. Taste is a great burnt sugar and booze with chocolate and the smoothest malt all the way to the end. SO DRINKABLE. Was nice and thick but it went down easy like a white wine.

Probably one of my favorite non BA stouts after mikkeller cocoa shake. Such a good drink.
Dec 31, 2015
Photo of Lucnifter
Reviewed by Lucnifter from California

4.3/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
22oz bottle. Pours black with mahogany in the edges and a mocha head. Roasty, coffee and toffee on the nose. Similar taste. Medium, full, creamy mouthfeel.
Quite nice.
Dec 25, 2015
Photo of Furlinator
Reviewed by Furlinator from California

4.1/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Mostly coffee on the nose. Big coffee flavor initially with some subtle cocoa and a noticeable alcohol presence. A solid, if not spectacular, coffee forward imperial stout.
Dec 19, 2015
 
Rated: 4.09 by TBonez477 from Vermont

Nov 30, 2015
Big Deluxe from Ritual Brewing Co.
Beer rating: 91 out of 100 with 93 ratings