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Ibex Series: Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout
The Schlafly Tap Room
- From:
- The Schlafly Tap Room
- Missouri, United States
- Style:
- Russian Imperial Stout
Ranked #305 - ABV:
- 10.2%
- Score:
- 91
Ranked #6,099 - Avg:
- 4.1 | pDev: 10.49%
- Reviews:
- 428
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Oct 19, 2022
- Added:
- Nov 23, 2002
- Wants:
- 110
- Gots:
- 237
Formerly Schlafly Bourbon Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout
Our Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout is brewed with a big malt flavor, plenty of hop bitterness for balance and roasted barley that imparts notes of dark chocolate. As a finishing touch, the beer is transferred to freshly-emptied Kentucky bourbon barrels and aged before being carbonated and bottled. The barrel aging gives the beer a spicy, vanilla character and a pleasant, warming finish.
In the 18th Century, Imperial Stout was first brewed in London for export to the court of Catherine II of Russia. The beer had to be robust enough to maintain during transport.
This beer will continue to age well in a cool dark place for several years, but it is ready to enjoy now.
40 IBU
Our Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout is brewed with a big malt flavor, plenty of hop bitterness for balance and roasted barley that imparts notes of dark chocolate. As a finishing touch, the beer is transferred to freshly-emptied Kentucky bourbon barrels and aged before being carbonated and bottled. The barrel aging gives the beer a spicy, vanilla character and a pleasant, warming finish.
In the 18th Century, Imperial Stout was first brewed in London for export to the court of Catherine II of Russia. The beer had to be robust enough to maintain during transport.
This beer will continue to age well in a cool dark place for several years, but it is ready to enjoy now.
40 IBU
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by spycow:
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by Niel47 from Canada (ON)
4.88/5 rDev +19%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
4.88/5 rDev +19%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
This is my favourite beer in all the world.
I wast introduced to it by a friend who lives in St. Louis when I went there to visit him somewhere around 2004. He told me there was this beer in town I just had to try.
The colour is black, the smell rich, the flavour vivacious, and the aftertaste one that lasts the whole month. I rarely ever make it to St. Louis anymore, but whenever I even drive through, you can be sure I make it my top priority to visit Schlafly Tap Room for a pint of this true black gold. I may or may not visit my friend - who is one of my best in the world - but I don't skip Schlafly! Lol! (I exaggerate, but not by much.)
The only downside is that their bottles just aren't as good as it is on tap. You can only take so many bottles with you when you leave, and they never fully capture it anyway. Sigh. Too bad I live 1,632 km away. Maybe I should just move there.
May 24, 2020I wast introduced to it by a friend who lives in St. Louis when I went there to visit him somewhere around 2004. He told me there was this beer in town I just had to try.
The colour is black, the smell rich, the flavour vivacious, and the aftertaste one that lasts the whole month. I rarely ever make it to St. Louis anymore, but whenever I even drive through, you can be sure I make it my top priority to visit Schlafly Tap Room for a pint of this true black gold. I may or may not visit my friend - who is one of my best in the world - but I don't skip Schlafly! Lol! (I exaggerate, but not by much.)
The only downside is that their bottles just aren't as good as it is on tap. You can only take so many bottles with you when you leave, and they never fully capture it anyway. Sigh. Too bad I live 1,632 km away. Maybe I should just move there.
Reviewed by jkblr from Indiana
4.21/5 rDev +2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.21/5 rDev +2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
330mL bottled 01:2019 (4 months ago) poured into a Spiegelau stout glass at fridge temp 10.2% ABV. The beer pours dense very dark brown with barely any light penetration around the edges. The head is mocha colored and recedes to a single layer of fine bubbles and a fluffy ring. Minimal lacing. The aroma is chocolate fudge, bourbon and oak. The taste is semisweet chocolate with loads of bourbon, oak and vanilla. The bitterness is mild, but it's not cloying in any way. The mouthfeel is medium to full bodied with medium minus carbonation and a semi dry finish. There is some alcohol heat, but it's well integrated and not distracting. Overall, excellent. This is my first barrel aged beer from Schlafly and I'm surprised how good it is. The lack of hype and relatively low price tempered my expectations.
May 29, 2019Reviewed by SHODriver from North Carolina
4/5 rDev -2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4/5 rDev -2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
2015 Vintage
A: Poured into a snifter to a black beer topped by a dense and rocky finger and a half of light tan head which fades slowly to a collar around the edge of the glass with minimal lacing
S: Smells of intense chocolate, coffee, roasted malts, vanilla, caramel and oak.
T: Taste is chocolate with a slight hint of anise, there's some slight oxidation, alcohol, bitter coffee and roasted malts, vanilla, hints of caramel, and drying oak. On the swallow this one is a little more alcohol, chocolate, roasted malts, slight charred wood and burnt sugar with some lingering coffee.
M: This beer has a body which is slightly creamy while being on the heavier side of medium. Carbonation is just a bit under being prickly while the beer has a drying finish.
O: Overall I recall this beer more fondly the first time I drank it. This one is pretty solid but it misses a little on execution. It has good flavors but it also didn't really stand up well to time. Alcohol is surprisingly apparent as well. It's worth a try but if you don't try it I don't think you'll be missing out on anything.
Feb 11, 2019A: Poured into a snifter to a black beer topped by a dense and rocky finger and a half of light tan head which fades slowly to a collar around the edge of the glass with minimal lacing
S: Smells of intense chocolate, coffee, roasted malts, vanilla, caramel and oak.
T: Taste is chocolate with a slight hint of anise, there's some slight oxidation, alcohol, bitter coffee and roasted malts, vanilla, hints of caramel, and drying oak. On the swallow this one is a little more alcohol, chocolate, roasted malts, slight charred wood and burnt sugar with some lingering coffee.
M: This beer has a body which is slightly creamy while being on the heavier side of medium. Carbonation is just a bit under being prickly while the beer has a drying finish.
O: Overall I recall this beer more fondly the first time I drank it. This one is pretty solid but it misses a little on execution. It has good flavors but it also didn't really stand up well to time. Alcohol is surprisingly apparent as well. It's worth a try but if you don't try it I don't think you'll be missing out on anything.
Reviewed by Luscious_Malfoy from Illinois
4.34/5 rDev +5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.34/5 rDev +5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
light brown pour that settles dark brown with a thin layer of mocha head. has some bourbon sting to it. oak, chocolate and a little hint of smoke in the nose as well. taste is chocolate and bourbon but not overly so on either. feel is a bit thin for the style. not terrible but could use a little more body. overall, it’s a pretty tasty stout. certainly not top tier but definitely not in the bottom either.
Jul 15, 2018Reviewed by HopsAreDaMan from Missouri
4.46/5 rDev +8.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.46/5 rDev +8.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
David and I enjoyed a vertical of these the winter of 2018: a fresh and two aged ones, all two years apart: 2017, 2015, 2013. We basically agree that we liked the fresh and the 2 year old the best. The 4 year old had a bit more complexity, but it lost something that made the others so enjoyable--perhaps the bourbon character. This is still one of the best BBA imperial stouts I have ever had.
May 23, 2018Reviewed by Tsar_Riga from Minnesota
4.03/5 rDev -1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
4.03/5 rDev -1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
A - Dark body, almost entirely opaque but with just a hint of transparency around the edges with reddish highlights. Head is cola tan and minimal, and almost no lacing.
S - Strong hit of alcohol and vanilla from the bourbon, along with an underlying roasted malt note and a whiff of wood.
T - Follows the nose, with strong vanilla and a definite barrel aspect, boozy chocolate, and a mildly bitter bite in the close.
M - Brisk enough carbonation, moderate feel, and a bit of warmth from alcohol. Quite drinkable, but does definite coat so this is better with smaller swallows.
O - A solid entry in this sphere, with fewer sharp edges and no off flavors. I really enjoyed this one, but it was not a revelation for the crowded BBA stout sphere.
May 06, 2018S - Strong hit of alcohol and vanilla from the bourbon, along with an underlying roasted malt note and a whiff of wood.
T - Follows the nose, with strong vanilla and a definite barrel aspect, boozy chocolate, and a mildly bitter bite in the close.
M - Brisk enough carbonation, moderate feel, and a bit of warmth from alcohol. Quite drinkable, but does definite coat so this is better with smaller swallows.
O - A solid entry in this sphere, with fewer sharp edges and no off flavors. I really enjoyed this one, but it was not a revelation for the crowded BBA stout sphere.
Ibex Series: Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout from The Schlafly Tap Room
Beer rating:
91 out of
100 with
1029 ratings
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