Imperial Stout
Antares
- From:
- Antares
- Argentina
- Style:
- Russian Imperial Stout
Ranked #478 - ABV:
- 8.5%
- Score:
- 85
Ranked #28,847 - Avg:
- 3.74 | pDev: 9.09%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 12
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Nov 02, 2024
- Added:
- Jun 27, 2006
- Wants:
- 8
- Gots:
- 4
SCORE
85
Very Good
85
Very Good
No description / notes.
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Reviewed by BEERchitect from Kentucky
4.12/5 rDev +10.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.12/5 rDev +10.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Bold in character, rich with flare and dangerously smooth, the Russian imperial stout of Antares is genuinely Argentinian although the beer's roots originate in Great Britan and a Russian taste is built into the beer.
Antares Imperial Stout is intimidatingly dark with a near black opaqueness and quite the mirror-like sheen. A creamy, lacy, surprisingly light tan foam spiderwebs across the beer and skirts up the glass. Creamy, sweet and roasty on the nose, the scent of toffee, coffee, cocoa and cream are paramount while its taste is a mirror image with toffee and butterscotch, chocolaty and nutty.
The ale really develops flavor over the middle palate as its sweetness relaxes and the roasty complexities build in. Nutty, roasty and earthy coffee layers on the palate with an accompaniment of creamy malts for a taste of heavy whipping cream, dark chocolate, black walnut, burnt toast and over seared sugars. Tangy with a light strained roast flavor, fruits of grape and plum join a spiciness of licorice for a late collection of understated complexity.
Finishing full, rich and with a broad tooth, the beer is somberly drinkable compared to more aggressive versions of the stout. The variety here shows a traditional taste and texture that's regrettably unfamiliar in today's beer culture. Antares is getting back to the nuances, the understated complexities and the comfortable drinkability with the intent of those original Russian imperial stout. It extends with roasty sweetness, a twang of roast derives astringency, a spicy kiss of rum and pressed coffee grounds into a long but not indefinite aftertaste- that most associated with cappuccino.
Mar 03, 2017Antares Imperial Stout is intimidatingly dark with a near black opaqueness and quite the mirror-like sheen. A creamy, lacy, surprisingly light tan foam spiderwebs across the beer and skirts up the glass. Creamy, sweet and roasty on the nose, the scent of toffee, coffee, cocoa and cream are paramount while its taste is a mirror image with toffee and butterscotch, chocolaty and nutty.
The ale really develops flavor over the middle palate as its sweetness relaxes and the roasty complexities build in. Nutty, roasty and earthy coffee layers on the palate with an accompaniment of creamy malts for a taste of heavy whipping cream, dark chocolate, black walnut, burnt toast and over seared sugars. Tangy with a light strained roast flavor, fruits of grape and plum join a spiciness of licorice for a late collection of understated complexity.
Finishing full, rich and with a broad tooth, the beer is somberly drinkable compared to more aggressive versions of the stout. The variety here shows a traditional taste and texture that's regrettably unfamiliar in today's beer culture. Antares is getting back to the nuances, the understated complexities and the comfortable drinkability with the intent of those original Russian imperial stout. It extends with roasty sweetness, a twang of roast derives astringency, a spicy kiss of rum and pressed coffee grounds into a long but not indefinite aftertaste- that most associated with cappuccino.
Reviewed by jamesroses from Argentina
3.47/5 rDev -7.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
3.47/5 rDev -7.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
500ml bottle
Appearance: black, big beige head that dissipates fast. Good amount of carbonation.
Aroma: bitter chocolate dominance and sweet roasted malts. A hint of coffee, but really weak.
Taste: chocolate, cocoa and not much else. Nice but very one-dimensional. Not sweet.
Mouthfeel: despite the carbonation, it feels watery. Lacks creaminess and body. Finishes dry with a slight bitter aftertaste. The alcohol is very well hidden.
Overall: nice beer, but the lack of body and complexity is a major issue here. It should be heavier and richer.
Sep 11, 2016Appearance: black, big beige head that dissipates fast. Good amount of carbonation.
Aroma: bitter chocolate dominance and sweet roasted malts. A hint of coffee, but really weak.
Taste: chocolate, cocoa and not much else. Nice but very one-dimensional. Not sweet.
Mouthfeel: despite the carbonation, it feels watery. Lacks creaminess and body. Finishes dry with a slight bitter aftertaste. The alcohol is very well hidden.
Overall: nice beer, but the lack of body and complexity is a major issue here. It should be heavier and richer.
Reviewed by FLima from Brazil
3.69/5 rDev -1.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.69/5 rDev -1.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Pitch black color with a thick caramel head with decent retention.
Light, but nice aroma with notes of chocolate, caramels, coffee and dark fruits.
Flavor is some steps ahead. Notes of licorice, roasted malts, cocoa, resin, mild tobacco, tea bags, home made coffee and brown sugar. Dry and bitter aftertaste with a lingering roasted and licorice note. Alcohol of 8.5% is completely hidden.
Medium body with appropriate carbonation.
That is a nice balanced and drinkable Imperial Stout. Relatively mild if compared to north America RIS, but still pleasant.
Dec 24, 2014Light, but nice aroma with notes of chocolate, caramels, coffee and dark fruits.
Flavor is some steps ahead. Notes of licorice, roasted malts, cocoa, resin, mild tobacco, tea bags, home made coffee and brown sugar. Dry and bitter aftertaste with a lingering roasted and licorice note. Alcohol of 8.5% is completely hidden.
Medium body with appropriate carbonation.
That is a nice balanced and drinkable Imperial Stout. Relatively mild if compared to north America RIS, but still pleasant.
Reviewed by fede_glodo from Argentina
4.09/5 rDev +9.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
4.09/5 rDev +9.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
It's a strong and powerful beer. Nice dark appearance with a good retencion according to the high alcohol by volume, which is also present in aroma, mixed with coffee traces.
A beer with presence and a really high quality. A good option in the craft market
Feb 08, 2014A beer with presence and a really high quality. A good option in the craft market
Reviewed by warnerry from Michigan
3.48/5 rDev -7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
3.48/5 rDev -7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Was pleasantly surprised to find an RIS in Buenos Aires.
A - Pours a dark brown, but not black, as some light penetration is visible. Has a bit of a reddish tinge. One finger of tan head has decent retention and leaves some lacing.
S - Quite a bit of dark chocolate and roasted malt, including a bit of char.
T - Roasted malts up front, including a bit of smoke and char. Not as much bitter chocolate as I got from the smell. Char seems to build a bit as I get through the glass. Decent hop presence lends a bit of bitterness to the finish. Pretty good, but too much char taste for me.
M - Mouthfeel is a bit thinner than i would like for the style, but is medium and somewhat creamy, with a dry, roasted finish that is also a touch bitter.
O - Not a bad RIS, but a bit too thin and ashy to be something I would want to revisit.
Nov 22, 2011A - Pours a dark brown, but not black, as some light penetration is visible. Has a bit of a reddish tinge. One finger of tan head has decent retention and leaves some lacing.
S - Quite a bit of dark chocolate and roasted malt, including a bit of char.
T - Roasted malts up front, including a bit of smoke and char. Not as much bitter chocolate as I got from the smell. Char seems to build a bit as I get through the glass. Decent hop presence lends a bit of bitterness to the finish. Pretty good, but too much char taste for me.
M - Mouthfeel is a bit thinner than i would like for the style, but is medium and somewhat creamy, with a dry, roasted finish that is also a touch bitter.
O - Not a bad RIS, but a bit too thin and ashy to be something I would want to revisit.
Reviewed by wordemupg from Canada (AB)
3.31/5 rDev -11.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5
3.31/5 rDev -11.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5
pint glass at the brew pub 19/8/11
A dark cola with a two finger mocha head that slowly falls to a thin film leaving a couple partial rings of lace
S faint coffee and coco powder with a little nuttiness
T some faint hops and molasses on top of what I smell, as it warms some dark fruit and faint smoke
M very thin for a RIS just a little heat on the finish
O very basic RIS but if itś as strong as listed the well concealed booze should count for something
Hard to call this a RIS its not very dark and the flavors are rather mellow, served way too cold
Aug 20, 2011A dark cola with a two finger mocha head that slowly falls to a thin film leaving a couple partial rings of lace
S faint coffee and coco powder with a little nuttiness
T some faint hops and molasses on top of what I smell, as it warms some dark fruit and faint smoke
M very thin for a RIS just a little heat on the finish
O very basic RIS but if itś as strong as listed the well concealed booze should count for something
Hard to call this a RIS its not very dark and the flavors are rather mellow, served way too cold
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