Newport Storm - Vlad (Cyclone Series)
Newport Craft Brewing & Distilling Co.

Newport Storm - Vlad (Cyclone Series)Newport Storm - Vlad (Cyclone Series)
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From:
Newport Craft Brewing & Distilling Co.
 
Rhode Island, United States
Style:
American Imperial Stout
ABV:
9%
Score:
89
Avg:
3.97 | pDev: 9.32%
Reviews:
15
Ratings:
39
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Dec 29, 2015
Added:
Oct 29, 2012
Wants:
  1
Gots:
  2
Cyclone Vlad is pure royalty! This Russian Imperial Stout has a rich dark brown, almost black, color and smooth, deep tan head. The use of dark malt and chocolate wheat, a brand new ingredient to Storm, delight the taste buds with delectable baker’s chocolate and roasted coffee flavors. The single type of hop, Warrior, used in Vlad creates a rounded bitterness to compliment all that malty sweetness, making this Cyclone a perfectly balanced brew, despite its hefty 9% ABV and dark qualities.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by alexgash:
Photo of alexgash
Reviewed by alexgash from Connecticut

4.19/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
12 oz. bottle.

Very dark used oil brown-black. Thick and viscous looking. Pinkie finger of whipped, dense, dark khaki head. Nice lacing. Lots of cocoa and dark chocolate on the nose. Dark fruits and chocolate covered cherries. Roasted, charred edge, with some peaty notes as well.

Roasted barley and dark chocolate up front. Coffee and dark chocolate bitterness follow. Nice mix of chocolatey malt and sweetish dark fruits mid-palate. Some licorice and tobacco near the finish. Woody, tannic bitterness linger, with traces of peaty malt and dark fruits in the end. Medium-full body with a thick, creamy feel. Nicely done!
May 04, 2013
More User Ratings:
Photo of cbutova
Reviewed by cbutova from Massachusetts

3.85/5  rDev -3%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Thanks master Atremains. Bottle about 2 years old I think.

A- Pitch black 12oz pour into two snifters with a tan head. The cap really only makes it to a film with no substantial retention or buildup. Lacing is not happening.

S- Intensely roasted grains with notes of burnt barley, caramel, toasted nuts, dark chocolate and a touch of savory like soy sauce. Not much going on beyond the grains besides a hint of dark fruits.

T- Slightly over-baked brownies instantly come to mind with a blend of sweet milk chocolate, heavily roasted to semi burnt dark grains, toasted almonds, vanilla sweets, coffee and a touch of raisins and dark fruits.

MF- Thick and somewhat oily body as the carbonation comes down on the low side of the low-medium level. Texture is just slightly creamy. Warming sensation in the finish.

Reminds me a bit of an aged Founders RIS with an intense and decadent blend of toasted slightly burnt nuts, burnt barley and rich chocolate. I could get down with this Vlad.
Dec 29, 2015
Photo of sulldaddy
Reviewed by sulldaddy from Connecticut

4.01/5  rDev +1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Sampling a cellar temp bottle poured into a snifter.
The beer pours a cola brown color with no light passing through my glass. A fluffy, billowing tan head almost overflows my glass even with a gentle pour.
Aroma is robust right off the pour with molasses and roasted malt with a dose of brown sugar and some dark plums. Definitely a little boozy note in the nose as well.
First sip reveals a thick chewy body with fine tingly carbonation. A very nice texture on this beer.
Flavors is lots of malt and roasted notes. Also get molasses and some dark fruit with just a hint of warm booze on the finish. Pretty well hidden for the ABV. This is a good Imp Stout. Maybe it will become a winter seasonal release?? hint hint
Apr 09, 2015
 
Rated: 3.79 by Element1290 from Rhode Island

Feb 12, 2015
 
Rated: 3.5 by JKV96 from Massachusetts

Oct 09, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by AleShark from Massachusetts

Jan 23, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by RummyRedbeard from Colorado

Oct 26, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by ACY73 from California

Oct 19, 2013
 
Rated: 3.75 by MRsojourner from Massachusetts

Oct 05, 2013
 
Rated: 3.75 by deleted_user_722966 from New Hampshire

Jun 24, 2013
Photo of Resuin
Reviewed by Resuin from Massachusetts

4.11/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.25
Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a snifter. Freshest before "FEB" is notched on the bottle (no year given).

Appearance: Pours a jet black and leaves a little under a finger of dark brown head. Great looking RIS.

Smell: Roasted dark malts, dark chocolate, light coffee, dark fruits: figs, raisins,

Taste: Matches the smell: roasted malts, cocoa, bitter coffee, figs. Quite a bitter finish to this one, although it starts off pretty sweet. Alcohol is decently masked but present, not in a bad way.

Mouth-feel: Medium carbonation (fairly high for a RIS) with a pretty light body for the type of beer it is. A touch of creaminess to it, but I'd call it a bit too light for me.

Overall: Definitely a solid Russian Imperial Stout. Deep, dark flavors to go along with the black/abyss-like color. The body is a bit light, and I would say it has a little too much carbonation, but time could fix that. Definitely solid flavors in the aroma and taste - this is a well crafted brew.
Jun 11, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by BmoreBeerGuy from Maryland

Jun 02, 2013
Photo of Jason
Reviewed by Jason from Massachusetts

3.81/5  rDev -4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
12oz brown bottle with a freshness date.

Pitch black, opaque with a thick lining of brown lacing. Smells of black currants, light molasses, chicory, German dark bread and mild alcohol. Massive roasted character, slightly burnt but more dark chocolate and espresso overtones than anything else. Welcoming warmth, burnt dark fruit, balanced hoppiness with a semi-dry palate.

A really good run at the RIS style, would like to see this come back year to year. Not a mind blowing hype train ... just a simple RIS that does what it is supposed to do.
May 04, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by TripelMark from North Carolina

Apr 04, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by josephwa from Minnesota

Mar 22, 2013
 
Rated: 3.5 by blmar311 from Connecticut

Mar 09, 2013
Photo of dheacck11
Reviewed by dheacck11 from Connecticut

4.04/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
From the bottle.

Pours super inky black with amber edges. Auburn head ~ 1/4 finger, fading quickly. Minimal lacing.

Smell is vanilla bourbon, fairly soft.

Rich dark chocolate, cocoa, malt, and hints of molasses and some sweet almost rose notes. Finish with rich malts and solid burst of dry hops.

Thick and full body, with dry finish from the hops.

Good overall. I love the cyclone series in general, and this follows in that vein of good, drinkable beers. Many better RIS out there, but a fine New England example.
Mar 02, 2013
Photo of CHILLINDYLAN
Reviewed by CHILLINDYLAN from Washington

3.96/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Opaque black with small tan head that dissipated to a thin ring along most of the edge of the glass and did not leave any lacing.
Aroma of deep roastiness, chocolate mocha, and a touch of burnt. Toasty sweet malt behind with some molasses.
Tasted dark and roasty, chocolate mocha, brownies, touch of campfire. Sweet toasty malty backing with molasses. Bitter roasty aftertaste with a splash of booze.
Smooth, thickened, full body. Slightly chalky lingering like the bitter last sip of coffee.
Decent RIS, great roastiness, good fullness to it, alcohol is well integrated. Not my favorite RIS, but a decent example of the style.
Feb 28, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by waiting4lunch from Massachusetts

Feb 16, 2013
 
Rated: 2.75 by DCav

Feb 15, 2013
Newport Storm - Vlad (Cyclone Series) from Newport Craft Brewing & Distilling Co.
Beer rating: 89 out of 100 with 39 ratings