Nikolai Vorlauf
Funky Buddha Brewery

Nikolai VorlaufNikolai Vorlauf
Beer Geek Stats | Print Shelf Talker
From:
Funky Buddha Brewery
 
Florida, United States
Style:
Russian Imperial Stout
ABV:
9.5%
Score:
90
Avg:
4.03 | pDev: 7.94%
Reviews:
49
Ratings:
293
Status:
Active
Rated:
Mar 24, 2022
Added:
Sep 03, 2014
Wants:
  17
Gots:
  95
We brewed this imperial stout to be big, bold and strong, like a bear-hugging Russian wrestler. A thick body using oats and lactose is complimented by plenty of complex chocolate, cocoa, and caramel undertones, before finishing on a balanced roasty note.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by XmnwildX12:
Photo of XmnwildX12
Rated by XmnwildX12 from Minnesota

4/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Jan 19, 2016
More User Ratings:
Photo of Treyliff
Reviewed by Treyliff from West Virginia

4.17/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
22oz bottle poured into a snifter
2016ish vintage

A- pours jet black with a one finger foamy khaki head that has good retention

S- roasted and charred aromas up front give way to dark fruit aromas or booze soaked raisin and fig, along with caramel, black licorice, faded earthy hops and a hint of oxidation

T- bold roasted and charred malt yo front gives a hint of smoky element, followed by notes of anise, dark chocolate, burnt bread, raisins & figs, caramel and just a hint of faded citrusy hops. The finish gives more char, along with toasted dark bread, licorice and chocolate that sticks around on the linger

M- medium body with moderate carbonation leads to a foamy mouthfeel that turns creamy into a slightly warming finish

O- a solid and flavorful straight up RIS
Mar 24, 2022
 
Rated: 4.25 by paulish from New York

Dec 11, 2021
 
Rated: 4 by alexsergio from New York

Feb 07, 2020
 
Rated: 4.42 by RobertColianni from Pennsylvania

Nov 28, 2019
 
Rated: 4.02 by cambabeer from New York

Jan 14, 2019
Photo of SaCkErZ9
Reviewed by SaCkErZ9 from South Carolina

3.26/5  rDev -19.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25
Bottled 11.18.15

Pours from the 22oz bottle into a La Fin Du Monde snifter. Pitch black in color with a very nice sized tan to light coffee colored head. Generous amounts of lacing adorn the glass. The head retention is pretty stellar too.

Aroma somewhat lacking. Notes of coffee and alcohol and dark fruits; figs and raisins.

Flavor is decent. Alcohol is certainly noticeable and the coffee is as well. Fruitiness and a good bitterness burn in the back end. I would say on the fruity and alcoholic side with this one, even though the abv isn't that high. No alcohol burn, which is good. Kind of slick and oily on the finish. Bitter all the way down.

Not a bad beer, but I don't know why I saved it for this long. Kind of lost in the cellar. I would imagine this one is much better fresh. If you have one, drink it now.
Jan 12, 2019
 
Rated: 4.04 by Montanabeerz from Montana

Oct 23, 2018
Photo of rudzud
Reviewed by rudzud from Massachusetts

4.13/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Received in a trade two years ago. 2016 Vintage.

A - Poured into my Duvel tulip a nice dark black with a good two finger mocha head that fades slowly to leave nice sticky lacing and a thin wispy blanket.

S - Aromas of loads of dark fruits, raisins, caramel, bakers chocolate. Alcohol hidden quite nicely.

T - Taste is similar to the nose, really big dark fruit notes, light caramel. Little bit of chocolate, taste is really subtle. Almost slightly smoky. Decent roast, as it warms it gets a bit on the sweet side. Finish is lingering bitterness.

M - Mouthfeel is nicely carbonated, low, but very creamy. Body isn't bad, could be a bit heavier. Alcohol hidden very very nicely.

O - Overall this was a solid RIS but the taste was a bit muted. Super subtle and subdued, not sure if that was purely from the age or what it's meant to be. Either way though it was a solid RIS.

Serving Type: Bottle
Jun 05, 2018
 
Rated: 4.14 by Peter1977 from Massachusetts

Jan 07, 2018
Photo of ECOBOOSTINST
Reviewed by ECOBOOSTINST from Iowa

3.91/5  rDev -3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
I ended the night with this one after a few IPA's. It felt a tad thin and a bit under carbed. The sweetness hurt this beer for me as it was a bit too overly sweet. Plenty of chocolate and coffee though
Sep 05, 2017
 
Rated: 4.02 by cd34 from Illinois

Aug 27, 2017
 
Rated: 3.88 by VeganUndead from Virginia

Aug 23, 2017
 
Rated: 4.06 by NolaHopHead from Louisiana

Aug 11, 2017
 
Rated: 3.73 by Chuckdiesel24 from Illinois

Aug 08, 2017
 
Rated: 3.81 by mltobin from Connecticut

Jul 16, 2017
 
Rated: 4.84 by FlaS4 from Florida

Jun 15, 2017
 
Rated: 4.27 by Skillet from Arkansas

Jun 09, 2017
 
Rated: 4.16 by JamieDuncan from Maryland

Jun 06, 2017
Photo of Boccu
Reviewed by Boccu from New York

4.04/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Pours black with really no head. Aroma of dark chocolate and dark fruits. Taste follows the nose with cocoa, Carmel,molasses, burnt marshmallows and vanilla. Not very imperial stout. A little too thin for a stout to me. Hung stout fan. Beginners Russian imperial stout. It's really a heavy porter. Big fan of funky Buddha just not this one.
May 26, 2017
Nikolai Vorlauf from Funky Buddha Brewery
Beer rating: 90 out of 100 with 293 ratings