Short Batch #8 - Apple Brandy Barrel Aged Imperial Stout
Smuttynose Brewing Company

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From:
Smuttynose Brewing Company
 
New Hampshire, United States
Style:
Russian Imperial Stout
ABV:
10%
Score:
95
Avg:
4.41 | pDev: 7.94%
Reviews:
15
Ratings:
31
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Mar 03, 2014
Added:
Feb 19, 2010
Wants:
  14
Gots:
  0
Imperial Stout aged in a Flag Hill Winery apple brandy barrel.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
 
Rated: 4.5 by buzzy from Pennsylvania

Mar 03, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by XmnwildX12 from Minnesota

Dec 13, 2013
 
Rated: 3.75 by Adamostella from Washington

Oct 25, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by timsoder from Utah

Oct 25, 2013
 
Rated: 4.25 by eawolff99 from Minnesota

Oct 12, 2013
 
Rated: 4.5 by SocalKicks from California

Oct 12, 2013
 
Rated: 4.25 by CoolEthan from California

Oct 11, 2013
 
Rated: 4.5 by smutty33 from Connecticut

May 16, 2013
 
Rated: 5 by seplo from Connecticut

Jul 07, 2012
 
Rated: 4 by StoutFest from Illinois

Apr 18, 2012
 
Rated: 4.75 by gregory12 from Connecticut

Apr 12, 2012
 
Rated: 4 by ygtbsm94 from Utah

Mar 03, 2012
 
Rated: 4 by JAHMUR from Connecticut

Jan 02, 2012
 
Rated: 5 by jh1982 from Nevada

Nov 29, 2011
 
Rated: 5 by richbrew from New Jersey

Nov 15, 2011
 
Rated: 5 by HopStoopid120 from Connecticut

Nov 15, 2011
Photo of thagr81us
Reviewed by thagr81us from South Carolina

4.77/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Massive thanks to mikesgroove for sharing this one with and richbrew for sending this one down for both of us! Had during Hobo Tasting #5 while sitting inside RJ Rockers! Served from growler into a Stone nonic. Poured pitch black with a minimal brown head. Maintained minimal lacing throughout the glass. The aroma was comprised of sweet malt, roasted malt, caramel, dark chocolate, vanilla, and alcohol. The flavor was of sweet malt, roasted malt, coffee, dark chocolate, toffee, caramel, and alcohol. It had a heavy feel on the palate with medium-high carbonation. Overall, WOW, now this is what I think of when I think Russian Imperial Stout! The brandy barrel aspect is definitely present on this one and makes itself known throughout the glass and is really quite enjoyable. You could definitely tell this one was a heavy hitter. I see it is listed as only 10% on here... Before I knew about it I would have guess it was 13-15% without a doubt. Really glad I got a chance to try this one and would love to do so again!
Apr 01, 2011
Photo of Sean9689
Reviewed by Sean9689 from Illinois

4.34/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5
Growler, thanks to Alex! Poured into tasting glass.

A - Pours black, no head, lacing or retention. Looks like chocolate syrup in a glass...yummy. Some brown hue along the sides of the glass, thick-looking.

S - Chocolate, oak, apple brandy, caramel. The apple brandy is wonderfully blended in this beer, as it doesn't overpower the stout at all. Rather, it's a great compliment to the beer.

T - As with the nose, the apple brandy works wonderfully in this beer. Sweet chocolate syrup, caramel, not hot at all for 10%...the alcohol is very well hidden. Creamy chocolate finish.

M - Full body, rich and smooth, flat (but still enjoyable).

D - Really enjoyed this one. Could use a touch of carbonation, but hey, it's probably the growler's fault, not the beer. Would def have this again if offered. Recommend!
Mar 29, 2011
Photo of MasterSki
Reviewed by MasterSki from Canada (ON)

4.34/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5
32oz DeCicco's growler courtesy of mikeyv35. Served in a Nolet's taster tulip.

A - Pours with a minimal crust of bubbles that settle to a thin ring, leaving behind tiny spots of lace. The body is an inky pitch black.

S - Smells like apple brandy, barrel, chocolate, vanilla, and caramel malts. Unsurprisingly, none of the hop character from the base beer translated over. Still, 10% ABV is quite well-hidden, with the only booze emerging from the brandy flavor. Negligible roast character here - more like a decadent confection.

T - The taste has a bit more roast character and some espresso-like bitterness to balance caramel apples, oaky vanilla, brandy, and chocolate notes. If you've got a sweet tooth this stuff will go down like mother's milk.

M - Very low carbonation, medium-full body, a mildly tannic finish, and a hint of warming alcohol after 4-6oz. Could use a bit more spritz, but I'm guessing that was due to the age of the growler and shipping, as others seem to note a few more bubbles.

D - Dangerously drinkable. We killed 32oz of this at the West Lakeview tasting without difficulty. It's certainly the best Smuttynose offering I've ever encountered. Might be a bit diabetic for some, but it's right up my alley. I'd like to get another shot at this one, preferably on draft.
Mar 27, 2011
Photo of woosterbill
Reviewed by woosterbill from Kentucky

4.02/5  rDev -8.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4
32oz growler into a Birra del Borgo tulip. Huge thanks to Hopstoopid120 for sharing this rare treat.

A: Licorice-black body with a solid cap of light-brown head. Decent retention, spotty lace. Pretty nice.

S: Whoa - that's huge. Tannic oak + booze are right up front (brandy, yes; apple...maybe?). Light chocolate roastiness, as well as a good dose of vanilla. Excellent.

T: Starts out with vanilla, toffee, and then enormous booze and bitterness. Super bitter finish, with latent hoppiness outweighing the malt by a long shot. There's a great deal of interesting stuff going on, but unfortunately it's just entirely unbalanced.

M: Rich, full, and soft, with tons of velvety carbonation. Perfectly luscious.

O: If there were still a drinkability category, this one would definitely get dinged. The barrel lent more alcohol than complexity, and it seemed more like 12%+ than a mere 10%. That said, the sheer complexity of it was thrilling. I've always found the base RIS from Smuttynose to be a bit overrated (not to mention overly hoppy), and while this one was a lot more fun to drink, I didn't really think that it was a huge success. If you love brandy and bitterness, though, this one's for you.

Cheers!
Mar 21, 2011
Short Batch #8 - Apple Brandy Barrel Aged Imperial Stout from Smuttynose Brewing Company
Beer rating: 95 out of 100 with 31 ratings