B.O.R.I.S. The Crusher | 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
HISTOGRAM
View: Beers | Place Reviews
Ratings: 2,764 | Reviews: 1,042
4.1/5 rDev -3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.75/5 rDev -11.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.94/5 rDev -6.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
4.06/5 rDev -4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Solid black color, above average bidy. Seems to have a decent creamy thick feel. Aroma is alcohol, malt, coffee,chocolate, and a little dark fruit. Taste is very identical, the alcohol comes off strong and dominates. Overall it's very good but the alcohol is well hidden and masks some of the other flavors
307 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Solid black color, above average bidy. Seems to have a decent creamy thick feel. Aroma is alcohol, malt, coffee,chocolate, and a little dark fruit. Taste is very identical, the alcohol comes off strong and dominates. Overall it's very good but the alcohol is well hidden and masks some of the other flavors
307 characters
4.21/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.54/5 rDev +7.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.75/5 rDev +12.3%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
3.75/5 rDev -11.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
4.41/5 rDev +4.3%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Fantastic head production and retention; dark brown head atop a dark black body.
Dark fruit, red grapes, chocolate, molasses, and coffee on the nose. Fairly straightforward for a RIS, but very inviting.
Lush, rich chocolate and coffee tones on the palate. A bit of dark fruit, a bit of char, and a reasonable amount of heat - not overpowering, but not exactly hiding the ABV, either. Waves of roasted barley.
A little sweeter and richer than the average RIS - possibly more in line with an American imperial stout, although it's not up to dessert stout levels of sweetness.
Creamy and smooth on the palate. Thick but not chewy; bitter but balanced. Up there with the better double stouts you can get.
704 characters
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Fantastic head production and retention; dark brown head atop a dark black body.
Dark fruit, red grapes, chocolate, molasses, and coffee on the nose. Fairly straightforward for a RIS, but very inviting.
Lush, rich chocolate and coffee tones on the palate. A bit of dark fruit, a bit of char, and a reasonable amount of heat - not overpowering, but not exactly hiding the ABV, either. Waves of roasted barley.
A little sweeter and richer than the average RIS - possibly more in line with an American imperial stout, although it's not up to dessert stout levels of sweetness.
Creamy and smooth on the palate. Thick but not chewy; bitter but balanced. Up there with the better double stouts you can get.
704 characters
4.51/5 rDev +6.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
This was poured into a snifter.
The appearance was a pure dark black color with a super nice looking dark eggshell white to almost tan foamy head that slid off at an adequate pace. Just a clipping of a concave lace.
The aroma seemed to blend finely between the roast and the sweet - taking some dark fruits to meld with a little bit of cocoa powder to milk chocolate and an ever so slight sort of dark chocolate nib sweetness.
The flavor was an exceptionally fine blend of sweet to roast between coffee and dark chocolate notes riding along some milk chocolate sweet notes. Delicate bitter coffee tones with the dark fruits coming in a little bit further underneath. Aftertaste is slightly dark fruity sweet with a slight roasty pulled dark to milk chocolate sweetness ever so slightly coming in underneath.
The mouthfeel was almost medium bodied, yes, I have to admit, this one seemed to have an ever so slight sessionable quality about it. I didn't mind that for me, but I can see a fair amount of people calling it "watery" and well, yes, we could say that with this beer. Me, I'd have to question that: is it entirely "watery?" Honestly, I'm only going to say: it's smoother and the oats are causing this to be this way. The finish is a bit sticky with some of those oats playing with the dark chocolate and milk chocolate sticky sweet pulling quality about it. Carbonation seemed barely there with this one. ABV did feel on par.
Overall, this is an exceptionally smooth oatmeal imperial stout well worth my time. I'd love to have this again.
1,547 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
This was poured into a snifter.
The appearance was a pure dark black color with a super nice looking dark eggshell white to almost tan foamy head that slid off at an adequate pace. Just a clipping of a concave lace.
The aroma seemed to blend finely between the roast and the sweet - taking some dark fruits to meld with a little bit of cocoa powder to milk chocolate and an ever so slight sort of dark chocolate nib sweetness.
The flavor was an exceptionally fine blend of sweet to roast between coffee and dark chocolate notes riding along some milk chocolate sweet notes. Delicate bitter coffee tones with the dark fruits coming in a little bit further underneath. Aftertaste is slightly dark fruity sweet with a slight roasty pulled dark to milk chocolate sweetness ever so slightly coming in underneath.
The mouthfeel was almost medium bodied, yes, I have to admit, this one seemed to have an ever so slight sessionable quality about it. I didn't mind that for me, but I can see a fair amount of people calling it "watery" and well, yes, we could say that with this beer. Me, I'd have to question that: is it entirely "watery?" Honestly, I'm only going to say: it's smoother and the oats are causing this to be this way. The finish is a bit sticky with some of those oats playing with the dark chocolate and milk chocolate sticky sweet pulling quality about it. Carbonation seemed barely there with this one. ABV did feel on par.
Overall, this is an exceptionally smooth oatmeal imperial stout well worth my time. I'd love to have this again.
1,547 characters
4.15/5 rDev -1.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Pours very very dark with a modest tan head. Lots of roasted malt on the nose, some cola and anise too. Slightly yeasty. A little boozy on the finish. Big roasted malt flavor, bittersweet chocolate, licorice, Pepsi, star anise. Thick and syrupy, viscous. Overall a nice take on the style, probably one of the first (GABF Gold winner in 2008 & 2011, before the craft beer explosion). Not my favorite. Unfortunately no bottle date.
11/22/17
Bomber
4.25 rating
467 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Pours very very dark with a modest tan head. Lots of roasted malt on the nose, some cola and anise too. Slightly yeasty. A little boozy on the finish. Big roasted malt flavor, bittersweet chocolate, licorice, Pepsi, star anise. Thick and syrupy, viscous. Overall a nice take on the style, probably one of the first (GABF Gold winner in 2008 & 2011, before the craft beer explosion). Not my favorite. Unfortunately no bottle date.
11/22/17
Bomber
4.25 rating
467 characters
4.23/5 rDev 0%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.21/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.25/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
3.9/5 rDev -7.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.75
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.75
3.63/5 rDev -14.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Had this a few times, review consists of culmination of all those times, although this one is pretty consistent, so I'll say I haven't seen much, if any variation between bottles.
Pours a black ale, mostly black, slight brown, not the darkest but plenty thick and dark, with 1/2" brown head on top. Looks pretty. Aroma of roasted malt and maybe some Chinook hops.
Taste has a little less of the dark fruit bitterness than your average Russian Imperial Stout (RIS). I like that. It is more of a hybrid with an American stout, as this one goes hard with the malt and less with the bitterness. Its all for the better. Usual suspects, heavily roasted chocolate malt, C hop bitterness, slight raisin/prune backdrop, baker's licorice. Hides the alcohol nicely.
A better than average RIS at the end of the day. Bomber format though, would not purchase again, but people love sending these as extras.
905 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Had this a few times, review consists of culmination of all those times, although this one is pretty consistent, so I'll say I haven't seen much, if any variation between bottles.
Pours a black ale, mostly black, slight brown, not the darkest but plenty thick and dark, with 1/2" brown head on top. Looks pretty. Aroma of roasted malt and maybe some Chinook hops.
Taste has a little less of the dark fruit bitterness than your average Russian Imperial Stout (RIS). I like that. It is more of a hybrid with an American stout, as this one goes hard with the malt and less with the bitterness. Its all for the better. Usual suspects, heavily roasted chocolate malt, C hop bitterness, slight raisin/prune backdrop, baker's licorice. Hides the alcohol nicely.
A better than average RIS at the end of the day. Bomber format though, would not purchase again, but people love sending these as extras.
905 characters
4.75/5 rDev +12.3%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
Looks pitch black like the night Im drinking it
Smells like dark fruits, cherry, dates, stuff like that and alcohol
Tastes like semisweet chocolate, burned oats, and bitter coffee.
Chewy and thick mouthfeel
Overall I understand why this beer is so highly rated by so many people. It's truly a delicious and heavy stout perfect for a cold winter night
350 characters
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
Looks pitch black like the night Im drinking it
Smells like dark fruits, cherry, dates, stuff like that and alcohol
Tastes like semisweet chocolate, burned oats, and bitter coffee.
Chewy and thick mouthfeel
Overall I understand why this beer is so highly rated by so many people. It's truly a delicious and heavy stout perfect for a cold winter night
350 characters
4.66/5 rDev +10.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.43/5 rDev +4.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
B.O.R.I.S. The Crusher from Hoppin' Frog Brewery
Beer rating:
4.23 out of
5 with
2,764 ratings
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