Empire Strikes Black Wood-Aged Imperial Stout
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.

Beer Geek Stats
From:
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
 
California, United States
Style:
Russian Imperial Stout
ABV:
Not listed
Score:
Needs more ratings
Avg:
4.3 | pDev: 4.88%
Reviews:
4
Ratings:
5
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Feb 03, 2012
Added:
May 22, 2010
Wants:
  1
Gots:
  0
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews.
 
Rated: 4.5 by chrispoint from Connecticut

Feb 03, 2012
Photo of Gobzilla
Reviewed by Gobzilla from California

4.05/5  rDev -5.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
On tap at barrel blast

Poured a dark as night black in color with brown highlights on the edges when held up to the light that had a thin cap of head and left very little lacing sticking to the glass. Spice is noticeable for me on the first whiff but had the bourbon barrel booze character for sure alongside caramel, vanilla, and dark fruit notes. Definitely lots os bourbon barrel flavor on the palate which was alomst overpowering the rest but did have caramel dark fruits and spice coming through with vanilla oaky accents and a touch of spice. The brew was medium to full in body with a moderate amount of carbonation which had a sweet, bourbon barrel, oaky, mild spice, and silky finish. Very drinkable for a barrel aged brew that was pretty complex all around. Glad I got to take a stab at it.
Jan 17, 2011
Photo of ebin6
Reviewed by ebin6 from California

4.08/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5
A - Dark as night; thick, almost immovable, clingy head

S - Bourbon is the predominant smell, as should be expected. Chocolate malty smell is there if you dig deep enough

T - Bourbon again dominates, but there is some nuttiness to the beer on the back end

M - Smooth, but the mouthfeel doesn't linger as long as some other bourbon aged stouts I've had

D - Incredibly drinkable for a barrel-aged beer; all the more so considering those barrels were bourbon. It packs a punch at 13% (I think), but I could have had another if I weren't driving
Jun 07, 2010
Photo of Halcyondays
Reviewed by Halcyondays from California

4.32/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
On-tap at Beachwood BBQ, they called this bourbon-aged, but found the keg saying wood-aged, so I'll go with this,

A: Pours black with a soft tan head, very good retention, good lace.

S: Savory sweet bourbon, malt, wood, great nose.

T: Lots of tasty bourbon and barrel character. Vanilla, milk chocolate, loved this beer.

M: Medium/full-bodied, just a hair thin for me here, very smooth.

D: This is a really good sipper. I got the last pour they had at Beachwood and am quite glad I did. Wonderful stuff.
Jun 05, 2010
Photo of paytoplay
Reviewed by paytoplay from California

4.55/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5
Toronado SD 2nd anny, also on draft at Pizza Port OB but called barrel aged there? Not certain what "wood aged" means, guessing not bourbon or 100% bourbon? Much like the regular empire strikes black which is an amazing beer, but with the added delicious wood / oak / bourbon flavors. Not hot or overly boozie at all. Not sure what the alc % is. Unnoticable. Delicious chocolate, vanilla, bourbon, char, vanilla flavors. For the style maybe a bit thin but delicious and very drinkable. When are they going to bottle the regular ESB let alone this "wood" verion?
May 22, 2010
Empire Strikes Black Wood-Aged Imperial Stout from Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
Beer rating: 4.3 out of 5 with 5 ratings