Rolling Thunder
Rogue Ales

Rolling ThunderRolling Thunder
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From:
Rogue Ales
 
Oregon, United States
Style:
Russian Imperial Stout
Ranked #241
ABV:
13.6%
Score:
92
Ranked #4,840
Avg:
4.15 | pDev: 8.19%
Reviews:
46
Ratings:
130
Status:
Active
Rated:
Mar 14, 2024
Added:
Mar 02, 2016
Wants:
  7
Gots:
  22
Aged in Rogue Rolling Thunder Barrel Works oak barrels that held Rogue Dead Guy Whiskey.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
 
Rated: 4.09 by Dope from Massachusetts

Mar 14, 2024
Photo of Ozzylizard
Reviewed by Ozzylizard from Pennsylvania

3.58/5  rDev -13.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Rolling Thunder (2024) – from Rogue. Four pack of 12 fl oz tall cans picked up at Franklin Beer Co, Franklin, PA, 31/01/24, $20.00 (Including tax)/4 pack, $ 0.417/fl oz. Reviewed 06/02/24 (Review 3241). Note that I use DD/MM/YY protocol.
Printed on the bottom of the can “CANNED 12/13/23”. Stored at room temperature at the distributor, 34 degrees at home. Served at 58.2 degrees F in a hand washed and dried Jester King snifter. The final temperature was 59.0 degrees F (This went down quickly!).
Appearance – 4
First pour – Amber Brown (SRM 18), slight haze.
Body – Black (SRM 40), opaque. Under direct light, same with tiny carbonation bubbles rising. When rear-lite, light penetrates at the bottom edge – amber – and the top edge, citron.
Head - Average (Maximum 1.5 cm, aggressive center pour), brown sugar, high density, fizzy, short retention, leaving neither crown nor cap, just a narrow, broken bubble ring, constantly renewed by carbonation.
Lacing – None, as expected at 13.7% ABV.
Aroma – 3.5 – Chocolate and hints of vanilla and whiskey. No yeast, no hops, no malt, no alcohol (13.5 % ABV as marked on the label).
Flavor – 3.5 – Begins slightly sweet with bitter chocolate and mild whiskey. No yeast, no hops, no roasted malt. On the aftertaste, weak coffee, and a bit oaky. No dimethylsulfide or diacetyl. No ethanol. A mild gastric burn occurs.
Palate – 3.5 – Medium; somewhat syrupy; soft but lively carbonation.
Final impression and summation: 3.75 I may have tapped this one a bit too young – the flavors are rather distinct and raw – something a year or two more age would probably cure. But it’s still a decent RIS at a good price point – one of rare times I actually can detect vanilla, at least on the nose.
Feb 06, 2024
 
Rated: 4.22 by PaulMayer from Illinois

Jan 21, 2024
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Reviewed by tradershmulie from Connecticut

4.05/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Very nice pour. Small head that stuck around a few minutes. Deep black nice opaque color

No noticeable smell.

Smooth and easy to drink, but would expect more. It is a bit fresh, so will age some and update.
Oct 05, 2023
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Reviewed by Bitterbill from Wyoming

4.37/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Bought at Liquor Shed. Canned November 18th 2022.

It pours pitch black with a finger of tan foam, with some lacing.

The smell is whiskey, dark chocolate, vanilla, roasted malt, caramel, toffee. Complex as heck.

The taste is dark and milk chocolate, whiskey, vanilla, roasted malt, kind of sweet overall, kind of boozy. Long aftertaste is very pleasing.

Full bodied, the carbonation is lightish but rightish.

This is so good being fresh and I reckon that it probably age gracefully.
May 20, 2023
 
Rated: 4.48 by Ox8840bo from Illinois

Apr 30, 2023
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Reviewed by Christianriveraaa

4.25/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
L: Poured from a 12oz can into a snifter - jet black pour with 2-3 fingers length of foam risen to the surface. Not much lacing left behind.
S: Definitely getting malts, dark fruits, sweet milky chocolate, molasses, bourbon is well hidden in this one.
T: Exactly as it smells with bigger notes on the sweet chocolate, malts and dark fruits. the molasses is in there but also getting some vanilla too as well as some caramel. The abv is hidden well. feels like a 10% beer. In a way it's sweet but dry.
F: Medium bodied. Not to oily, not to chewy. Sipper.
O: This was a good beer for me. the more it sits the better it becomes. I'd definitely recommend to a stout drinker.
Mar 20, 2023
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Reviewed by dbl_delta from Pennsylvania

4.47/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Growler into pint glass. Pours an inky black with a medium tan head that quickly reduces to a cap. Initial impression is cocoa, char, and booze. Mouthfeel is thick and smooth. Finish fades to a roasty bitterness. Overall, an outstanding RIS!
Mar 03, 2023
Photo of Beer_aenima7
Reviewed by Beer_aenima7 from Idaho

4.64/5  rDev +11.8%
look: 4.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
L - amber black opaque, can't see light through it.
S - the only category that's lacking, not the most smelly but definitely has some subtle sweetness.
T - taste is much more sweet than you will expect, but in a great dark strong way.
F - feels full bodied.
Feb 11, 2023
Photo of stevoj
Reviewed by stevoj from Idaho

3.93/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Taster at Black Friday. Starts slow and builds slowly. Thin black pour, small ring of head . Aroma is roast grains and chocolate. Taste brings more sweetness, sharp roasty bitterness and alcohol heat. Wait for it. It's worth it.
Jan 30, 2023
 
Rated: 4 by JamesLeung from Florida

Jan 02, 2023
 
Rated: 4.04 by Hopweiser from Korea (South)

Sep 10, 2022
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Reviewed by DoctorZombies from Florida

4.23/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
(2022) Poured dark brown verging on black with ruby edges; good clarity; light brown mixed bubbles head upon aggressive pour; brief cap retention; solid creamy ring; island of micro dots remain; spots of lace and thin legs at best on swirl. Nose is chocolate and whiskey; boozy hot retro nasal. Whiskey on entry; charred oak; bittersweet dark chocolate; oaky vanilla on backend. Medium light body, moderate minus carbonation; heat in mouth from 13.6% abv; alcohol burn on tongue; dry oaky/wooden finish. Overall more boozy barrel notes than base; plenty of heat from alcohol, which I like, but out of balance and really a hot sipper now; maybe a little aging would help.
Jul 21, 2022
 
Rated: 4.05 by dt_gbpackersfan from Missouri

May 14, 2022
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Reviewed by BB1313 from Ohio

3.73/5  rDev -10.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
2022 vintage. 12oz can poured into a tulip.

Pours almost black; small light khaki head that quickly fades leaving okay retention and lacing.

The aromas have lots of malts. Chocolate comes through. Some dark fruits. The bourbon is subtle in the aroma department but it's definitely noticeable, especially as it warms.

The flavors are big and bold. Lots of chocolate. Nice blend of dark chocolate and milk chocolate. More dark fruit, especially raisins. Some black cherry. Mild hints of vanilla. Some rye and black pepper in the mix. Lots of wood and oak. The bourbon comes through and blends well with everything. Solid bitterness. Lower sweetness. Malts do their thing. Alcohol is noticeable and it finishes slightly warm, but it's not boozy.

Mouthfeel is on the lighter side of full-bodied with active carbonation. It's sharp, spritzy and crisp.

This is a pretty solid barrel-aged stout. It's big and bold with nice flavors. The barrel characteristics come through. Not bad at all.
May 03, 2022
 
Rated: 4.25 by BLPasch from Michigan

Apr 04, 2022
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Reviewed by Limazulu from Idaho

4.31/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Better than a one and done, but nothing super special. I like the 12 ounce narrow can for a high ABV ale. And there was very little alcohol heat. More carbonation than average. Medium light body for the style
Apr 03, 2022
 
Rated: 3.38 by RochefortChris from North Carolina

Mar 19, 2022
 
Rated: 4.23 by bigpoppa67 from Wisconsin

Mar 07, 2022
 
Rated: 4.1 by wisegreensoul from Idaho

Feb 16, 2022
Rolling Thunder from Rogue Ales
Beer rating: 92 out of 100 with 130 ratings