B.O.R.I.S. The Crusher - Reserve - Whiskey Barrel Aged
Hoppin' Frog Brewery

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From:
Hoppin' Frog Brewery
 
Ohio, United States
Style:
Russian Imperial Stout
ABV:
9.4%
Score:
92
Avg:
4.27 | pDev: 5.62%
Ratings:
15 | reviews: 5
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Jan 02, 2025
Added:
Sep 02, 2016
Wants:
  1
Gots:
  2
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Photo of DraftMonger
Reviewed by DraftMonger from Denmark

3.93/5  rDev -8%
look: 2 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Copenhagen 14/102023. 66,7 cl bottle from Fish & Beer, Amagerbrogade, Kbh. S. Hoppin' Frog's usual design with the green beer drinking frog sandlot of golden letters to underline the exclusivity of this beer.

Pours opaque dark brown with small beige head. Bubbly. Settles thin rim of foam running along the side of the glass. No lacing.

Aroma is intense with a sweet odor of dark roasted malts mingling with an intense scent of whiskey and alcohol. Toffee and brown sugar. Licorice. Molasses.

Light carbonation. Thick, oily, viscous, soft, smooth, almost flat texture.

Flavor is intensewith a strong sweetness followed by a medium strong bitterness. Aftertaste is bitter with sweet boozy undertone. Lingering. Finish is quite dry due to the alcohol

A Hoppin' Powerhouse.
Jan 02, 2025
 
Rated: 4.17 by dafla67 from Pennsylvania

Oct 08, 2023
 
Rated: 3.83 by WynnO from Florida

Feb 25, 2022
Photo of connecticutpoet
Reviewed by connecticutpoet from Connecticut

4.5/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Appearance – Nearly opaque clear brown body with a half finger head.

Aroma – Strong dark fruits, oak, pumpernickel bread and whiskey.

Taste – Whiskey at first, strong dark roasted malts, charred barley and oak. Quite boozy.

Mouthfeel – Thick, full and creamy.

Overall – Very good beer and the barrel aging worked very well.
Feb 15, 2018
 
Rated: 4.68 by leprechaunandfatman from Ohio

Feb 04, 2018
Photo of Ciocanelu
Reviewed by Ciocanelu from Romania

4.5/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Black color with mocha head. Aroma is malty and roasty with some slightly boozy whiskey notes. Taste is roasty with some acidic notes, dark chocolate, cacao powder and some green coffee beans. Full bodied with soft carbonation. Well balanced, roasty, tasty.
Jan 18, 2018
 
Rated: 4.11 by jakecattleco from California

Oct 14, 2017
 
Rated: 4.07 by Grackos from Florida

Aug 27, 2017
 
Rated: 4.25 by NickThePyro from Washington

Aug 24, 2017
 
Rated: 4.4 by bigpoppa67 from Wisconsin

Jul 10, 2017
 
Rated: 4.47 by EvoRich from Pennsylvania

Jun 07, 2017
 
Rated: 4.5 by Hendry from Vermont

May 07, 2017
 
Rated: 4.27 by Ohiovania from Ohio

Sep 27, 2016
Photo of braker649er
Reviewed by braker649er from Washington

4.29/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.25
Poured from a 22-ounce bottle to a tulip on 9/10/16.

My first and overall impression is: Man is this beer smooth! I don't know the last beer I've had in which the mouthfeel stood out so prominently. Like silk. And I had actually forgotten this was, at base, an oatmeal stout until I went to review. That made sense. It was well-executed and enjoyable all-around.

L - deep and dark with a moderate tan head. Dissipated and left some lacing.
S - scents of whisky and dark stout
T - boozy and full-flavored, but also balanced. Maybe not the "flashiest" flavor I've ever had in a barrel-aged stout, but that also probably makes it more drinkable than most. And don't get me wrong--there's plenty of flavor. I'm splitting hairs of the frog.
F - I'd recommend getting this beer just for the feel. Super smooth. I actually wonder what the non-barrel-aged version is like here, because whisky gives every edge. But no--this is one of the smoothest dark beers I've ever had.
O - as above. In one word, smooth. Add a few more words: drinkable, flavorful, worthy of a repeat!
Sep 10, 2016
Photo of Sabtos
Reviewed by Sabtos from Ohio

4.02/5  rDev -5.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Well this was a surprise release!

BA Reserve has some crazy carbonation! A huge, chocolate-dirt brown, soft dense foamy head sits on top of the beer like a cupcake, leaving solid walls of lace. The body of the beer itself is straight black.

I get big coffee on the nose, with a surprising absence of barrel, and some bitter roast.

In taste, the barrel blindsides me with a fair amount of heat. I then get fig, chocolate, and red grape. Vanilla in the background. Tons of oak comes alive as it reaches temp. The taste is a really big contrast from the nose before it warms up, at which time they begin to level out.

Really frothy, creamy mouthfeel. I think the barrel actually IMPROVES Reserve.
Sep 02, 2016