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Russian Gun Imperial Stout
Grand River Brewing
- From:
- Grand River Brewing
- Ontario, Canada
- Style:
- Russian Imperial Stout
- ABV:
- 8.5%
- Score:
- 84
- Avg:
- 3.71 | pDev: 10.78%
- Reviews:
- 97
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Feb 02, 2020
- Added:
- Apr 03, 2009
- Wants:
- 6
- Gots:
- 21
SCORE
84
Good
84
Good
Notes:
The Russian gun (or Gun as we call it) is named after the Queens square cannon that sits downtown Galt, Cambridge. The cannon was awarded to the town of Galt for its support of the English troops during the Crimean war which ended in 1856.
That year to celebrate the victory during Victoria day the Cannon was fired at noon. The men firing the cannon successfully fired three shots however during the forth the powder prematurely exploding killing both men charring their upper bodies beyond human recognition and dismembering the arms and hands of both men; two children were lightly scratched.
We have crafted the Russian gun to commemorate this local tragedy taking the recipe from an old English recipe dating back to the early colonial times.
That year to celebrate the victory during Victoria day the Cannon was fired at noon. The men firing the cannon successfully fired three shots however during the forth the powder prematurely exploding killing both men charring their upper bodies beyond human recognition and dismembering the arms and hands of both men; two children were lightly scratched.
We have crafted the Russian gun to commemorate this local tragedy taking the recipe from an old English recipe dating back to the early colonial times.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by Pmicdee from Canada (ON)
4/5 rDev +7.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4/5 rDev +7.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours black with a thick beige head. Sweeter than most stouts. Even with a high ABV (8%) doesn’t feel boozy at all. A nice winter stout
February 13 2020
Nov 14, 2018February 13 2020
Reviewed by polloenfuego from Canada (NB)
3.69/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.69/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Pours a nice black color with about two fingers of head. Retention is pretty good and there is some light lacing.
Smell is somewhat muted to me. I get roasty malts and along with it some coffee. I also pick up a touch of treacle.
Taste is nice, the roasts mentioned on the nose come through nicely. Dark chocolate and that hint of treacle are also there.
Feel is velvety and full. A nice sort of creaminess coats the tongue. Carbonation is medium and there is no burn from the alcohol.
I expected nothing from this beer. It is an average RIS, and it has its good points, including price, that make it worth a shot. Don't expect miracles, and you'll be fine.
Jan 18, 2018Smell is somewhat muted to me. I get roasty malts and along with it some coffee. I also pick up a touch of treacle.
Taste is nice, the roasts mentioned on the nose come through nicely. Dark chocolate and that hint of treacle are also there.
Feel is velvety and full. A nice sort of creaminess coats the tongue. Carbonation is medium and there is no burn from the alcohol.
I expected nothing from this beer. It is an average RIS, and it has its good points, including price, that make it worth a shot. Don't expect miracles, and you'll be fine.
Reviewed by PorterPro125 from Canada (NB)
3.99/5 rDev +7.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.99/5 rDev +7.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Serving Type: 473 mL Can
L- Pours a jet black, completely opaque liquid topped by a 1/2 finger tan head. Decent retention. Fades down to a thin cap. Good amount of lacing.
S- Roasty aromas, as to be expected. Roasted malt, coffee, and a little bit of dark chocolate. Well balanced.
T- Roasted malt, dark chocolate, and a slight creaminess. Dark chocolate persists to the finish, offering a subtle bitterness.
F- Medium-Heavy Mouthfeel and low carbonation. No surprises here... this is a Russian Imperial Stout, after all.
O- Over all, a solid Russian Imperial Stout. A large tan head would've completed the package but we can only take what's given. Give this one a try for sure!
Mar 02, 2017L- Pours a jet black, completely opaque liquid topped by a 1/2 finger tan head. Decent retention. Fades down to a thin cap. Good amount of lacing.
S- Roasty aromas, as to be expected. Roasted malt, coffee, and a little bit of dark chocolate. Well balanced.
T- Roasted malt, dark chocolate, and a slight creaminess. Dark chocolate persists to the finish, offering a subtle bitterness.
F- Medium-Heavy Mouthfeel and low carbonation. No surprises here... this is a Russian Imperial Stout, after all.
O- Over all, a solid Russian Imperial Stout. A large tan head would've completed the package but we can only take what's given. Give this one a try for sure!
Reviewed by WoodBrew from Ohio
3.81/5 rDev +2.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
3.81/5 rDev +2.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
I bought a can of this from Brantford whilst in Canada for my son's hockey tournament. It poured an opaque black with no head and no lace. The scent had hints of roast. The taste is nicely balanced and easy to drink for a stout. There is some roast. The Mouthfeel is lighter in body with smooth carbonation. Overall it's decent and worth a try.
Jan 16, 2017
Reviewed by ChrisCage from Canada (AB)
4.24/5 rDev +14.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.24/5 rDev +14.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
This was bottled Jan 10, 2012...vintage!!
A- This one pours a frothy black color with wee, yet big bubbles on the head.....the head itself is a dark caramel color and it has a creamy fried egg white texture.....many foamy bubbles linger on top of the brew. Carbonation is much too hard to see what is happening and as far as lacing goes....well, this is an impressive area....plenty of thick sticky protein clings to the side of the glass!
S- This definitely smells of a Russian Imperial! Plenty of malty goodness, both sweet, burnt and peaty all the same! Slight boozy character blended with licorice, Earthy roots, and an every so slight hop bitterness on the finish. Nicely rounded overall!
T- The flavors are all over the board...in a good way! There are huge characteristics of chocolate, cream, yeast, burnt toast, sweet malt, burnt almond nuttiness, coffee....the finish is somewhat bittering and astringent in nature....rather nice overall.....the booziness shows to a degree, but I'm not surprised seeing as this is 8.5%.
M/O- This is full bodied in the literal sense and the carbonation is tight and super mellow/velvety. For the age of this Stout, it rounded out superbly and is highly drinkable.....with a sweet dessert, the bitterness of the burnt malt really shows. Overall this is a nice Imperial Stout.
Jun 22, 2016A- This one pours a frothy black color with wee, yet big bubbles on the head.....the head itself is a dark caramel color and it has a creamy fried egg white texture.....many foamy bubbles linger on top of the brew. Carbonation is much too hard to see what is happening and as far as lacing goes....well, this is an impressive area....plenty of thick sticky protein clings to the side of the glass!
S- This definitely smells of a Russian Imperial! Plenty of malty goodness, both sweet, burnt and peaty all the same! Slight boozy character blended with licorice, Earthy roots, and an every so slight hop bitterness on the finish. Nicely rounded overall!
T- The flavors are all over the board...in a good way! There are huge characteristics of chocolate, cream, yeast, burnt toast, sweet malt, burnt almond nuttiness, coffee....the finish is somewhat bittering and astringent in nature....rather nice overall.....the booziness shows to a degree, but I'm not surprised seeing as this is 8.5%.
M/O- This is full bodied in the literal sense and the carbonation is tight and super mellow/velvety. For the age of this Stout, it rounded out superbly and is highly drinkable.....with a sweet dessert, the bitterness of the burnt malt really shows. Overall this is a nice Imperial Stout.
Reviewed by DrDemento456 from Pennsylvania
3.95/5 rDev +6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
3.95/5 rDev +6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Date marked March 2015 so its pushing over a year but seeing other reviews for this with a year plus on it makes me think it holds up well. About 3.50 for the 16oz bottle.
A - Decent head for the age just a 1/4 inch of deep mocha froth that settles to a nice ring. Beer is spot on for a RIS with deep dark blackness in a glass.
S - Sugary dark malts some coffee roast and very mild if any hops. Smells good not soured and well rounded.
T - Ashy roasts making me kind of think of coffee since the reviews below meet some sugary dark malts and some earthy faded hops leaving a dry finish on the palate. Slightly sour so it may be a bit oxidized.
M - Not bad for the ABV it goes down quite smooth and I enjoy the extra 4 ounces on top of the typical beer bottle.
Overall not sure I would get it again possibly fresh someday to compare but its really not a bad RIS balanced hop to malt ratio and easy to sip.
Jun 14, 2016A - Decent head for the age just a 1/4 inch of deep mocha froth that settles to a nice ring. Beer is spot on for a RIS with deep dark blackness in a glass.
S - Sugary dark malts some coffee roast and very mild if any hops. Smells good not soured and well rounded.
T - Ashy roasts making me kind of think of coffee since the reviews below meet some sugary dark malts and some earthy faded hops leaving a dry finish on the palate. Slightly sour so it may be a bit oxidized.
M - Not bad for the ABV it goes down quite smooth and I enjoy the extra 4 ounces on top of the typical beer bottle.
Overall not sure I would get it again possibly fresh someday to compare but its really not a bad RIS balanced hop to malt ratio and easy to sip.
Reviewed by CanadianBacon from Canada (QC)
3.72/5 rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75
3.72/5 rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75
Appearance - This beer poured completely black with 1 finger of mocha head,the head faded leaving an extremely small ring and I don't see much carbonation.
Aroma - coffee, a really small amount of milk chocolate and some roasty malts. really not much going on, just a simple coffee smell.
Taste - The flavor is rich coffee, earthy hops, some light chocolate.
Feel -medium bodied, prickly carbonation, not much of it tho. The earthy hops and coffee make this pretty bitter.
Overall - this is a basic coffee stout. Its good has nothing offputing flavors but it just doesnt stand out on its own. Am I enjoying it? yes. Woud I buy it again? I dont think so, there are just too many beers that a better for the same price.
Mar 06, 2016Aroma - coffee, a really small amount of milk chocolate and some roasty malts. really not much going on, just a simple coffee smell.
Taste - The flavor is rich coffee, earthy hops, some light chocolate.
Feel -medium bodied, prickly carbonation, not much of it tho. The earthy hops and coffee make this pretty bitter.
Overall - this is a basic coffee stout. Its good has nothing offputing flavors but it just doesnt stand out on its own. Am I enjoying it? yes. Woud I buy it again? I dont think so, there are just too many beers that a better for the same price.
Russian Gun Imperial Stout from Grand River Brewing
Beer rating:
84 out of
100 with
166 ratings
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