Boris
Alpine Beer Company

BorisBoris
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From:
Alpine Beer Company
 
California, United States
Style:
American Imperial Stout
ABV:
10%
Score:
81
Avg:
3.54 | pDev: 22.32%
Reviews:
58
Ratings:
70
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Feb 27, 2015
Added:
Nov 11, 2008
Wants:
  17
Gots:
  1
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by sulldaddy:
Photo of sulldaddy
Reviewed by sulldaddy from Connecticut

3.92/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Splitting a bottle with Stopper. pouring at cellar temp into a snifter. The beer pours a dark brown color with only a tan edge layer of head.
Aroma is rich chocolate malt with espresso notes and very heavy roasted malt, almost a hint of smoke.
First sip reveals an average body with mild carbonation.
Flavor is roasted malt and coffee with maybe a little bit of dark chocolate bar.
There arent any hops that I can detect, and the booze is well hidden as well.
The beer is fairly easy to drink and I didnt get the signs of infection found in other bottles. A little one dimensional but what it has is pretty good.
Jun 26, 2011
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.53 by wethorseblanket from California

Feb 27, 2015
 
Rated: 3 by jrob21 from North Carolina

Feb 06, 2015
 
Rated: 3.25 by KAF from Iowa

Jul 02, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by riemster from Ohio

Oct 14, 2013
 
Rated: 3.5 by damienblack from Massachusetts

Oct 06, 2013
Photo of UCLABrewN84
Reviewed by UCLABrewN84 from California

3.58/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
Bottle shared at GRG1313’s tasting.

Pours an opaque black with a foamy dark khaki head that settles to a film on top of the beer. Small dots of lace slowly drip into the remaining beer on the drink down. Smell is of dark roasted malt, cocoa, coffee, and bourbon aromas. Taste is much the same with sour cocoa and coffee flavors on the finish. There is a mild amount of roasty bitterness and acidity on the palate with each sip. This beer has a lower level of carbonation with a slightly crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a pretty good beer that is showing signs of infection but is still drinkable.
May 09, 2013
 
Rated: 1 by Azrael

Feb 09, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by t0rin0 from California

Aug 18, 2012
Photo of Huhzubendah
Reviewed by Huhzubendah from District of Columbia

3.65/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Shared by ygtbsm94. Thanks Brad.

The beer is black with a small beige head. The aroma offers some sweet malt, chocolate and roast. Barrel character comes through more and more as the beer warms, offering an interesting tannic component. Burned / charred roast presence is abundant throughout. Subtle chocolate notes and hints of smoke in there as well. Medium bodied with a healthy booze presence. Overall, this was pretty good.
May 13, 2012
Photo of drabmuh
Reviewed by drabmuh from Maryland

3.65/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
The other BORIS provided by Brad. Thanks. I liked this beer more than almost everyone there.

Beer is black dark black with a dark brown head of small bubbles, some lacing, low carbonation, low retention.

Aroma is sweet and roasty, a little boozy. Definitely some alcohol in there.

I have no idea how old this is but it tastes a little old, a little papery but not too distracting, beer is mostly sweet with a strong roast, I'm not going to say it is a great stout but it didn't taste infected or very "off" to me. The alcohol is present too, I enjoyed it.
Mar 08, 2012
Photo of Thorpe429
Reviewed by Thorpe429 from Illinois

3.18/5  rDev -10.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Thanks to Brad for sharing this bottle. Served in a SAVOR wine glass.

Pours a dark brown with a good off-white head and a bit of lacing on the way down. The nose carries some roast and chocolate plus some dark fruits and cherries. A bit of sourness there as well. The flavor brings out some more sour character, and this one unfortunately seems to be infected. Some cherry and lactic notes along with bourbon and oak. Medium body and a slight acidity to the finish. Okay, even with the infection.
Mar 06, 2012
 
Rated: 2.5 by ygtbsm94 from Utah

Mar 05, 2012
 
Rated: 1 by ChrisSalsman from California

Jan 25, 2012
 
Rated: 4 by imperialking from Illinois

Jan 08, 2012
 
Rated: 5 by trodersark from California

Dec 09, 2011
 
Rated: 4 by John11486 from California

Nov 14, 2011
Photo of nickd717
Reviewed by nickd717 from California

3.52/5  rDev -0.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5
Bottle from City Beer Store in SF, review dated 2/1/2009.

Pours black and heavy with a brown head. Coffee, roasted malt, and alcohol on the aroma. Same on the flavor, plus cola and some dark chocolate. Big alcohol bite, slightly unpleasant. A little light on the palate for the style. Pretty enjoyable overall though.
Aug 26, 2011
Photo of sholland119
Reviewed by sholland119 from Pennsylvania

3.95/5  rDev +11.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Big thanks to johndoe8 for the chance to try this one! I am very lucky that we did *not* get an infected bottle. Yay!

A-Opaque deep brown with a thin mocha head. No lacing.

S-Sweet chocolate, lots of roasted coffee and just a bit of bourbon. Coffee takes the lead here.

T-Bitter chocolate and coffee and more bourbon in the taste than in the nose. A bit warming in the finish. flavors perhaps a bit lacking in complexity for the style but very nice.

M-Medium bodied, a bit thin on the palate for the ABV.

D-Nicely drinkable for a beer of this size. I enjoyed this one.

HV
Jan 02, 2011
Photo of ZX6Chris
Reviewed by ZX6Chris from California

4.25/5  rDev +20.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
Just to start of this bottle was totally infected and since I'm a sour fan I totally loved it!

A very dark brew with a little brown around the edges. Nice big head that settles quickly.

A nice tart aroma to go with the bourbon, roasted malts and coffee.

Taste just like it smells. Tart, sour, bourbon, roasted malts, chocolate, coffee. I paired it with a blue cheese and it was simply amazing!

The mouthfeel was light to medium with plenty of carbonation and very smooth.

I like Bourbon Barrel Aged Stouts and I like Sours, this beer was a hit for me.
Nov 04, 2010
Boris from Alpine Beer Company
Beer rating: 81 out of 100 with 70 ratings