Plead The 5th Imperial Stout
Dark Horse Brewing Company
- From:
- Dark Horse Brewing Company
- Michigan, United States
- Style:
- Russian Imperial Stout
Ranked #66 - ABV:
- 11%
- Score:
- 95
Ranked #961 - Avg:
- 4.3 | pDev: 7.67%
- Reviews:
- 966
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Jan 03, 2025
- Added:
- Sep 28, 2008
- Wants:
- 565
- Gots:
- 1,052
SCORE
95
World-Class
95
World-Class
2010 and pre: white label
2011: white label OR black label with black no logo cap
2012: black label with logo cap
2013: black label with logo cap, ABV of 11% in the top right corner and new government warning
2014 - white label with black logo cap, ABV of 11% in the top right corner, government warning on bottom right side of label
2011: white label OR black label with black no logo cap
2012: black label with logo cap
2013: black label with logo cap, ABV of 11% in the top right corner and new government warning
2014 - white label with black logo cap, ABV of 11% in the top right corner, government warning on bottom right side of label
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by maltbeard01 from Pennsylvania
4.02/5 rDev -6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.02/5 rDev -6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Poured room temp from a can into to a 16oz pint glass. Appearance is very dark brown with some ruby hues when a light is held behind the glass. Had a nice 2-finger khaki head but receded quickly to just a ring of suds at the top.
Aroma is roasted coffee, maybe some caramel or brown sugar, faint chocolate and dark fruit.
Taste follows the nose with coffee, dark chocolate, tobacco, dark fruits, booze...any light bitterness comes from the boozy notes.
Mouthfeel is just shy of full. Good carbonation with this one gives it a creamy feel.
Overall this is an alright RIS. Nothing spectacular. Lacks depth and complexity compared to others in this style that I've had. Not horrible but wouldn't go out of my way for it again...even though it is drinkable.
Jan 03, 2025Aroma is roasted coffee, maybe some caramel or brown sugar, faint chocolate and dark fruit.
Taste follows the nose with coffee, dark chocolate, tobacco, dark fruits, booze...any light bitterness comes from the boozy notes.
Mouthfeel is just shy of full. Good carbonation with this one gives it a creamy feel.
Overall this is an alright RIS. Nothing spectacular. Lacks depth and complexity compared to others in this style that I've had. Not horrible but wouldn't go out of my way for it again...even though it is drinkable.
Reviewed by muchloveforhops3 from Montana
4.26/5 rDev -0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
4.26/5 rDev -0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
A big thanks to @jzeilinger for the can!
12oz can poured into a Baerlic Belgian-style tulip
P black w/ a very small tan head; quick recession to ring
N med-bold; deep roast, dark chocolate, and licorice; inviting
T dry roast, bittersweet dark chocolate, and nuttiness; tobacco notes round things out, finishes with light-med roasty bitterness; dark fruits become more prominent as warms, well executed profile
Mf thick and chewy; full-bodied w/ med carb; smooth
O one really solid OG RIS; so happy to have tried it!
Review date: 01.09.24
Can date: not captured
Jan 13, 202412oz can poured into a Baerlic Belgian-style tulip
P black w/ a very small tan head; quick recession to ring
N med-bold; deep roast, dark chocolate, and licorice; inviting
T dry roast, bittersweet dark chocolate, and nuttiness; tobacco notes round things out, finishes with light-med roasty bitterness; dark fruits become more prominent as warms, well executed profile
Mf thick and chewy; full-bodied w/ med carb; smooth
O one really solid OG RIS; so happy to have tried it!
Review date: 01.09.24
Can date: not captured
Reviewed by stevoj from Idaho
4/5 rDev -7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4/5 rDev -7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Bottle at 12 Steps Down. Dark brown/black, small beige head. But it gets better....Roast grain aroma:some molases sweetness. And then the taste. Roast grains, coffee. Brown sugar. Spot on. Slick and oily.
Jun 01, 2023
Reviewed by Ozzylizard from Pennsylvania
4.29/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.29/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Plead the 5th from Dark Horse Brewing. 12 oz bottle. Stored at 34 degrees at home. Received from @Whyteboar in NBW BIF #16. Reviewed 07/12/22. Note that I use DD/MM/YY protocol.
Undated bottle. Served at 53.7 degrees in a hand washed and dried Jester King snifter. The final temperature was 58.1 degrees.
Appearance – 3.5.
First pour – Amber Brown (SRM 18), clear.
Body – Brown (SRM 20), opaque. Under direct light, same, but much precipitate is present. When rear lite, opaque except at the edges – ruby and translucent.
Head – Average (Maximum 1.2 cm, aggressive center pour), brown sugar, high density with many surface rocks, quickly diminishing to a 0.35 – 0.5 cm low-density crown and a thin island.
Lacing – Surprisingly, a fair amount, extremely tiny bubbles forming a few small coronas. More than expected at 11% ABV.
Aroma – 4.5 – Chocolate, weak char, and a hint of coffee. No hops, no yeast.
Flavor – 4.5 – Chocolate and slight char with a slightly bitter aftertaste. No hops or yeast. No ethanol (11 % ABV as marked on label) aroma or taste. Slight gastric warming occurs. No dimethylsulfide or diacetyl.
Palate – 4 – Full, dry, soft carbonation.
Final impression and summation: 4 (After deducting 0.25 point for undated personal container) Looks like every other RIS. Drinkability excellent, with nose and taste balanced, very smooth! Palate works well with the flavor.
Dec 07, 2022Undated bottle. Served at 53.7 degrees in a hand washed and dried Jester King snifter. The final temperature was 58.1 degrees.
Appearance – 3.5.
First pour – Amber Brown (SRM 18), clear.
Body – Brown (SRM 20), opaque. Under direct light, same, but much precipitate is present. When rear lite, opaque except at the edges – ruby and translucent.
Head – Average (Maximum 1.2 cm, aggressive center pour), brown sugar, high density with many surface rocks, quickly diminishing to a 0.35 – 0.5 cm low-density crown and a thin island.
Lacing – Surprisingly, a fair amount, extremely tiny bubbles forming a few small coronas. More than expected at 11% ABV.
Aroma – 4.5 – Chocolate, weak char, and a hint of coffee. No hops, no yeast.
Flavor – 4.5 – Chocolate and slight char with a slightly bitter aftertaste. No hops or yeast. No ethanol (11 % ABV as marked on label) aroma or taste. Slight gastric warming occurs. No dimethylsulfide or diacetyl.
Palate – 4 – Full, dry, soft carbonation.
Final impression and summation: 4 (After deducting 0.25 point for undated personal container) Looks like every other RIS. Drinkability excellent, with nose and taste balanced, very smooth! Palate works well with the flavor.
Reviewed by WoodBrew from Ohio
4.27/5 rDev -0.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.25
4.27/5 rDev -0.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.25
I am trying a can of this beer at my BRAH-in-law 's house whilst there for Thanksgiving. It poured an opaque dark with tan ring head that is not leaving any lace. The scent had dark chocolate and roast notes. The taste was nicely balanced and easy to sip. There was dark chocolate malt base with roast and espresso highlights. The mouthfeel was fuller in body and had good carbonation. Overall it is a solid beer.
Nov 25, 2022
Reviewed by Beersnake from California
4.28/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
4.28/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Older bottle - probably 5 years old. Pours motor oil black. The nose is tobacco, coffee, roasted malts, charred wood, smoke, and a bit of burnt toffee. Dark chocolate as well.
The taste is insanely good. Rich dark chocolate, burnt wood, earth, dark German bread, sponge toffee, French roast coffee beans, and some dark plums and cherries. Wow. Intense flavors.
The mouthfeel is thick and creamy. This is just a super classic RIS with massive flavors. The aftertaste is flooded with roasted malts.
Oct 30, 2022The taste is insanely good. Rich dark chocolate, burnt wood, earth, dark German bread, sponge toffee, French roast coffee beans, and some dark plums and cherries. Wow. Intense flavors.
The mouthfeel is thick and creamy. This is just a super classic RIS with massive flavors. The aftertaste is flooded with roasted malts.
Rated by qrazvan from Romania
4.61/5 rDev +7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
4.61/5 rDev +7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
Old bottle kept at cold for a some years: quite simply one of the references imperial stout worldwide.
Apr 07, 2022
Reviewed by trevormajor from Ohio
4.5/5 rDev +4.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.5/5 rDev +4.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
12 oz can poured into a snifter at 55 degrees F. Side by side tasting with BBA Plead the 5th:
L - dark and silky with a dark hazelnut head that quickly evaporated
S - roasted malt, coffee, molasses
T - follows the nose, a bit of chocolate on the finish
F - thick mouthfeel with medium carbonation
O - very nice stout, bitter notes of coffee and roasted malt mix with a sweet molasses flavor
Jan 30, 2022L - dark and silky with a dark hazelnut head that quickly evaporated
S - roasted malt, coffee, molasses
T - follows the nose, a bit of chocolate on the finish
F - thick mouthfeel with medium carbonation
O - very nice stout, bitter notes of coffee and roasted malt mix with a sweet molasses flavor
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