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Imperial Russian Stout - Chai-Spiced
Stone Brewing
- From:
- Stone Brewing
- California, United States
- Style:
- Russian Imperial Stout
- ABV:
- 10.6%
- Score:
- 88
- Avg:
- 3.95 | pDev: 11.65%
- Reviews:
- 191
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Aug 29, 2021
- Added:
- Jan 28, 2015
- Wants:
- 32
- Gots:
- 234
First Release: March 2015
This one-time-only beer, a fascinating addition to our “Odd Beers for Odd Years” series, incorporates cinnamon, cardamom, clove, ginger, a dash of black pepper and a dose of black tea to emulate the aroma and taste of authentic chai tea. Combine these strikingly piquant ingredients with the classic version of Stone Imperial Russian Stout―with its incumbent flavors of chocolate, black currants, coffee and roastiness―and an already profoundly rewarding beer ascends to new, flavorful dimensions.
This one-time-only beer, a fascinating addition to our “Odd Beers for Odd Years” series, incorporates cinnamon, cardamom, clove, ginger, a dash of black pepper and a dose of black tea to emulate the aroma and taste of authentic chai tea. Combine these strikingly piquant ingredients with the classic version of Stone Imperial Russian Stout―with its incumbent flavors of chocolate, black currants, coffee and roastiness―and an already profoundly rewarding beer ascends to new, flavorful dimensions.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Chiefy770:
Reviewed by Chiefy770 from Illinois
4.07/5 rDev +3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.07/5 rDev +3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
22 Fluid Ounce Bomber
Bottled on February 25th, 2015
Reviewed on December 5th, 2015
Served in a Snifter
Eyes
Poured a rich dark brown body. Very little head. A sparse amount of tan lacing throughout the glass.
Nose
This is definitely Chai spiced! Heavy on the cinnamon and clove. Classic backbone of sweet and toasty malts. Overall the aroma reminded me of raw carrot cake batter.
Mouth
Chai spice up front. Sweet layer of dark fruit. Characteristics of the original SIRS were there, just heavily masked by the Chai infusion. Bitterness of cocoa sparked a flare-up of hops, leading to a semi-dry finish. Full-bodied. Low/moderate carbonation.
Notes
Before I sound too negative, let me just say the flavor profile is phenomenal. Very complex beer all around. The infusion of Chai into the powerhouse that is Stone's Imperial Russian Stout works very well. My biggest complaint is the sustainability factor. They were a little too "in your face" with the Chai. It is very smooth but it's drinkability dramatically bottomed out as I neared the end of the first glass. A 12 ounce bottle would have been a better vessel for this brew.
Dec 05, 2015Bottled on February 25th, 2015
Reviewed on December 5th, 2015
Served in a Snifter
Eyes
Poured a rich dark brown body. Very little head. A sparse amount of tan lacing throughout the glass.
Nose
This is definitely Chai spiced! Heavy on the cinnamon and clove. Classic backbone of sweet and toasty malts. Overall the aroma reminded me of raw carrot cake batter.
Mouth
Chai spice up front. Sweet layer of dark fruit. Characteristics of the original SIRS were there, just heavily masked by the Chai infusion. Bitterness of cocoa sparked a flare-up of hops, leading to a semi-dry finish. Full-bodied. Low/moderate carbonation.
Notes
Before I sound too negative, let me just say the flavor profile is phenomenal. Very complex beer all around. The infusion of Chai into the powerhouse that is Stone's Imperial Russian Stout works very well. My biggest complaint is the sustainability factor. They were a little too "in your face" with the Chai. It is very smooth but it's drinkability dramatically bottomed out as I neared the end of the first glass. A 12 ounce bottle would have been a better vessel for this brew.
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by shigg85 from Japan
4.25/5 rDev +7.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.25/5 rDev +7.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Drinking this on tap in Tokyo in 2020. It has aged well. Lovely warm chai spice of cardamom and nutmeg. Awesome stout underneath with smooth alcohol presence. Love this!
Feb 15, 2020Reviewed by SHODriver from North Carolina
4/5 rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4/5 rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A: Poured into a snifter to a black beer topped by a dense finger of light tan head which fades slowly to a collar around the edge of the glass with minimal lacing.
S: Smells of chai and not much else. Surprisingly overpowering the base beer on the nose. It's a little minty but that's probably the cardamom. There's also a bunch of other warming spice notes that are well blended together.
T: Taste is slightly roasty before all the chai notes come in. There's a little coffee and bitter dark chocolate along with some tea like notes along with a lot more chai spice. On the swallow there's cardamom(mintyness), more spices, some lingering espresso, dark chocolate, and slight dark roasted malts.
M: This beer is fairly full in body with a slightly silky mouthfeel. Carbonation is on the low end but is adequate for the style while the beer has a drying finish.
O: Overall this is an interesting one. It has some nice flavors that work surprisingly well with the base beer. I was certainly suspect of this one but the execution was well done. It may be a little too heavy on the adjunct but overall it's an interesting drink if you're open minded. This one is drinking really well too despite being about four years old.
May 29, 2019S: Smells of chai and not much else. Surprisingly overpowering the base beer on the nose. It's a little minty but that's probably the cardamom. There's also a bunch of other warming spice notes that are well blended together.
T: Taste is slightly roasty before all the chai notes come in. There's a little coffee and bitter dark chocolate along with some tea like notes along with a lot more chai spice. On the swallow there's cardamom(mintyness), more spices, some lingering espresso, dark chocolate, and slight dark roasted malts.
M: This beer is fairly full in body with a slightly silky mouthfeel. Carbonation is on the low end but is adequate for the style while the beer has a drying finish.
O: Overall this is an interesting one. It has some nice flavors that work surprisingly well with the base beer. I was certainly suspect of this one but the execution was well done. It may be a little too heavy on the adjunct but overall it's an interesting drink if you're open minded. This one is drinking really well too despite being about four years old.
Rated by bubseymour from Maryland
4.35/5 rDev +10.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.35/5 rDev +10.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Notes of ginger and spice that blends well with this RIS. Very interesting and well done blend.
Jan 17, 2019Reviewed by Treyliff from West Virginia
4.34/5 rDev +9.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
4.34/5 rDev +9.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
22oz bottle poured into a snifter
2015 Release
A- pours deep black in color with a one-finger creamy khaki head that eventually reduces to a ring around the edge of the glass
S- plenty of spices on the nose, actually reminiscent of a pumpkin spiced stout; cinnamon & cardamon lead the way, followed by with clove and ginger noticeable as well. I'm actually surprised how strong the spicing aromas still are after 3 years. Beyond the spices, undertones of the base beer pop through, dark charred malt, dried figs & chocolate. Quite complex aroma
T- an onslaught of spicing follows the nose; heavy cinnamon & cardamon dominate up front, with clove & ginger both making an equal presence at the mid-palate. Beyond the spicing, notes of charred malt, dark chocolate, fig & raisin all show up. The finish gives more spice blend with a light notes of herbal black tea and a peppery linger
M- medium-thick body with moderate carbonation leads to a creamy mouthfeel that continues into a smooth and velvety finish
O- even after three years, this is still loaded with spices. Not for the faint of heart, but outstanding for the style
May 16, 20182015 Release
A- pours deep black in color with a one-finger creamy khaki head that eventually reduces to a ring around the edge of the glass
S- plenty of spices on the nose, actually reminiscent of a pumpkin spiced stout; cinnamon & cardamon lead the way, followed by with clove and ginger noticeable as well. I'm actually surprised how strong the spicing aromas still are after 3 years. Beyond the spices, undertones of the base beer pop through, dark charred malt, dried figs & chocolate. Quite complex aroma
T- an onslaught of spicing follows the nose; heavy cinnamon & cardamon dominate up front, with clove & ginger both making an equal presence at the mid-palate. Beyond the spicing, notes of charred malt, dark chocolate, fig & raisin all show up. The finish gives more spice blend with a light notes of herbal black tea and a peppery linger
M- medium-thick body with moderate carbonation leads to a creamy mouthfeel that continues into a smooth and velvety finish
O- even after three years, this is still loaded with spices. Not for the faint of heart, but outstanding for the style
Reviewed by GarrettB from Colorado
3.81/5 rDev -3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
3.81/5 rDev -3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
April 24th, 2015 - The Russian Imperial Stout is *very* amenable to spicy permutations, and that shows here in the delicious Chai Spiced version. The color and head are all the same as the undecorated version (though I could be led to believe that the head is just a little bit more dusky) but the nose has radically changed. Where once I smelled heavy chocolate malts, all I get is chai spices. It is as if I've dunked my head into a barrel of the stuff, snorting the heady mixture of sub-continental spice. If the nose bludgeons with spice, the flavor is more nuanced. The chai is clearly present but blends with the existing heavy malt bill creating something akin to a spiced chocolate - a mixture I find utterly delicious.
Apr 06, 2018Reviewed by kitch from Hong Kong
3.84/5 rDev -2.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
3.84/5 rDev -2.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
A 22 fl. oz. bomber, 2015 odd year release, bottled on 23rd March 2015. Poured into a snifter glass.
Appearance: Black in colour with a thin half finger brown head that dissipated quickly to a ring around the glass, while leaving some sparse lacing.
Aroma: Strong cinnamon and cardamom with roasted malts, cocoa and chocolate in the background. There were also hints of ginger and clove.
Taste: Follows the aroma quite closely with lots of spices, cinnamon and cardamom, spicy ginger and clove with hints of roastiness, cocoa and chocolate in the background.
Mouthfeel: Medium to full bodied with low carbonation.
Overall: Almost three years on, and the “Chai” is still dominating the aroma and taste. Personally I would say it was still a bit too dominating while the nice flavours of the base Imperial Russian Stout were overpowered.
Jan 25, 2018Appearance: Black in colour with a thin half finger brown head that dissipated quickly to a ring around the glass, while leaving some sparse lacing.
Aroma: Strong cinnamon and cardamom with roasted malts, cocoa and chocolate in the background. There were also hints of ginger and clove.
Taste: Follows the aroma quite closely with lots of spices, cinnamon and cardamom, spicy ginger and clove with hints of roastiness, cocoa and chocolate in the background.
Mouthfeel: Medium to full bodied with low carbonation.
Overall: Almost three years on, and the “Chai” is still dominating the aroma and taste. Personally I would say it was still a bit too dominating while the nice flavours of the base Imperial Russian Stout were overpowered.
Reviewed by hoptheology from California
2.51/5 rDev -36.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2
2.51/5 rDev -36.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2
Stone Archive Bottle Release, official re-release of 2 year vertical.
Rich dark black color with a 1/2 finger of almond head.
Aromas of licorice, molasses, and faint chai spice.
Flavors are of dark chocolate, and then rubber, old spices, molasses, rubber cement, ethanol, tobacco.
Feel is hot and boozy with a medium plus body.
Overall, to think that Stone re-released this and it tastes as horrible as it is, in the state that it's in, totally destroys any foresight they may have had for releasing this beer. It furthers my gross dislike of this brewery. This beer is a rubbery, ethanol-soaked mess.
Dec 14, 2017Rich dark black color with a 1/2 finger of almond head.
Aromas of licorice, molasses, and faint chai spice.
Flavors are of dark chocolate, and then rubber, old spices, molasses, rubber cement, ethanol, tobacco.
Feel is hot and boozy with a medium plus body.
Overall, to think that Stone re-released this and it tastes as horrible as it is, in the state that it's in, totally destroys any foresight they may have had for releasing this beer. It furthers my gross dislike of this brewery. This beer is a rubbery, ethanol-soaked mess.
Imperial Russian Stout - Chai-Spiced from Stone Brewing
Beer rating:
88 out of
100 with
793 ratings
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