Imperial Coffee Stout
Goose Island Beer Co.

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From:
Goose Island Beer Co.
 
Illinois, United States
Style:
Russian Imperial Stout
ABV:
8%
Score:
92
Avg:
4.32 | pDev: 6.25%
Reviews:
9
Ratings:
11
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Mar 06, 2012
Added:
Apr 05, 2008
Wants:
  5
Gots:
  0
"Imperial Stout infused with 'Crop to Cup' iced African 100% Arabica post-roast coffee beans."
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by jeonseh:
Photo of jeonseh
Reviewed by jeonseh from Indiana

4.42/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4
Had this at GI Clybourn and served into a snifter on 4/8/08

A - a dark and ominous black that had a small espresso colored head that faded away. Really nothing inside of it other than black and the beer appeared to have an okay thickness to it as well. The head after fading away just retreated to a small layer of bubbles along the sides of the glass.

S - huge notes of coffee, espresso really dominate the smell. There is even a light hint of caramel as well that just lingers there and is barely noticeable. Super fragrant just so dominated by pure coffee roastiness.

T - They do not lie when they call this a coffee beer. As you as you take a sip of this beer, a ton of roasted espresso flavor just jumps out at your. Not at all overpowering either as there was a light vanilla and caramel to add some sweetness to the brew. This may be 8% ABV but you would never know it by tasting the beer as it is perfectly hidden. Have to say you must really like coffee to like this brew because the espresso notes really dominate and become even stronger as the beer warms up.

MF - very little to no carbonation in this beer. It does have that oily, espresso body that leaves a slick coating on the tongue. A light stickiness also pervades the beer but I think that the oily feeling goes well with the coffee aspect of the beer.

D - a very good beer from GI that I was happy I had the chance to try since the last time I was there they were out of it. It is a big, beer with a ton of coffee flavor and have to say this would be a coffee lovers dream. This would be a good beer to have after dinner in place of a cappuccino or other coffee drink. The only downside is that the strong coffee notes seem to limit its drinkability to those times when you also want coffee since it dominates so much.
Apr 08, 2008
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.5 by imperialking from Illinois

Mar 06, 2012
 
Rated: 4.5 by brandoman63 from Illinois

Nov 15, 2011
Photo of beertooth
Reviewed by beertooth from Illinois

4.32/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
On tap at Goose Clybourn.

This is probably one of my favorite beers this brewpub does.

This beer is a dark, dark almost black brown with a ring of bubbling cream colored head.

The smell is baker's chocolate and fresh dark roast coffee. There's some sweet malty goodness and a little boozy spice.

The first sip is all coffee grounds and chocolate. Think mocha ice cream.

I could drink this beer all night if I wanted too. Trade for a growler of this or stop by the brew pub while it's on tap.
Jun 05, 2009
Photo of rtepiak
Reviewed by rtepiak from Poland

4.15/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
a nice head of a pour of dark chocolate in color. a mild lace. surprisingly not as sweet as expected. nose is straight coffee. simple nose. palate is a nice amount of coffee... acidic. bitter but not metallic. the body seems a bit mild for the form but not significantly. a wonderful 'coffee beer'.
May 28, 2009
Photo of Kegatron
Reviewed by Kegatron from Pennsylvania

4.17/5  rDev -3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
On tap at Goose Island Clybourn (Chicago, IL) on 4/24/09. 10 oz pour served in a snifter.

Pours a pitch black with close to a finger of rich looking dark mocha colored head. Swirling gets some big creamy bunching around the sides that leaves a huge cascade down the sides of the glass. Wow, the aroma is just THICK with roasted coffee character and espresso, with some big backing notes of roasted chocolate and caramel malts. Very nice all around coffee aroma here.

The taste starts with roasted chocolate malts and sticky toffee sweetness that is much more readily apparent up front. Extremely solid coffee notes, roasted malts, and hops pull up the back while providing some good bittering balance. The coffee isn't quite as strong as it was is in the aroma but that's OK, as what is there comes together with the other flavors to form a quite flavorful mix. Finishes with lingering notes of sticky sweetness, coffee, and roast. The mouthfeel is fuller bodied with a big creamy feel to it. A pricklier feeling carbonation mixes in as well, helping make the coffee and roasted notes pop in the mouth at times. For an 8% beer, this definitely has some heft to it, but it isn't overly warming and all around drinks pretty well for the size.

Very nicely done Coffee Stout here. Personally I would have liked to have seen a little more coffee come out in the taste to really push this over the top but I'm just nitpicking. This was well done and I'm glad that I gave it a try.
May 01, 2009
Photo of mcallister
Reviewed by mcallister from Ohio

4.45/5  rDev +3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4
Probably the best "coffee" stout I've ever had (not including many IS that coffee is added too)

Pitch black with a dark mocha head with forever retention.

Fresh brewed coffee, chocolate, heavy cream, french vanilla. Coffee aromas are very nice and roasty and rich. Hints of toffee and caramel with bits of black fruit.

Damn good beer here. Lactose creaminess, thick glyceryl on the mammoth mouthfeel so silky smooth. Coffee is rich and luscious, roasty and slightly sweet thick with heavy cream, vanilla, toffee, caramel, and a hint of acidity. Coffee tannins on the late finish help balance the sweetness.
Apr 28, 2009
Photo of Portertime
Reviewed by Portertime from Florida

3.82/5  rDev -11.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
I had this beer as a suggestion from the cute waitress in a wonderful little hole-in-the-wall bar called Stubbie's and Steins in Gainesville. Poured a baker's chocolate brown with a creamy milk chocolate brown head. The smell was mainly brewed coffee with a kiss of brown sugar. The taste was just overpowering, dominated by bitter, black coffee which made it hard to drink because I don't like straight black coffee (oops, shouldn't have ordered the imperial coffee stout!) plus there was a candied sugar sweetness and a good case of the drunken jitters afterwards.
Mar 07, 2009
Photo of amiles
Reviewed by amiles from Oregon

3.92/5  rDev -9.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
On tap at GI Clybourn Saturday night...

A: Jet black, poured to the brim of my goblet with clusters of tan bubbles clinging to the sides.

S: Espresso, and light booze aromas.

T: This tasted like to straight bitter espresso with alcohol infused. Maybe some vanilla notes mixed in there.

M: Very light carbonation. Oily coffee feel.

D: I kicked this back faster than I thought I would. Went down nice.
Apr 21, 2008
Photo of GbVDave
Reviewed by GbVDave from Illinois

4.6/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
Served in a snifter at Goose Island Clybourn 4/1/08. Thanks to HeatherAnn for the assist!

A: Served a dark, dark black with a tiny dark brown (like the color of espresso crema) ring and head.

S: Holy crap! Coffee!!! Freshly ground espresso, anise, and fresh french press coffee.

T: See above (coffee x3!) Dark roasted malt, dark fruit, and chocolate.

M: Creamy and coating with a HUGE bittersweet coffee and chocolate counterpoint.

D: OMG!!! So incredibly drinkable! The fresh roasted coffee flavors and aromas, contained within, are unbelievable!
Apr 06, 2008
Photo of brentk56
Reviewed by brentk56 from North Carolina

4.72/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
Appearance: Arrives at the table with an obsidian color and a light brown head that drops to a ringlet but leaves plenty of lace

Smell: Espresso and licorice

Taste: The coffee flavor builds from the outset and adds a fruity dimension by mid-palate; after the swallow, the coffee continues to dominate and adds a dark fruit and chocolate element to the mix

Mouthfeel: Full bodied with moderate carbonation

Drinkability: Wonderful rich coffee flavor with subtle complex undertones make this a great example of a high gravity coffee stout
Apr 05, 2008
Imperial Coffee Stout from Goose Island Beer Co.
Beer rating: 92 out of 100 with 11 ratings