BORIS Royale | Hoppin' Frog Brewery
Brewed by:
Hoppin' Frog Brewery
Ohio, United States
hoppinfrog.com
Style: Russian Imperial Stout
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 9.40%
Availability: Limited (brewed once)
Notes / Commercial Description:
No notes at this time.
Added by jampics2 on 05-26-2011
This beer is retired; no longer brewed.
View: Beers | Place Reviews | Events
Ratings: 182 | Reviews: 67
Reviews by muskiesman:
4.25/5 rDev +2.7%
muskiesman, Mar 12, 2014
More User Reviews:
4/5 rDev -3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Thanks to someone for sharing at bu11zeye's 10,000th rating tasting.
The beer pours a dark brown to black color with a brown head. The aroma has a lot of chocolate in it, as well as some roasted malt, bourbon and oak. The flavor is very similar. I get a lot of chocolate and whiskey notes, as well as some oak, vanilla and maple. You can really get the barrel-aged notes in the beer and they compliment the other components very nicely. Thick mouthfeel and medium carbonation. A very nice stout.
497 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Thanks to someone for sharing at bu11zeye's 10,000th rating tasting.
The beer pours a dark brown to black color with a brown head. The aroma has a lot of chocolate in it, as well as some roasted malt, bourbon and oak. The flavor is very similar. I get a lot of chocolate and whiskey notes, as well as some oak, vanilla and maple. You can really get the barrel-aged notes in the beer and they compliment the other components very nicely. Thick mouthfeel and medium carbonation. A very nice stout.
497 characters
4/5 rDev -3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A big beer, yet very smooth. Canadian whiskey flavour in finish well integrated.ALso chocolate, coffee, coconut, some booze. From May 2011. A bit above average mouthfeel. Not a big head, opaque black appearance. Full roasted aroma. Very good drinkability and balance.Thanks Steve.
280 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A big beer, yet very smooth. Canadian whiskey flavour in finish well integrated.ALso chocolate, coffee, coconut, some booze. From May 2011. A bit above average mouthfeel. Not a big head, opaque black appearance. Full roasted aroma. Very good drinkability and balance.Thanks Steve.
280 characters
4.3/5 rDev +3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Boris Royale pours a pitch black color. Looks onyx and ominous. No light cuts through at all. A very thin collection of dark mocha colored bubbles collects on the surface. They disappear quickly and leave a very thin, spotty lacing behind. Love the color!
The nose is impressive. It’s very malty. A mix of chocolate, caramel, and light roasted malts smell delicious. Roasted coffee is also noted. It’s a great complement to the malts. Whiskey is definitely noted, but doesn’t overwhelm the other scents. It seems to have a light to moderate presence. I like that. Light notes of dark fruit and molasses are noted on the tail. Alcohol is definitely there, but doesn’t seem too strong. Smell s good.
The flavor is even more impressive. The malt base alone is excellent. Bittersweet dark chocolate, caramel and subtle roasted notes provide a very sturdy, tasty backbone. Coffee is rather prominent in the mix and really adds an extra dimension to the flavor. As a coffee fan, I love it. Whiskey does have a light to moderate presence, though its effect is big. It drives the flavor up a notch all by itself. Whatever amount of time this was in barrels was just about perfect. There is a light, tangy dark fruit flavor and a touch of molasses on the tail. They’re light though. Alcohol is there, but isn’t warm or hot. Excellent!
The body is on the heavy side of medium. Carbonation is light and soft. It’s definitely nice and smooth. I wouldn’t mind just a tad more body. It’d be damn near perfect with just a bit more. This stuff goes down far too easy for a big stout in any event.
I’ve come to expect that every Hoppin’ Frog beer with some variation of the name “Boris” is going to be damn good. Boris Royale is definitely that. I’m not the biggest Crown Royal fan, but utilizing those barrels certainly worked out well in this instance. The whiskey flavor is an excellent complement to the stout flavors. If you can find a bottle, grab one. It’s pricey, but it’s well worth at least one purchase.
2,034 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Boris Royale pours a pitch black color. Looks onyx and ominous. No light cuts through at all. A very thin collection of dark mocha colored bubbles collects on the surface. They disappear quickly and leave a very thin, spotty lacing behind. Love the color!
The nose is impressive. It’s very malty. A mix of chocolate, caramel, and light roasted malts smell delicious. Roasted coffee is also noted. It’s a great complement to the malts. Whiskey is definitely noted, but doesn’t overwhelm the other scents. It seems to have a light to moderate presence. I like that. Light notes of dark fruit and molasses are noted on the tail. Alcohol is definitely there, but doesn’t seem too strong. Smell s good.
The flavor is even more impressive. The malt base alone is excellent. Bittersweet dark chocolate, caramel and subtle roasted notes provide a very sturdy, tasty backbone. Coffee is rather prominent in the mix and really adds an extra dimension to the flavor. As a coffee fan, I love it. Whiskey does have a light to moderate presence, though its effect is big. It drives the flavor up a notch all by itself. Whatever amount of time this was in barrels was just about perfect. There is a light, tangy dark fruit flavor and a touch of molasses on the tail. They’re light though. Alcohol is there, but isn’t warm or hot. Excellent!
The body is on the heavy side of medium. Carbonation is light and soft. It’s definitely nice and smooth. I wouldn’t mind just a tad more body. It’d be damn near perfect with just a bit more. This stuff goes down far too easy for a big stout in any event.
I’ve come to expect that every Hoppin’ Frog beer with some variation of the name “Boris” is going to be damn good. Boris Royale is definitely that. I’m not the biggest Crown Royal fan, but utilizing those barrels certainly worked out well in this instance. The whiskey flavor is an excellent complement to the stout flavors. If you can find a bottle, grab one. It’s pricey, but it’s well worth at least one purchase.
2,034 characters
4/5 rDev -3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
650 mL bottle poured into an Allagash chalice. No bottle date.
Appearance - Viscous black body. Inky with a decent khaki head. Settles to a few islands of bubbles and a collar of deep khaki foam.
Smell - The whiskey aroma reminds me of scotch, strangely. Tons of oatmeal. Deep chocolate aroma. No booze, impressively.
Taste - Whiskey is more prominent. Vanilla comes out. Not a lot of oak, but still it's a nice barrel component. Booze is more prevalent, too. Chocolate. Oatmeal is more subdued, but the viscosity is apparent.
Mouthfeel - Nice thickness, if the oatmeal is a little too overt. Nothing like the booze of regular BORIS. Just a little sweet in the finish.
Overall - Pretty nice without being really spectacular. Been a while since I've had regular BORIS, but I remember it being a pretty good stout. This is good without being really smoothed out.
865 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
650 mL bottle poured into an Allagash chalice. No bottle date.
Appearance - Viscous black body. Inky with a decent khaki head. Settles to a few islands of bubbles and a collar of deep khaki foam.
Smell - The whiskey aroma reminds me of scotch, strangely. Tons of oatmeal. Deep chocolate aroma. No booze, impressively.
Taste - Whiskey is more prominent. Vanilla comes out. Not a lot of oak, but still it's a nice barrel component. Booze is more prevalent, too. Chocolate. Oatmeal is more subdued, but the viscosity is apparent.
Mouthfeel - Nice thickness, if the oatmeal is a little too overt. Nothing like the booze of regular BORIS. Just a little sweet in the finish.
Overall - Pretty nice without being really spectacular. Been a while since I've had regular BORIS, but I remember it being a pretty good stout. This is good without being really smoothed out.
865 characters
4.25/5 rDev +2.7%
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
4.32/5 rDev +4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured from a 22 oz. bottle (no date) into a snifter glass.
A strong pour yields a 1 1/2-finger mocha-colored head that slowly recedes to a thick dusting and thick foam ring. The body is nearly perfect black with no traces of color when held to light. Thick lacing attempts to cling to the sides of the glass, but slowly falls from its own weight.
Dark, roasted malt aromas with notes of dark chocolate and burnt coffee beans. The nose is punctuated by the classic whiskey aroma that really sets this beer apart from other bourbon barrel aged stouts.
Dark malts, dark chocolate, and dark coffee. With a twist. A mellow whiskey flavor with a slight woodiness adds a whole new layer to this beer and compliments the flavors very well. The alcohol heat is far from excessive and can barely be noticed once this beer warms up a bit.
Full bodied with great carbonation, this beer has a decently creamy mouthfeel. The carbonation definitely helps to make this beer drinkable, but the heavy flavor and thick body keep it a sipper.
Unlike the regular Barrel Aged B.O.R.I.S., Royale does not need aging. This beer is most definitely ready to be enjoyed now. Of course, I would be interested to see how aging will change this beer, but it is great how it is now.
1,257 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured from a 22 oz. bottle (no date) into a snifter glass.
A strong pour yields a 1 1/2-finger mocha-colored head that slowly recedes to a thick dusting and thick foam ring. The body is nearly perfect black with no traces of color when held to light. Thick lacing attempts to cling to the sides of the glass, but slowly falls from its own weight.
Dark, roasted malt aromas with notes of dark chocolate and burnt coffee beans. The nose is punctuated by the classic whiskey aroma that really sets this beer apart from other bourbon barrel aged stouts.
Dark malts, dark chocolate, and dark coffee. With a twist. A mellow whiskey flavor with a slight woodiness adds a whole new layer to this beer and compliments the flavors very well. The alcohol heat is far from excessive and can barely be noticed once this beer warms up a bit.
Full bodied with great carbonation, this beer has a decently creamy mouthfeel. The carbonation definitely helps to make this beer drinkable, but the heavy flavor and thick body keep it a sipper.
Unlike the regular Barrel Aged B.O.R.I.S., Royale does not need aging. This beer is most definitely ready to be enjoyed now. Of course, I would be interested to see how aging will change this beer, but it is great how it is now.
1,257 characters
4.2/5 rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Thanks to Creetoper for sharing this bottle.
A - Black with a thin layer of light brown head.
S - Toasted oak, whiskey and chocolate. Seems to be a good balance of the barrel and the base beer.
T - Toasted oak up front with nice sweet whiskey and vanilla undertones giving way to roast, chocolate fudge and caramel flavours from the base beer. Really good balance of the barrel qualities and the base beer.
M - Medium body. Creamy. Light carbonation.
457 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Thanks to Creetoper for sharing this bottle.
A - Black with a thin layer of light brown head.
S - Toasted oak, whiskey and chocolate. Seems to be a good balance of the barrel and the base beer.
T - Toasted oak up front with nice sweet whiskey and vanilla undertones giving way to roast, chocolate fudge and caramel flavours from the base beer. Really good balance of the barrel qualities and the base beer.
M - Medium body. Creamy. Light carbonation.
457 characters
4.17/5 rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Pours charcoal black into the snifter glass with a nice mocha head.
Smell- the royal hits the nose first but isn't overwhelming. Bakers chocolate and alcohol follows.
Taste- following the nose really well nice whisky taste throughout the beer with good amounts of chocolate and some fig. A small whiskey/alcohol burn in the end but chocolate dominates the aftertaste.
Overall- I love Hoppin Frogs take on this whiskey barrel stout. Very enjoyable and nice to drink.
469 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Pours charcoal black into the snifter glass with a nice mocha head.
Smell- the royal hits the nose first but isn't overwhelming. Bakers chocolate and alcohol follows.
Taste- following the nose really well nice whisky taste throughout the beer with good amounts of chocolate and some fig. A small whiskey/alcohol burn in the end but chocolate dominates the aftertaste.
Overall- I love Hoppin Frogs take on this whiskey barrel stout. Very enjoyable and nice to drink.
469 characters
4.22/5 rDev +1.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Big thanks to my brother from another mother JM03!
I poured the fuck out of this. However, the barrel has stripped the robust BORIS head. Not that that's a bad thing. There's a bit of a filmy dark brown"thing" there, produced with due diligence.
Light woody, slight whiskey, chocolate and intense roasted notes.
Vanilla, light wood, oak, mild whiskey, roast, chocolate. Not hugely forward for the BORIS, but hard to not find this delicious.
Thick, chewy, full bodied and lingering.
While a nice dynamic to the BORIS, I'd be hard pressed to call it necessary. Again, it's still delicious!
595 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Big thanks to my brother from another mother JM03!
I poured the fuck out of this. However, the barrel has stripped the robust BORIS head. Not that that's a bad thing. There's a bit of a filmy dark brown"thing" there, produced with due diligence.
Light woody, slight whiskey, chocolate and intense roasted notes.
Vanilla, light wood, oak, mild whiskey, roast, chocolate. Not hugely forward for the BORIS, but hard to not find this delicious.
Thick, chewy, full bodied and lingering.
While a nice dynamic to the BORIS, I'd be hard pressed to call it necessary. Again, it's still delicious!
595 characters
BORIS Royale from Hoppin' Frog Brewery
4.14
out of 5
based on 182 ratings.