Murray's Wild Thing Imperial Stout
Murray's Craft Brewing Co.


- From:
- Murray's Craft Brewing Co.
- Australia
- Style:
- Russian Imperial Stout
- ABV:
- 10%
- Score:
- 92
- Avg:
- 4.17 | pDev: 8.63%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 30
- Status:
- Inactive
- Rated:
- Feb 27, 2018
- Added:
- Nov 15, 2008
- Wants:
- 21
- Gots:
- 9
Murray's 'Wild Thing' Imperial Stout was inspired by the great stouts favoured by the Russian Imperial Court. A massive, intense drinking experience. The colour is black. Totally black. Impossible to see through even when held up to the light - nothing insipid about this beer.
Aromas of strong dark chocolate, a little fruitiness from the hops and yeast and some rumminess from the alcohol. The flavour is an intense hit of mocha - bitter dark chocolate bordering on coffee. Some malt sweetness but an aggressive hop bitterness and roast grain bite to balance. And then there's the mouthfeel... Full bodied is an understatement. Massive mouth-fillling malt that almost overwhelms, before the freight train of the bitterness from the hops and the roast acidity kicks in to clean up the palate.
Aromas of strong dark chocolate, a little fruitiness from the hops and yeast and some rumminess from the alcohol. The flavour is an intense hit of mocha - bitter dark chocolate bordering on coffee. Some malt sweetness but an aggressive hop bitterness and roast grain bite to balance. And then there's the mouthfeel... Full bodied is an understatement. Massive mouth-fillling malt that almost overwhelms, before the freight train of the bitterness from the hops and the roast acidity kicks in to clean up the palate.
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Reviewed by stevoj from Idaho
4.49/5 rDev +7.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.49/5 rDev +7.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
330ml bottle from Bitter Phew, 2012 vintage. Beautiful from the start. Aroma wafts up and provides signs of great things to come. Black slippery body with oil skin beige head. Taste is equal parts roast grain and woody flavors. High ABV is masked by all of the other sumptuous characters.
Feb 27, 2018Reviewed by pagriley from Illinois
3.96/5 rDev -5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.96/5 rDev -5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
L - pitch black with a short white head. Not much lacing but good legs
S - bitter chocolate and toasted nuts
T - A bit bitter /astringent from patent malt, and quite dry on the finish. Chocolate and roast are all over this, but lacks sweetness to balance the strong flavors
F - Touch prickly from carbonation - would prefer less
Overall solid, but quite bitter and wish it had a bit more malt sweetness left to balance out - would have preferred this at a lower ABV so there was more residual sugar
Jan 04, 2015S - bitter chocolate and toasted nuts
T - A bit bitter /astringent from patent malt, and quite dry on the finish. Chocolate and roast are all over this, but lacks sweetness to balance the strong flavors
F - Touch prickly from carbonation - would prefer less
Overall solid, but quite bitter and wish it had a bit more malt sweetness left to balance out - would have preferred this at a lower ABV so there was more residual sugar
Reviewed by Gasc0igne from Australia
4.46/5 rDev +7%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.5
4.46/5 rDev +7%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.5
330mL. 2014 Batch. BB 220516.
A gorgeous thick and impenetrable black pour yields an inch of a very dark and creamy tanned head. Awesome retention. Leaves behind a humble sheet atop the beer. Stunning lacing. Looks heavy in the glass.
The aroma of tropical fruits, namely pineapple, is immediate and obvious. Lemon marmalade. Muscovado sugar. Black tea. Prune juice. Rum-soaked dark fruits permeate the nose. No coffee to speak of, though there is a solid roasted malt backbone.
Bitter. Burnt toast. A clean sweetness (almost like coconut juice? difficult to describe) that leads to a nice hit of bitter dark chocolate. Balanced hop bitterness pushes through (and lingers) with a slight woody end. Cleverly hidden alcohol.
Medium bodied. Moderate-high carbonation. Cloying, coats the mouth and lips. Would've liked to see a fuller body on this beast.
Haven't been a big fan of Black IPAs or the like in the past, so I was surprised how much I like the hop presence in this stout. Superbly crafted.
Jul 31, 2014A gorgeous thick and impenetrable black pour yields an inch of a very dark and creamy tanned head. Awesome retention. Leaves behind a humble sheet atop the beer. Stunning lacing. Looks heavy in the glass.
The aroma of tropical fruits, namely pineapple, is immediate and obvious. Lemon marmalade. Muscovado sugar. Black tea. Prune juice. Rum-soaked dark fruits permeate the nose. No coffee to speak of, though there is a solid roasted malt backbone.
Bitter. Burnt toast. A clean sweetness (almost like coconut juice? difficult to describe) that leads to a nice hit of bitter dark chocolate. Balanced hop bitterness pushes through (and lingers) with a slight woody end. Cleverly hidden alcohol.
Medium bodied. Moderate-high carbonation. Cloying, coats the mouth and lips. Would've liked to see a fuller body on this beast.
Haven't been a big fan of Black IPAs or the like in the past, so I was surprised how much I like the hop presence in this stout. Superbly crafted.
Reviewed by Jeffo from Netherlands
3.98/5 rDev -4.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
3.98/5 rDev -4.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Bottle from BobbyHeenan. Cheers!
From a bottle into a snifter
Best Before 16 May 2014
APPEARANCE: A thicker, opaque black pour yields a 1+ finger, thicker looking, creamy, light mocha head with great retention. Pitch black body with lower levels of carbonation evident. Head fades to a thick foam cap and clings to the sides of the glass. A ring and slight wisp remain leaving some splotchy lacing down the glass.
SMELL: Roasted malts, dark fruits, dates, and some dark chocolate on the nose. Big aromas. Light sweet cream with the chocolate and grape notes. Very nice.
TASTE: Roasted malts, dark fruit, dark chocolate with leather notes up front. Flavorful for sure. Bold and lingering aftertaste of roasted, bitter chocolate leather, tobacco and a touch of dark fruits as well. Burnt flavors underline the rest of it. Flavorful and complex.
PALATE: Medium body and medium levels of carbonation. Semi-creamy on the palate, goes down fine and finishes slightly dry. Okay. Enough weight, but not quite big enough for top marks.
OVERALL: Perhaps the best of the Murray's bunch. Good look with a complex flavor profile. The feel is fine, but an even fuller and creamier palate would help bring the flavors out just a touch more. Solid all around. Thanks for deciding to send this one over Bobby. Would definitely go for it again. Recommended.
Jul 08, 2014From a bottle into a snifter
Best Before 16 May 2014
APPEARANCE: A thicker, opaque black pour yields a 1+ finger, thicker looking, creamy, light mocha head with great retention. Pitch black body with lower levels of carbonation evident. Head fades to a thick foam cap and clings to the sides of the glass. A ring and slight wisp remain leaving some splotchy lacing down the glass.
SMELL: Roasted malts, dark fruits, dates, and some dark chocolate on the nose. Big aromas. Light sweet cream with the chocolate and grape notes. Very nice.
TASTE: Roasted malts, dark fruit, dark chocolate with leather notes up front. Flavorful for sure. Bold and lingering aftertaste of roasted, bitter chocolate leather, tobacco and a touch of dark fruits as well. Burnt flavors underline the rest of it. Flavorful and complex.
PALATE: Medium body and medium levels of carbonation. Semi-creamy on the palate, goes down fine and finishes slightly dry. Okay. Enough weight, but not quite big enough for top marks.
OVERALL: Perhaps the best of the Murray's bunch. Good look with a complex flavor profile. The feel is fine, but an even fuller and creamier palate would help bring the flavors out just a touch more. Solid all around. Thanks for deciding to send this one over Bobby. Would definitely go for it again. Recommended.
Reviewed by bylerteck from Canada (ON)
3.78/5 rDev -9.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
3.78/5 rDev -9.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Tap at Murray's Manly. From notes.
A - Poured black with mild carbonation, one finger of mocha head. Good islands of lace and a half finger of retention.
S - Espresso, coffee. Lacking depth, but nice.
T - Really roasty, booze, coffee was quite strong, Belgian yeast and fruit.
M - Nice carbonation, full chewy body, bitter finish.
O/D - Nice, strong stout. Odd yeast profile but quite drinkable and warming.
Oct 08, 2012A - Poured black with mild carbonation, one finger of mocha head. Good islands of lace and a half finger of retention.
S - Espresso, coffee. Lacking depth, but nice.
T - Really roasty, booze, coffee was quite strong, Belgian yeast and fruit.
M - Nice carbonation, full chewy body, bitter finish.
O/D - Nice, strong stout. Odd yeast profile but quite drinkable and warming.
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