B.O.R.I.S. The Crusher
Hoppin' Frog Brewery

B.O.R.I.S. The CrusherB.O.R.I.S. The Crusher
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From:
Hoppin' Frog Brewery
 
Ohio, United States
Style:
Russian Imperial Stout
Ranked #152
ABV:
9.4%
Score:
94
Ranked #2,336
Avg:
4.23 | pDev: 9.22%
Reviews:
1,065
Ratings:
2,843
Status:
Active
Rated:
Jan 14, 2023
Added:
Nov 10, 2006
Wants:
  291
Gots:
  570
SCORE
94
Outstanding
B.O.R.I.S. The CrusherB.O.R.I.S. The Crusher
Notes: This Bodacious Oatmeal Russian Imperial Stout will crush you like no other! This is the grand-daddy of all stout styles, with an intensely deep roasted and full bodied flavor. A robust hop character adds a refreshing balance.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
 
Rated: 4.17 by not2quick from Missouri

Jan 14, 2023
 
Rated: 4.37 by Mxsluis from Michigan

Dec 01, 2022
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Reviewed by cwm51662 from Indiana

4.56/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
This isn't so much a review as synchronicity. I had a choice at the local liquor store between this and North Coast Old Rasputin. As I sipped this, I said to myself (just prior to rating) this tastes a LOT like Old Rasputin. And when I rated it, I came up with 4.56- exactly what I rated Old Rasputin! This is a good thing, because I like a thicker, richer stout, and this qualifies. The aroma right out the can is knockout, and after the first couple sips, I doubt I could tell it from OR.
Nov 12, 2022
 
Rated: 4.28 by Hendry from Vermont

Oct 28, 2022
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Reviewed by NCSapiens from Indiana

4.14/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
It’s toasty and malty, it’s chocolatey, it’s got coffee, there’s licorice and a hint of spicy hops. Overall there is a lot going on and a good balance of flavors.
Oct 02, 2022
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Reviewed by Iamaskier from Idaho

4.14/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.25
L: Motor oil. Uneven, toffee brown head.
S: Light and sweet. Caramel, nuts, notes of leather and vanilla and cookie dough. Some bourbon, too.
T: More bitter than the nose. Very roasty upfront, with leather and a bit of char, then caramel and a bit of hoppiness, finishing with coffee and dark chocolate. Notes of vanilla and cookie dough throughout.
F: Medium bodied, silky smooth, alcohol is fairly masked.
O: Definitely more of a RIS than an oatmeal, not that I’m disappointed at all. Would love to try the BA version.
Sep 28, 2022
 
Rated: 4.16 by brandoneast from Texas

Sep 17, 2022
 
Rated: 4 by GFK from Michigan

Sep 02, 2022
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Reviewed by 1BrewBacca from Georgia

3.44/5  rDev -18.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Looks like soupy molasses with a short brown head that quickly dissipates. Syrup film lace on the glass.
Smell and Taste: Chocolate and coffee. Pungent, sour notes that I don't care for.
Feel: Well I'm guessin' with 9.4% ABV I'll be feelin' pretty good by the time I finish it.
Overall: Not my cup of tea. I'm hopin' on.
Jul 30, 2022
 
Rated: 4.32 by socon67 from New York

Jul 13, 2022
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Reviewed by jjamadorphd from Florida

4.4/5  rDev +4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Visually beautiful, it pours out silky and thick - very impressive, sweet and inviting in the nose, this RIS was one of the better ones I’ve had. Taste is slightly muted but still good, the alcohol is barely noticeable…until it hits, then you can’t escape it. This was really a very good RIS. One to keep in mind for the cookies months ahead.
Jun 17, 2022
 
Rated: 4.1 by Hawkfish from Washington

Jun 05, 2022
 
Rated: 4.4 by Zanico from Ohio

Apr 14, 2022
 
 
Rated: 3.66 by sbradley41 from Pennsylvania

Apr 01, 2022
 
Rated: 5 by doctorgary from New York

Dec 28, 2021
 
Rated: 4.25 by shelby415 from Oregon

Dec 17, 2021
 
Rated: 2.5 by 1971bernat from Virginia

Oct 18, 2021
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Reviewed by mynie from Maryland

4.64/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
Traded a Dark Lord for one of these in like 2010? Maybe 2009 or 2011. But definitely a long time ago. This fucker has been aging.

Pour is inky black but still very nicely fizzy. Wisp of a brown head. Really incredible pour, considering the strength and age.

Aroma is, likewise, surprisingly bright and nice. I remember someone, in some vague context, telling me I had been hosed in the trade. I dunno. Back then I was lousy with FFF rarities. This wears its age nicely, and there's no hint that it wouldn't have been good-to-great if consumed several years earlier. Very dark chocolate and coffee, some pleasantly sharp grain. The nodes that are discernably aged mellow it out but don't overwhelm it with the sort of overripe fruit nodes that often denote staleness.

Flavor is, again, surprisingly great. It tastes like a more or less fresh double stout, only wonderfully smoothed over. Aggressive but never overwhelming. Dark, dark, dark and bitter chocolate up front, bittersour grain in the middle, and a wee bitty kiss o' the hops on the finish.

Maybe I'm just an aging man with atavistic pretensions. Maybe beers were just better before the market got oversaturated. I dunno. What I do know is I liked this quite a bit.
Sep 28, 2021
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Rated by Hopheadjeffery from Illinois

4.07/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Tasted in a snifter from draft at Consume on August 1, 2021.
Sep 21, 2021
 
Rated: 3.79 by dsshuck from Delaware

Jun 15, 2021
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Reviewed by stevoj from Idaho

4.16/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Bomber from Tavour. Near black pour, ring of brown head. Aroma is chocolate and roasty malts. Taste is sweet, chocolate, roast. Simple but so deep. Slick feel from the oats. Wonderfully smooth with a nice warm, bitter finish.
Jun 03, 2021
Photo of Sigmund
Reviewed by Sigmund from Norway

3.64/5  rDev -13.9%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Rerate, 1 pt. 6 fl. oz. bottle, courtesy of Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger.ABV is 9.4%. Pitch black colour, low tan head. Fairly strong sweetish aroma, also roasty notes, loads of molasses and chocolate, also notes of mild coffee and liquorice. The flavour is very roasty with loads of malty sweetness and molasses, also notes of strong coffee, liquorice and dark bitter chocolate. Powerful stuff. I’m upping it a few points.

Original rating: Bottle, as Hoppin’ Frog B.O.R.I.S. The Crusher Oatmeal-Imperial Stout, ABV 9.4%, at RBNAG 2009 in Vatlandsvåg. Pitch black colour, low brown head. Surprisingly moderate aroma of oats and roasted barley, notes of mild coffee, hints of chocolate. The flavour has loads of malty sweetness, verging on sickly, and loads of roasted barley too. Notes of coffee, hints of liquorice and dark chocolate. Slightly acidic finish. Not the best impy stout I’ve had.
May 14, 2021
 
Rated: 4.25 by brittanylicious from Indiana

Apr 16, 2021
 
Rated: 4 by Scott17Taylor from Iowa

Mar 24, 2021
 
Rated: 4.27 by entenduintransit from Tennessee

Jan 02, 2021
 
Rated: 4.25 by ilikebeer03 from Texas

Dec 12, 2020
 
Rated: 4.16 by Chuckdiesel24 from Illinois

Dec 06, 2020
 
Rated: 4.07 by PaulSlazinger from Pennsylvania

Oct 12, 2020
 
Rated: 4.02 by Unclevince from West Virginia

Oct 09, 2020
 
Rated: 4.18 by Danzifer from Ohio

Sep 24, 2020
 
Rated: 4.54 by DOCRW from Washington

Sep 02, 2020
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Reviewed by trevormajor from Ohio

4.72/5  rDev +11.6%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
poured from a bomber into a snifter, I let the bottle warm for 2 hours prior to drinking. This seemed to enhance many of the underlying flavors. A great beer from my hometown!
Aug 13, 2020
 
Rated: 4 by Patches826 from Massachusetts

Jul 30, 2020
 
Rated: 3.86 by j0hnc2468 from New York

Jul 13, 2020
 
Rated: 4.25 by Beer-A-Lot from Virginia

Jun 11, 2020
 
Rated: 4.25 by HungarianCount from California

Jun 09, 2020
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Reviewed by janubio from Spain

3.75/5  rDev -11.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Bottle bought at Las Buenas Pulgas, served at home in a snifter glass.
Black colour, small brown head with no retention nor lacing.
Aroma of coffee, chocolate, varnished and dried fruits.
Medium body, viscous texture, no carbonation.Sweet finish.
Taste of chocolate, coffee, dried and red fruits, .
Pretty good, more in the nose than in the tongue.
Jun 03, 2020
 
Rated: 4 by vfgccp from New York

Jun 01, 2020
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Reviewed by jlindros from Massachusetts

4.34/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Somehow no review for this, must have been eaten by server crash

Pours a rich thick frothy 1/2 finger chocolate colored head with good retention, nice soapy lacing, good legs as well, pitch black thick beer

Nose has a nice RIS aroma, loads of chocolate and some fudge, cocoa, some roast but not a lot, little coffee and biscuity cookie wafer, a bit of creamy oatmeal like, light fruity note in the background, little toffee, caramel, and baking spices, plenty of cookie biscuits as it warms

Taste brings brings loads of dark malts and smooth rich beer, plenty of creamy oats, a little biscuity cookie dough as well, light caramel and toffee notes, fair lush creamy chocolate, like Lindor rich chocolate, velvety as well, fudge and cocoa, little baking spice and hint of alcohol, a bit of roast and coffee but light, a touch of vanilla in there as well, fair sweetness in general with a touch of bitterness up front, then finish dries a bit and borders to med bitterness but still on the lighter side for the style, lots of lingering creamy lush cocoa and spice

Mouth is fuller bod, rich creamy thick velvety, med-light foamy carb, very light warming alcohol (a touch more carb brings this to 4.75)

Overall solid RIS with oatmeal, lots of great malt characters, cocoa, chocolate, light roast, cookie wafer, lots of creamy oats brings more biscuity notes and super velvety, alcohol hidden fairly well, nice spices and light fruity notes, enjoyable
May 16, 2020
B.O.R.I.S. The Crusher from Hoppin' Frog Brewery
Beer rating: 94 out of 100 with 2843 ratings