B.O.R.I.S. The Crusher Oatmeal-Imperial Stout | Hoppin' Frog Brewery
Brewed by:
Hoppin' Frog Brewery
Ohio, United States
hoppinfrog.com
Style: Russian Imperial Stout
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 9.40%
Availability: Year-round
Notes / Commercial Description:
No notes at this time.
Added by klewis on 11-10-2006
View: Beers | Place Reviews | Events
Reviews: 1,025 | Ratings: 2,685
4.27/5 rDev +0.9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.25
Overall: this is a very good stout, very easy to drink. If ever there were a session imperial stout, it could be this one. Or at least you could imagine enjoying the second one, which, frankly, with most of it's peers, I find a stretch, even the ones I love (ten fiddy, big bad baptist).
Deep black beer, medium brown head, fine lace. Inspiring. What could you want a stout to look like, if not exactly this?
Mild (or frig too cold). Clean. Malty. Hint of blood orange?
Flavor is mild, some sweet malty notes up top, some deep black bitter licorice notes way down below the surface. Very good indeed.
Oh this has a beautiful mouthfeel. Rich, but not silly. Perfectly carbonated. Oh this is good.
Good finish. Has integrity. Has the length and intensity of a very good beer, not perhaps among the greatest.
★ 810 characters
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.25
Overall: this is a very good stout, very easy to drink. If ever there were a session imperial stout, it could be this one. Or at least you could imagine enjoying the second one, which, frankly, with most of it's peers, I find a stretch, even the ones I love (ten fiddy, big bad baptist).
Deep black beer, medium brown head, fine lace. Inspiring. What could you want a stout to look like, if not exactly this?
Mild (or frig too cold). Clean. Malty. Hint of blood orange?
Flavor is mild, some sweet malty notes up top, some deep black bitter licorice notes way down below the surface. Very good indeed.
Oh this has a beautiful mouthfeel. Rich, but not silly. Perfectly carbonated. Oh this is good.
Good finish. Has integrity. Has the length and intensity of a very good beer, not perhaps among the greatest.
★ 810 characters
4.28/5 rDev +1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
a: slick dark black color, with just the faintest murky brown notes towards the bottom of the glass. poured a very nice looking 1/2 finger dark tan head that faded as i typed this, and now there is no head at all
s: wow, this is a super-rich smelling beer. right off the bat TONS of toasted malt, milk chocolate, and dark caramel malt sweetness. creamy oats, a hint of earthy leather and faint sweet berry. very subtle licorice and molasses towards the end of the aroma. this beer smells thick and rich
t: huge roasted malt and bitter dark chocolate upfront. behind that is a sharp alcohol bite, followed by molasses, more dark chocolate, and some earthy leather. the oats bring nice balance here. just a hint of raisin and plum in here as well, which really gives the sweetness a nice complexity. the finish has a nice hit of roasted malt, wood, and malt
m: its a heavy, yet silky, mouthfeel, and even though there is no head it is quite well carbonated
o: i'd passed on this many times due to price. i am very glad the price came down - this is a very good stout. it is complex, and well-harmonized. Definitely a sipper, but worth taking your time on to enjoy
★ 1,177 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
a: slick dark black color, with just the faintest murky brown notes towards the bottom of the glass. poured a very nice looking 1/2 finger dark tan head that faded as i typed this, and now there is no head at all
s: wow, this is a super-rich smelling beer. right off the bat TONS of toasted malt, milk chocolate, and dark caramel malt sweetness. creamy oats, a hint of earthy leather and faint sweet berry. very subtle licorice and molasses towards the end of the aroma. this beer smells thick and rich
t: huge roasted malt and bitter dark chocolate upfront. behind that is a sharp alcohol bite, followed by molasses, more dark chocolate, and some earthy leather. the oats bring nice balance here. just a hint of raisin and plum in here as well, which really gives the sweetness a nice complexity. the finish has a nice hit of roasted malt, wood, and malt
m: its a heavy, yet silky, mouthfeel, and even though there is no head it is quite well carbonated
o: i'd passed on this many times due to price. i am very glad the price came down - this is a very good stout. it is complex, and well-harmonized. Definitely a sipper, but worth taking your time on to enjoy
★ 1,177 characters
4.08/5 rDev -3.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Pour is a jet black, not much light getting through. Thick brown/khaki colored head with tight bubbles. Excellent lacing and stickiness on glass.
Smell is roasted malt foward, with chocolate and coffee in the background. Some very subtle dark fruit.
Taste is roasted malt, and an even share of dark chocolate and dark fruits. Thick chocolate profile, don't taste much coffee like everyone else seems to mention.
Mouthfeel is pretty thick and velvety. Rich and malty.
Overall solid stout. Nothing stepping out the box, but robust and gets the job done.
★ 555 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Pour is a jet black, not much light getting through. Thick brown/khaki colored head with tight bubbles. Excellent lacing and stickiness on glass.
Smell is roasted malt foward, with chocolate and coffee in the background. Some very subtle dark fruit.
Taste is roasted malt, and an even share of dark chocolate and dark fruits. Thick chocolate profile, don't taste much coffee like everyone else seems to mention.
Mouthfeel is pretty thick and velvety. Rich and malty.
Overall solid stout. Nothing stepping out the box, but robust and gets the job done.
★ 555 characters
4.27/5 rDev +0.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Poured into a pint glass from a 22oz Bomber
Appearance: Pours jet black with a nice caramel head that stays.
Smell: Beautiful aroma of roasted malts and coffee. Very slight alcohol smell as well. Some fruity esters are noticeable
Taste: Chocolate and coffee flavors are well balanced by alcohol sweetness. The oats lend some nice flavor later in the palate.
Mouthfeel: Richly malty body that is creamy with medium carbonation.
Overall this is a really good RIS. The oats do lend well to the taste and certainly help retain the head for so long.
★ 549 characters
look: 5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Poured into a pint glass from a 22oz Bomber
Appearance: Pours jet black with a nice caramel head that stays.
Smell: Beautiful aroma of roasted malts and coffee. Very slight alcohol smell as well. Some fruity esters are noticeable
Taste: Chocolate and coffee flavors are well balanced by alcohol sweetness. The oats lend some nice flavor later in the palate.
Mouthfeel: Richly malty body that is creamy with medium carbonation.
Overall this is a really good RIS. The oats do lend well to the taste and certainly help retain the head for so long.
★ 549 characters
3.46/5 rDev -18.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3
Great at first but noticed a weird after taste after first sip..that grew into a fishy aftertaste... which grew into an almost drain pour because by the end it tasted like I was drinking shamu
★ 192 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3
Great at first but noticed a weird after taste after first sip..that grew into a fishy aftertaste... which grew into an almost drain pour because by the end it tasted like I was drinking shamu
★ 192 characters
4.43/5 rDev +4.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
22oz bottle poured into a globe.
A: As black as black gets. Thick brown head retains well. Spotty lacing.
S: Rich and super moist double chocolate cake dusted with espresso powder. Roasty and smokey undertones. Unsweetened dark chocolate. Dark roast coffee. Plum and grape dark fruit.
T: Thick chocolate throughout. Chocolate caramel chews. Double chocolate cake. Fudge and brownie batter. Lots of dark chocolate. Smokey, Roasty, French roast coffee. Hop bitterness and piney hop flavor. Deeply laid prune dark fruit flavors. Trailing piney hops and coffee on the finish.
M: Ridiculously thick mouthfeel. Round, chewy, silky, slick, and coating. Ample carbonation pricks at the tongue.
O: Feels like the biggest, most souped-up oatmeal stout you've ever had. The body is thick, chewy, silky, and meal-like. In flavor it is a deep chocolate and coffee abyss supported by well by ample hopping. If you're a fanatic about big honkin' stouts, this reaaaalllly scratches the itch nicely. Put it on the short list.
★ 1,014 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
22oz bottle poured into a globe.
A: As black as black gets. Thick brown head retains well. Spotty lacing.
S: Rich and super moist double chocolate cake dusted with espresso powder. Roasty and smokey undertones. Unsweetened dark chocolate. Dark roast coffee. Plum and grape dark fruit.
T: Thick chocolate throughout. Chocolate caramel chews. Double chocolate cake. Fudge and brownie batter. Lots of dark chocolate. Smokey, Roasty, French roast coffee. Hop bitterness and piney hop flavor. Deeply laid prune dark fruit flavors. Trailing piney hops and coffee on the finish.
M: Ridiculously thick mouthfeel. Round, chewy, silky, slick, and coating. Ample carbonation pricks at the tongue.
O: Feels like the biggest, most souped-up oatmeal stout you've ever had. The body is thick, chewy, silky, and meal-like. In flavor it is a deep chocolate and coffee abyss supported by well by ample hopping. If you're a fanatic about big honkin' stouts, this reaaaalllly scratches the itch nicely. Put it on the short list.
★ 1,014 characters
4.44/5 rDev +5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Poured dark dark brown with 2 finger mocha head that laced great. Fairly strong scent of coffee and chocolate. Flavor follower scent, heavy on coffee, followed by chocolate, roasted malt, and dried fruit. Well balanced carbonation and mouthfeel! Poured from bomber. I'd go out of my way to try on tap!
★ 301 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Poured dark dark brown with 2 finger mocha head that laced great. Fairly strong scent of coffee and chocolate. Flavor follower scent, heavy on coffee, followed by chocolate, roasted malt, and dried fruit. Well balanced carbonation and mouthfeel! Poured from bomber. I'd go out of my way to try on tap!
★ 301 characters
4.39/5 rDev +3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Poured into a Spiegelau stout glass
A: Blackish brown with a tan one finger head that dissipates to foam. Sudsy lacing.
S: Anise, leather, dark fruit, molasses. I'm ready to dive right in.
T: Fantastic! Dark fruit, molasses and anise blend for a powerful elixer that turns to chocolate and soothes the soul. A slow sipper that only gets better with warmth.
M: Medium with medium, chewy carbonation.
O: Hop on over and enjoy the buzz. Highly recommended. Can't wait to try the barrel aged.
★ 505 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Poured into a Spiegelau stout glass
A: Blackish brown with a tan one finger head that dissipates to foam. Sudsy lacing.
S: Anise, leather, dark fruit, molasses. I'm ready to dive right in.
T: Fantastic! Dark fruit, molasses and anise blend for a powerful elixer that turns to chocolate and soothes the soul. A slow sipper that only gets better with warmth.
M: Medium with medium, chewy carbonation.
O: Hop on over and enjoy the buzz. Highly recommended. Can't wait to try the barrel aged.
★ 505 characters
4.42/5 rDev +4.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Bottle into a New Belgium snifter. Black as oil on the pour - probably the darkest-bodied beer I have ever seen. About 1/2 a finger of mocha-colored foam on top that receded to a lacing after about a minute. Aromas of sweet baker's chocolate, HUGE oats, roasted malt, dark fruit, leather, figs, and lactose. Wonderfully balanced and pleasant nose on this guy. Upon tasting, a surge of bittersweet chocolate and roasted malt up front with accompanying notes of dark fruit, raisins, leather, caramel, light coffee, and vanilla. Very, very roasty and choclatey, but backed with enough sweetness to create a near-perfect balance. The feel is chewy, slightly syrupy, and dense. Slightly watery for the style up front, but thickens up nicely as it warms.
Overall, an amazing beer. One of the best balanced brews I've had of the style. I dare say that I liked this better than almost all the most popular RIS's out there.
★ 915 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Bottle into a New Belgium snifter. Black as oil on the pour - probably the darkest-bodied beer I have ever seen. About 1/2 a finger of mocha-colored foam on top that receded to a lacing after about a minute. Aromas of sweet baker's chocolate, HUGE oats, roasted malt, dark fruit, leather, figs, and lactose. Wonderfully balanced and pleasant nose on this guy. Upon tasting, a surge of bittersweet chocolate and roasted malt up front with accompanying notes of dark fruit, raisins, leather, caramel, light coffee, and vanilla. Very, very roasty and choclatey, but backed with enough sweetness to create a near-perfect balance. The feel is chewy, slightly syrupy, and dense. Slightly watery for the style up front, but thickens up nicely as it warms.
Overall, an amazing beer. One of the best balanced brews I've had of the style. I dare say that I liked this better than almost all the most popular RIS's out there.
★ 915 characters
3.82/5 rDev -9.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
Pours pitch black, has nearly no head at all. Contains armoas of malt, burned malt, chocolate, barley, toffee, which are pleasant, but don’t stand out too much. Has a very oily, creamy, soft mouthfeel, aromas of licorice, coffee, forest berries, very dark roasted bread, chocolate and sugar. Gets sweeter to the finish, with a long lingering aftertaste, very well balanced. Has nearly no present carbonation, gives the beer an enormous, big character, with no distractions. Taste is never too bitter or too aggressive, but very well balanced at every moment. Ends with a long lasting, bittersweet coffee finish, which gives the beer a unique, loveable finish.
★ 661 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
Pours pitch black, has nearly no head at all. Contains armoas of malt, burned malt, chocolate, barley, toffee, which are pleasant, but don’t stand out too much. Has a very oily, creamy, soft mouthfeel, aromas of licorice, coffee, forest berries, very dark roasted bread, chocolate and sugar. Gets sweeter to the finish, with a long lingering aftertaste, very well balanced. Has nearly no present carbonation, gives the beer an enormous, big character, with no distractions. Taste is never too bitter or too aggressive, but very well balanced at every moment. Ends with a long lasting, bittersweet coffee finish, which gives the beer a unique, loveable finish.
★ 661 characters
4.5/5 rDev +6.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Pours a pitch black body with a very large amount of head. As with other roasted malt beers, hints of coffee and chocolate are present, but with this one I found the chocolate to be slightly more present. I generally found this to be rather sweet and more bitter on the after-taste. An amazing beer, albeit rare and expensive.
★ 326 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Pours a pitch black body with a very large amount of head. As with other roasted malt beers, hints of coffee and chocolate are present, but with this one I found the chocolate to be slightly more present. I generally found this to be rather sweet and more bitter on the after-taste. An amazing beer, albeit rare and expensive.
★ 326 characters
4.29/5 rDev +1.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
L-Dark brown/black....scarlet like light head and tan lacing
S-Very roasty with dark fruits....plums...figs....a bit of leather
T-Big on the dark fruits....plums...dark berries....figs.....also a nice dark chocolate impression....very roasty,...any coffee notes are very mild and not prominent but are there.
F-Love what the oatmeal did for this...very creamy, and smooth...full bodied but not ultra full bodied....it's immense but not like drinking motor oil immense like some.
O-This is a high quality imperial stout with a flavor profile I enjoy...the roastiness is impressive and not sidetracked by a biting hop load. The dark cocoa adds a touch of finishing bitterness but I like how the hops are really understated in this. Well done.
★ 748 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
L-Dark brown/black....scarlet like light head and tan lacing
S-Very roasty with dark fruits....plums...figs....a bit of leather
T-Big on the dark fruits....plums...dark berries....figs.....also a nice dark chocolate impression....very roasty,...any coffee notes are very mild and not prominent but are there.
F-Love what the oatmeal did for this...very creamy, and smooth...full bodied but not ultra full bodied....it's immense but not like drinking motor oil immense like some.
O-This is a high quality imperial stout with a flavor profile I enjoy...the roastiness is impressive and not sidetracked by a biting hop load. The dark cocoa adds a touch of finishing bitterness but I like how the hops are really understated in this. Well done.
★ 748 characters
4.54/5 rDev +7.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
** FROM 4/4/15
Aroma is coffees. App+- Jet black pour. Thick! Tan head, short lasting but lacing remains. Taste-alcohol is present, chocolate coffee, toasted malt. Very nice and tasty. Bready taste comes late. Smooth feel with medium carbonation. Acidic after taste. Very nice beer. Thickest I think I?ve seen, except maybe Goose Island Big John.
**
★ 349 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
** FROM 4/4/15
Aroma is coffees. App+- Jet black pour. Thick! Tan head, short lasting but lacing remains. Taste-alcohol is present, chocolate coffee, toasted malt. Very nice and tasty. Bready taste comes late. Smooth feel with medium carbonation. Acidic after taste. Very nice beer. Thickest I think I?ve seen, except maybe Goose Island Big John.
**
★ 349 characters
3.94/5 rDev -6.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
L: jet black with a thin, quickly dissipating tan head
S: Dark fruits and booze
T: rich, slightly boozy, dark fruit, some bitter chocolate
F: silky on the tongue, good mouthfeel
O: excellent beer, I haven't had a ton of oatmeal RISs, and this one is 2 years old
★ 261 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
L: jet black with a thin, quickly dissipating tan head
S: Dark fruits and booze
T: rich, slightly boozy, dark fruit, some bitter chocolate
F: silky on the tongue, good mouthfeel
O: excellent beer, I haven't had a ton of oatmeal RISs, and this one is 2 years old
★ 261 characters
4.24/5 rDev +0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Pours deep, deep brown? Black? It's almost impossible to tell. The head is a deep chocolate brown that pours big and disappears quickly. A thin rim rings the glass and leaves no lacing whatsoever. The aroma is rich malts, with coffee and chocolate and a slight alcohol tinge. The taste is surprisingly refined, the benefit of the oatmeal, with the alcohol hidden and the roasted qualities at forefront, buttressed by subtle earthy hops. The body is lighter, slick and smooth with just a little tingle from the 10& ABV.
★ 518 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Pours deep, deep brown? Black? It's almost impossible to tell. The head is a deep chocolate brown that pours big and disappears quickly. A thin rim rings the glass and leaves no lacing whatsoever. The aroma is rich malts, with coffee and chocolate and a slight alcohol tinge. The taste is surprisingly refined, the benefit of the oatmeal, with the alcohol hidden and the roasted qualities at forefront, buttressed by subtle earthy hops. The body is lighter, slick and smooth with just a little tingle from the 10& ABV.
★ 518 characters
4.68/5 rDev +10.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
Look - Super dark. Super thick. Pours the way you would expect an imperial stout to pour. Rich brown head. Settles quickly into the beer. No lacing..
Smell - Deep roasted grains. Rich milk chocolate.
Taste - Roasted bitterness, sweet chocolate and oatmeal.
Feel - Hefty. Creamy. Lingering.
Overall - An imperial stout you hate to see end. This beer has made me an Hoppin' Frog fan. Will buy this again and again.
★ 417 characters
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
Look - Super dark. Super thick. Pours the way you would expect an imperial stout to pour. Rich brown head. Settles quickly into the beer. No lacing..
Smell - Deep roasted grains. Rich milk chocolate.
Taste - Roasted bitterness, sweet chocolate and oatmeal.
Feel - Hefty. Creamy. Lingering.
Overall - An imperial stout you hate to see end. This beer has made me an Hoppin' Frog fan. Will buy this again and again.
★ 417 characters
3.9/5 rDev -7.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
Pours a super dark thick blackish brown. The head is the darkest brown white I have ever scene. The nose is slightly sweet but hard to describe. Like how cooking chocolate is not sweet like milk chocolate is. Wow what is that taste. It's roasty and has a hint of raisen right up front but goes to a roast flavor with slight sweetness and turns dry for the remainder. Pretty solid imperial. Not my favorite style of stout but this is a good take on it. Leaves nice lacing as well.
★ 480 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
Pours a super dark thick blackish brown. The head is the darkest brown white I have ever scene. The nose is slightly sweet but hard to describe. Like how cooking chocolate is not sweet like milk chocolate is. Wow what is that taste. It's roasty and has a hint of raisen right up front but goes to a roast flavor with slight sweetness and turns dry for the remainder. Pretty solid imperial. Not my favorite style of stout but this is a good take on it. Leaves nice lacing as well.
★ 480 characters
4/5 rDev -5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
2015-10-18
22oz bottle flown home from Chicago by my wife. No dates that I see, but if it's an RIS, I won't worry too much. Split between a pair of large snifters.
Pours black with a medium brown head that fades fairly quickly to a brown sheet. Smell is anise and coffee. Yeast, and maybe a little cherry.
Taste is mild cherry sweetness up front with a little oatmeal, and a strong bitter roasty finish.
Mouthfeel is thick and rich. Overall, very nice beer.
★ 460 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
2015-10-18
22oz bottle flown home from Chicago by my wife. No dates that I see, but if it's an RIS, I won't worry too much. Split between a pair of large snifters.
Pours black with a medium brown head that fades fairly quickly to a brown sheet. Smell is anise and coffee. Yeast, and maybe a little cherry.
Taste is mild cherry sweetness up front with a little oatmeal, and a strong bitter roasty finish.
Mouthfeel is thick and rich. Overall, very nice beer.
★ 460 characters
4.75/5 rDev +12.3%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
B.O.R.I.S. The Crusher Oatmeal-Imperial Stout - Hoppin' Frog Brewery.Poured from the bomber bottle into a Spiegelau stout glass, this brew's head is 2 fingers thick and brown, with solid lacing, and an extremely dark brown body. I can't even shine an LED flashlight though it!
I smell roasted malts accented with black coffee and semisweet chocolate notes. Not much "oatmeal" going on, but I think this was mislabeled in that sense,
Tastes like much of the elements descibed above. Along with dark fruits and a fair amount of warming "booziness". Pleasant, all in all.
The mouthfeel I'm picking up here is smooth and crisp. Not too chewy and only a small amount of lingering elements.
Overall, I'm giving B.O.R.I.S. The Crusher Oatmeal-Imperial Stout - Hoppin' Frog Brewery a 4.75. This is a great Russian imperial that I will probably pick up again
★ 867 characters
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
B.O.R.I.S. The Crusher Oatmeal-Imperial Stout - Hoppin' Frog Brewery.Poured from the bomber bottle into a Spiegelau stout glass, this brew's head is 2 fingers thick and brown, with solid lacing, and an extremely dark brown body. I can't even shine an LED flashlight though it!
I smell roasted malts accented with black coffee and semisweet chocolate notes. Not much "oatmeal" going on, but I think this was mislabeled in that sense,
Tastes like much of the elements descibed above. Along with dark fruits and a fair amount of warming "booziness". Pleasant, all in all.
The mouthfeel I'm picking up here is smooth and crisp. Not too chewy and only a small amount of lingering elements.
Overall, I'm giving B.O.R.I.S. The Crusher Oatmeal-Imperial Stout - Hoppin' Frog Brewery a 4.75. This is a great Russian imperial that I will probably pick up again
★ 867 characters
4.11/5 rDev -2.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Black, thick, viscous, oily. Big, bitter dark chocolate flavors on this one. Some roasted toffee like flavors. Boozy dark fruit. Thick. Very good RIS. Worth a buy if you see it.
★ 177 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Black, thick, viscous, oily. Big, bitter dark chocolate flavors on this one. Some roasted toffee like flavors. Boozy dark fruit. Thick. Very good RIS. Worth a buy if you see it.
★ 177 characters
4.09/5 rDev -3.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
22oz bomber split with a friend; served in a standard pint glass
A: Dark, viscous pour; opaque body nestled beneath a dark khaki colored head; head recedes to a sheen of oily bubbles on the surface - like an oil slick
S: Espresso, toast; bittersweet dark chocolate; dark fruits; a touch of soy sauce
T: Starts with a nice espresso flavor that is quickly cut into by bittersweet dark chocolate - think chocolate covered espresso/coffee beans; toasted nuttiness, likely from the oatmeal; sweeter notes arrive courtesy of of dark fruit (booze-soaked raisin) and a touch of toffee/caramel; finish sees roasted coffee flavors lingering with a powdered cocoa note; alcohol really perks up late in the glass with a kiss of spicy heat.
M: Full bodied, slightly creamy with a nice slickness on the palate, thanks to the addition of the oatmeal.
O: Good interplay between the roasted profile of espresso/coffee/nuttiness and sweeter chocolate and dark fruit components, wrapped up in a creamy body. My only qualm is that it is a touch boozy near the end - perhaps a bit of age would mellow this out. Still, a very nice imperial oatmeal stout, worth trying if you come across a bottle.
★ 1,180 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
22oz bomber split with a friend; served in a standard pint glass
A: Dark, viscous pour; opaque body nestled beneath a dark khaki colored head; head recedes to a sheen of oily bubbles on the surface - like an oil slick
S: Espresso, toast; bittersweet dark chocolate; dark fruits; a touch of soy sauce
T: Starts with a nice espresso flavor that is quickly cut into by bittersweet dark chocolate - think chocolate covered espresso/coffee beans; toasted nuttiness, likely from the oatmeal; sweeter notes arrive courtesy of of dark fruit (booze-soaked raisin) and a touch of toffee/caramel; finish sees roasted coffee flavors lingering with a powdered cocoa note; alcohol really perks up late in the glass with a kiss of spicy heat.
M: Full bodied, slightly creamy with a nice slickness on the palate, thanks to the addition of the oatmeal.
O: Good interplay between the roasted profile of espresso/coffee/nuttiness and sweeter chocolate and dark fruit components, wrapped up in a creamy body. My only qualm is that it is a touch boozy near the end - perhaps a bit of age would mellow this out. Still, a very nice imperial oatmeal stout, worth trying if you come across a bottle.
★ 1,180 characters
4.3/5 rDev +1.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.25
Ours a near black color. Dark head that dissipates. Some lacing and head on the edges. Clean malty smell. Taste is roasted malts with some bitter at the end. Creamy, decadent feel. Definitely the highlight.
★ 206 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.25
Ours a near black color. Dark head that dissipates. Some lacing and head on the edges. Clean malty smell. Taste is roasted malts with some bitter at the end. Creamy, decadent feel. Definitely the highlight.
★ 206 characters
4.26/5 rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Poured thick as motor oil, dark brown with a dark tan head. Smells of cooked oatmeal and some booze. Chewy with roasty malts, raisins, chocolate and nuttiness with a light warming on the throat. Outstanding.
★ 207 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Poured thick as motor oil, dark brown with a dark tan head. Smells of cooked oatmeal and some booze. Chewy with roasty malts, raisins, chocolate and nuttiness with a light warming on the throat. Outstanding.
★ 207 characters
4.42/5 rDev +4.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Look - motor oil with a dark tan sticky lacing
Smell - strong toasted malt oatmeal and slight sweetness
Taste - dark chocolate, lots of malts, some espresso and not over toasters
Feel - medium body with a medium lite carbonation and really creamy and smooth
Overall - really great beer!
★ 287 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Look - motor oil with a dark tan sticky lacing
Smell - strong toasted malt oatmeal and slight sweetness
Taste - dark chocolate, lots of malts, some espresso and not over toasters
Feel - medium body with a medium lite carbonation and really creamy and smooth
Overall - really great beer!
★ 287 characters
B.O.R.I.S. The Crusher Oatmeal-Imperial Stout from Hoppin' Frog Brewery
4.23
out of 5
based on 2,685 ratings.
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Poured very black with good head. Aroma of roasted malts, and subtle hops. Taste was very strong with the promised toasted malt. The feel is very full-bodied like it should be for an oatmeal. The finish was very balanced with the hops, leaving a pleasant after-taste. Really liked this one.
★ 290 characters