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

 

 

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.

 

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.

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.

 

 

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.

 

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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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.

Tasted in a snifter from draft at Consume on August 1, 2021.

 

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.

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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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!

 

 

 

 

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.

 

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