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Ivan The Terrible Imperial Stout
Big Sky Brewing Company
- From:
- Big Sky Brewing Company
- Montana, United States
- Style:
- Russian Imperial Stout
- ABV:
- 9.5%
- Score:
- 89
- Avg:
- 3.99 | pDev: 8.52%
- Reviews:
- 125
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Apr 16, 2021
- Added:
- May 23, 2012
- Wants:
- 19
- Gots:
- 123
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by biboergosum:
Reviewed by biboergosum from Canada (AB)
3.68/5 rDev -7.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
3.68/5 rDev -7.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
12oz bottle, 2014 edition - nice to see another of this brewery's stronger offerings make it across the border.
This beer pours a solid, light-absorbing black, with rather spare basal cola edges, and two fingers of wanly puffy, tightly foamy, and duly creamy chocolate milk brown head, which leaves some crumbling ski hill snow mass lace around the glass as it slowly abates.
It smells of bready, meaty caramel malt, bittersweet cocoa powder, syrupy dark sugar, muddled black dried fruit, Nordic liquorice, sugary root beer, and a stultifying whiff of aggressive alcohol. The taste is semi-sweet, gritty chocolate, bready caramel malt, a bit of dank and fleshy ash, still indistinct, but surely present black fruit, subtle dry coffee grounds, Zellers-quality black liquorice, tame earthy, weedy hops, and a well-restrained (for now) metallic booziness.
The bubbles are fairly understated in their tempered frothiness, the body an adequate medium-heavy weight for the style, and more or less smooth, a trite, kind of pithy creaminess straining to be noticed. It finishes surprisingly dry, the cocoa turning as such, while the malt maintains its disaffected posture, and the other sundry characters play out their guest fees.
A generally engaging, but not particularly world-beating version of the style - lots going on, but a certain dissociative nature starts to become evident early on, and that clamminess just carries on and on, once it sticks to your palate. Yeah, ok, but not something I care to immediately revisit, well-integrated ABV considerations aside.
Dec 19, 2014This beer pours a solid, light-absorbing black, with rather spare basal cola edges, and two fingers of wanly puffy, tightly foamy, and duly creamy chocolate milk brown head, which leaves some crumbling ski hill snow mass lace around the glass as it slowly abates.
It smells of bready, meaty caramel malt, bittersweet cocoa powder, syrupy dark sugar, muddled black dried fruit, Nordic liquorice, sugary root beer, and a stultifying whiff of aggressive alcohol. The taste is semi-sweet, gritty chocolate, bready caramel malt, a bit of dank and fleshy ash, still indistinct, but surely present black fruit, subtle dry coffee grounds, Zellers-quality black liquorice, tame earthy, weedy hops, and a well-restrained (for now) metallic booziness.
The bubbles are fairly understated in their tempered frothiness, the body an adequate medium-heavy weight for the style, and more or less smooth, a trite, kind of pithy creaminess straining to be noticed. It finishes surprisingly dry, the cocoa turning as such, while the malt maintains its disaffected posture, and the other sundry characters play out their guest fees.
A generally engaging, but not particularly world-beating version of the style - lots going on, but a certain dissociative nature starts to become evident early on, and that clamminess just carries on and on, once it sticks to your palate. Yeah, ok, but not something I care to immediately revisit, well-integrated ABV considerations aside.
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by backblast from Alaska
4.25/5 rDev +6.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.25/5 rDev +6.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Pours black with a thick tan head.
Tastes heavily of rich dark malt and dark chocolate with mild bitterness, mild booze presence and has a sweet finish and a very nice lingering aftertaste. Medium body and lots of carbonation.
Apr 16, 2021Tastes heavily of rich dark malt and dark chocolate with mild bitterness, mild booze presence and has a sweet finish and a very nice lingering aftertaste. Medium body and lots of carbonation.
Reviewed by Treyliff from West Virginia
4.03/5 rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
4.03/5 rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
2014 Vintage
12oz bottle poured into a snifter
A- pours deep black color with a one-finger foamy khaki head that reduces to a ring
S- dark chocolate and charred malt aroma, followed by notes of caramel, molasses, raisins, leather, blueberries and brown sugar
T- dark chocolate and char, followed by black licorice, molasses, figs, raisins and a hint of vanilla. The finish gives bitter char and chocolate
M- medium body with moderate carbonation leads to a creamy mouthfeel and a slightly warming finish
O- big and bold, but how’s the abv pretty well
Jan 30, 202012oz bottle poured into a snifter
A- pours deep black color with a one-finger foamy khaki head that reduces to a ring
S- dark chocolate and charred malt aroma, followed by notes of caramel, molasses, raisins, leather, blueberries and brown sugar
T- dark chocolate and char, followed by black licorice, molasses, figs, raisins and a hint of vanilla. The finish gives bitter char and chocolate
M- medium body with moderate carbonation leads to a creamy mouthfeel and a slightly warming finish
O- big and bold, but how’s the abv pretty well
Reviewed by TheGent from New Jersey
4.18/5 rDev +4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.18/5 rDev +4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Big Sky Brewing
Ivan the Terrible Imperial Stout (2017)
Note: I’ve never had the beer fresh.
Look: Black and opaque with a light brown, densely packed head. No visible carbonation. A curtain of lacing is left behind as the two finger head from the initial pour disappears. As I drink the beer down there is no lacing left.
Smell: Milk chocolate sweetness and cocoa powder. Earthy and roasty malt aroma. Soft bourbon aroma with some vanilla. Faint meat. As the beer warms up a hint of alcohol shows up, but pleasantly.
Taste: Up front notes of dark chocolate, milk chocolate and slightly sweetened black coffee. Mid palate the beer turns dry with toasted bread and some pithy citrus bitterness. Delicious.
Feel: Low carbonation and dry. Smooth and soft feel. Very light on the palate.
Overall: For 9.5% this beer is insanely drinkable. It’s a really excellent stout. No flavor additions, but chock full of flavor!
Sep 08, 2019Ivan the Terrible Imperial Stout (2017)
Note: I’ve never had the beer fresh.
Look: Black and opaque with a light brown, densely packed head. No visible carbonation. A curtain of lacing is left behind as the two finger head from the initial pour disappears. As I drink the beer down there is no lacing left.
Smell: Milk chocolate sweetness and cocoa powder. Earthy and roasty malt aroma. Soft bourbon aroma with some vanilla. Faint meat. As the beer warms up a hint of alcohol shows up, but pleasantly.
Taste: Up front notes of dark chocolate, milk chocolate and slightly sweetened black coffee. Mid palate the beer turns dry with toasted bread and some pithy citrus bitterness. Delicious.
Feel: Low carbonation and dry. Smooth and soft feel. Very light on the palate.
Overall: For 9.5% this beer is insanely drinkable. It’s a really excellent stout. No flavor additions, but chock full of flavor!
Reviewed by BBThunderbolt from Kiribati
3.55/5 rDev -11%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
3.55/5 rDev -11%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
12oz bottle, 2014 version, poured into 14oz teku. Poured the expected solid blac color, wit about 1/4 inch of tan head that had low retention and lacing.
Lots of big grain, and alcohol in the nose. Faint hints of licorice and coffee.
Same on the tongue, big malts, licorice in the middle, coffee and alcohol on the finish.
The body was a bit lighter than I expect in the style, but was still fairly full,and had a finish that was a bit drier than anticipated.
Drinkability was very good. I've had this beer repeatedly over the years, and have always enjoyed it.
Overall, a nice brew. Buy you some, and drink some now, and save some for a few years.
Sep 05, 2019Lots of big grain, and alcohol in the nose. Faint hints of licorice and coffee.
Same on the tongue, big malts, licorice in the middle, coffee and alcohol on the finish.
The body was a bit lighter than I expect in the style, but was still fairly full,and had a finish that was a bit drier than anticipated.
Drinkability was very good. I've had this beer repeatedly over the years, and have always enjoyed it.
Overall, a nice brew. Buy you some, and drink some now, and save some for a few years.
Reviewed by GuyFawkes from Illinois
3.75/5 rDev -6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.75/5 rDev -6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
2014 vintage; drank 11/17/14 @ the Yarchives.
Black hue.
Dark tan head; strong lace.
Creamy oats & black licorice nose.
Medium thick mouthfeel.
Black licorice & fresh earth flavors; hints of banana emerge as this warms.
A justly brutal RIS, with the banana twist adding a bit of intrigue. Good not great.
Apr 24, 2019Black hue.
Dark tan head; strong lace.
Creamy oats & black licorice nose.
Medium thick mouthfeel.
Black licorice & fresh earth flavors; hints of banana emerge as this warms.
A justly brutal RIS, with the banana twist adding a bit of intrigue. Good not great.
Reviewed by Mindcrime1000 from South Dakota
3.85/5 rDev -3.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
3.85/5 rDev -3.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Poured from a single-serve bottle into a stout glass.
Pours a somewhat-thin, but still (remarkably) opaque almost-black. Very little head or lacing.
The nose is heavy on molasses and other dark-sugar-driven aromas. Hints of dark fruit, herbs, and booze peek through. Smells a bit sweet for the style.
The flavor is also a little sweet for the style, but not cloyingly. Otherwise, this has a unique flavor. Toasted malts and char, which weren't really present on the nose, are rather forward on the palate. The middle of the palate gives way to dark fruit, herb, and molasses. Finishes with booze and astringent dryness, thankfully, otherwise this might have been a sticky mess.
The mouthfeel is interesting. Rather light for the style, but not thin. Medium-full body. The dry finish of the flavor is there in the mouthfeel. It keeps the sticky molasses note from overwhelming the brew.
I can't believe I've passed this brew over time and time again, as I enjoy other Big Sky offerings. It's shaded rather sweet for an RIS, but it's tasty. It's particularly good within its price point.
Jan 05, 2019Pours a somewhat-thin, but still (remarkably) opaque almost-black. Very little head or lacing.
The nose is heavy on molasses and other dark-sugar-driven aromas. Hints of dark fruit, herbs, and booze peek through. Smells a bit sweet for the style.
The flavor is also a little sweet for the style, but not cloyingly. Otherwise, this has a unique flavor. Toasted malts and char, which weren't really present on the nose, are rather forward on the palate. The middle of the palate gives way to dark fruit, herb, and molasses. Finishes with booze and astringent dryness, thankfully, otherwise this might have been a sticky mess.
The mouthfeel is interesting. Rather light for the style, but not thin. Medium-full body. The dry finish of the flavor is there in the mouthfeel. It keeps the sticky molasses note from overwhelming the brew.
I can't believe I've passed this brew over time and time again, as I enjoy other Big Sky offerings. It's shaded rather sweet for an RIS, but it's tasty. It's particularly good within its price point.
Reviewed by Drak-Nib from Nebraska
3/5 rDev -24.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
3/5 rDev -24.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Interesting flavor in a very good way. Smooth and strong. Be careful with this, but enjoy it. This will kick you to the curb, but it's worth a second run. From a taster. 2018/11/25
Nov 28, 2018Reviewed by smcolw from Massachusetts
4.06/5 rDev +1.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
4.06/5 rDev +1.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Small head, spotty lace. Dark brown color.
Strong molasses aroma. A bit medicinal.
Sweeter than most stouts but the body doesn't reflect this. The flavor is mostly semisweet chocolate. I still get a light medicinal touch.
Sep 02, 2018Strong molasses aroma. A bit medicinal.
Sweeter than most stouts but the body doesn't reflect this. The flavor is mostly semisweet chocolate. I still get a light medicinal touch.
Reviewed by jdbigsky from Montana
3.88/5 rDev -2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
3.88/5 rDev -2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Wonderful RIS. Black opaque pour. Dark fruit aroma with molasses. Small licorice taste and then the alcohol bomb hits but not unpleasant. Great to sip and savor.
Jun 03, 2018Rated by eppie82 from Illinois
3.52/5 rDev -11.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.52/5 rDev -11.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Roasted malt smell. Some chocolate in taste but tastes a bit watery on mouthfeel.
Apr 15, 2018
Ivan The Terrible Imperial Stout from Big Sky Brewing Company
Beer rating:
89 out of
100 with
582 ratings
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