Belgo Anise
Stone Brewing

Belgo AniseBelgo Anise
Beer Geek Stats | Print Shelf Talker
From:
Stone Brewing
 
California, United States
Style:
Russian Imperial Stout
ABV:
10.5%
Score:
80
Avg:
3.5 | pDev: 21.71%
Reviews:
451
Ratings:
948
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Jan 10, 2023
Added:
May 23, 2011
Wants:
  18
Gots:
  157
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Trilogy31:
Photo of Trilogy31
Reviewed by Trilogy31 from California

3.98/5  rDev +13.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Pours an obsidian black with a frothy two fingers of mocha tinged head leaving pretty lacing, impressive appearance. The nose has hints of mint chip, licorice slight hints of chicory coffee and roasted malt with the faintest wisp of belgian yeast spice. The taste brings prominent notes of mint chocolate chip ice cream up front, brandy barrel spices, cacao. Finishes with very dry cocao powder and oaky tannins. I was somewhat impressed by this beer and the mint chocolate notes i enjoy i can see as being interpreted as unpleasant. Good beer overall.
Jun 29, 2011
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.04 by travolta from California

Jan 10, 2023
 
Rated: 1.47 by Resistance88 from California

Dec 15, 2021
Photo of rodbeermunch
Reviewed by rodbeermunch from Nevada

3.09/5  rDev -11.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
I don't even remember how I came to acquire this bottle, damn sure I didn't buy it, but drank it June 11, 2016. Judging from my tasting photo, there is a 12 pack of Leinie's Shandy and pizza. Looks like we were partying with others, which explains how this shit showed up.

Anyways, still looks like the awesome banger the base version is. Pitch black, thick, and a brown head near a full inch. The aroma, still had the roasted malt, but instead of the usual mild dark fruit yeast, this one pushes somehow worse black licorice in addition to the dark fruit part that was largely covered up in base versions. But you know, its just the smell, so its not like its revolting or anything.

Taste ah its here more than the smell. Licorice, gtfo. But hey, they executed a beer commensurate with its name, so you can't blame 'em too much for hitting the mark, even if they put the mark in a bad spot for playing darts. Thankfully you can kind of adjust to the licorice as it isn't as strong as you push forward. Still though, a massive downward departure from their OGRIS.
Jun 08, 2020
 
Rated: 3.25 by brittanylicious from Indiana

Mar 23, 2019
 
Rated: 3.5 by heysuz from Indiana

Mar 23, 2019
Photo of iguanodon
Reviewed by iguanodon from Utah

3.51/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
[Original rating 2011-06-11] Pours opaque black with a thick tan head, good lacing. Aroma is coffee, chocolate, maybe some licorice. Taste is licorice, coffee, chocolate, in that order. Nice full body. Another interesting beer from Stone, but a bit too sweet for my taste.
Oct 03, 2018
Photo of Davepoolesque
Reviewed by Davepoolesque from Massachusetts

3.84/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Bottles in 2011. This was one of the first bottles to start my "cellar" back in the day. I was always leery to drink it because of the anise. Lucky for me, basically all of that particular flavor has vanished. Getting mostly tart fruit, think cherry with skins and dark chocolate. In all honesty, I thought this 7 year old banger would be absolutely awful, but it's surprisingly drinkable. Dare I say, enjoyable?
Mar 23, 2018
Photo of cbenson
Reviewed by cbenson from California

4.11/5  rDev +17.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75
Look: Pepper black with a thinner body than some stouts. Noticeable carbonation. No head whatsoever with just a dark beige rim.
Smell: Definitely malt forward with an intense odor. Sour raisin hop character with a nutty pecan aroma overall. Also a hint of lactose, like Greek yogurt.
Taste: Full, bitter, nutty, and lactose. Mirrors the smell with notes brown sugar, yogurt, pecans, oak, plums, and raisins.
Mouthfeel: Covers its relative thinness with carbonation which makes it closer to a porter than a stout. The aftertaste is sweet.
Overall: Strong aroma and complex taste with a lackluster mouthfeel.
Jan 27, 2018
 
Rated: 3.5 by bigred89 from Maryland

Mar 27, 2017
 
Rated: 4.09 by Dave2234 from Minnesota

Mar 11, 2017
Photo of Phil-Fresh
Reviewed by Phil-Fresh from California

4.25/5  rDev +21.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
2011 Bottle.

A: Upfront anise, light fruity esters, coupled with coffee-like deep grain roast and light oak.

A: Deep black color, opaque with a frothy head that still has solid retention.

T: Flavor is complex blend of coffee-like deep grain roast, anise, dark fruit, light bitterness, and oak.

M: Medium-full bodied with moderately light carbonation with a light gentle smooth alcoholic warmth.

O: Excellent; the beer has aged very well and the anise aroma and flavor that was overpowering when fresh is now super well balanced and provide a nice contrast to the beer’s deep roasted grains and oak character.
Aug 23, 2016
 
Rated: 3.78 by Sammy from Canada (ON)

Jun 05, 2016
 
Rated: 3.75 by calcnerd from Pennsylvania

Jun 03, 2016
Photo of ONovoMexicano
Reviewed by ONovoMexicano from New Mexico

1.24/5  rDev -64.6%
look: 5 | smell: 1 | taste: 1 | feel: 1 | overall: 1
Bomber poured into an oversized tulip.

Looks beautiful. Such a frothy, rich and creamy cocoa-colored head. This is as good as this beer gets unfortunately.

Right from the aroma I detect a sharp tartness and acidity. It combines with a citrusy aroma to develop a funky fruitcake aroma. It's weird.

Flavors just as tart, just as weird and just as messy. It reminds me of an orange creme cordial gone bad.

I can't even finish an 8 ounce pour. Bummer.

I have had really poor results trying to age Stone's beers.
Apr 27, 2016
Photo of Pierre_Pressure
Reviewed by Pierre_Pressure from Pennsylvania

2.51/5  rDev -28.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2
A: Pitch black color with a small head. Some lacing. All in all this is what I expect to see out of my stouts.
S: This is...different. As expected, anise is the most readily discernable scent. There is a definite sweetness here as well. I wish the anise was a bit stronger here; I love stouts and I love black licorice and this doesn't quite smell like either.
T: Licorice is at the forefront of the flavor to start off with hints of typical stout notes. Fresh from the fridge there is a good bit of sweetness, which combined with the odd flavor combination makes this a slow sipper. The problem is, the warmer this gets more the other flavors fade and you're left with what amounts to a glass of liquid licorice.
F: Some thickness, but not quite on par with other RIS I've had.
O: It pains me to say this as I am a huge fan of licorice and I love my absinthe served strong, but, well, lets just say this beer misses the mark. It's very difficult to get through an entire bottle alone.
Apr 24, 2016
 
Rated: 3.55 by The_Chewlord from Pennsylvania

Mar 15, 2016
 
Rated: 4.75 by BrewClint from Illinois

Feb 25, 2016
 
Rated: 3.74 by ClePaul from Ohio

Jan 19, 2016
Photo of mig100
Reviewed by mig100 from Texas

4.05/5  rDev +15.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
2011 vintage cellared by Whip-In in Austin, TX and served on draft. The anise has pretty much fully integrated itself into the beer at this point and although it's a bit flat, the standard IRS flavors, oak and belgian yeast character have melded seamlessly. Very surprised by how good this is.
Jan 04, 2016
Belgo Anise from Stone Brewing
Beer rating: 80 out of 100 with 948 ratings