Marshal Zhukov's Imperial Stout | Cigar City Brewing
Brewed by:
Cigar City Brewing
Florida, United States
cigarcitybrewing.com
Style: Russian Imperial Stout
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 11.00%
Availability: Summer
Notes / Commercial Description:
This Russian Imperial Stout is dedicated to Georgy Zhukov, arguably one of the finest generals of World War II. Opaque black in color, with notes of espresso, chocolate, dark toffee and hints of backstrap molasses. The English hop varietals provide a subtle herbal dryness, and finishes with a hearty slap of roasty espresso. Pair Marshal Zhukov’s with Mushroom Solyanka, dark chocolate, cherries and ground wars in Russia.
We brew and release Zhukov's in the summer knowing that a beer of this heft reaches its full potential a few months after release. So save a bottle for the cold winter!
80 IBU
Added by BigMcLargeHuge on 11-17-2008
HISTOGRAM
View: Beers | Place Reviews
Ratings: 2,846 | Reviews: 608
4.27/5 rDev -2.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
A- pours jet black, thick and viscous with a one-finger creamy khaki colored head
S- ashy charred malt, bread crust, cocoa, black cherry, anise and espresso
T- bold charred malt and dark cocoa, followed by earthy coffee, dark fruits, molasses & anise
M- medium-heavy body with moderate carbonation, creamy mouthfeel and finish
O- a classic RIS that hits all the high notes
376 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
A- pours jet black, thick and viscous with a one-finger creamy khaki colored head
S- ashy charred malt, bread crust, cocoa, black cherry, anise and espresso
T- bold charred malt and dark cocoa, followed by earthy coffee, dark fruits, molasses & anise
M- medium-heavy body with moderate carbonation, creamy mouthfeel and finish
O- a classic RIS that hits all the high notes
376 characters
4.38/5 rDev +0.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
4.39/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
This beer is a blunt in a bottle.
Deep, dark, abyss-like black pour with an angry red head of 1/2 finger. Bubbles flirt with you as they smile up the side shallowly.
You know when you're about to try a drug that you know could be a turning point for your life, and it's right there in front of you? That's the aroma. It's got such a depth, a danger, something so unknown you don't even dare to figure out why or who or how. The aroma is cigars, tobacco, leather, oak, wood, slight vanilla (but only in a sense that you're in a cigar smoker's Cadillac). This beer is DARK. Zero bright notes.
And then it hits you. Bam. Right in the kisser. Tobacco. Ash. Dark chocolate. Cigar papers. Molasses. Pungent piney bitterness from piney and smokey hops. Herbal bitterness is off the charts for style. This beer is 100% dark, takes no prisoners, and will kill you.
Feel is thick, viscous, coats the mouth, sharp carbonation up the middle.
Overall, if there's a beer that perfectly flirts on the line between Imperial Stout and Black IPA, this is the golden child. The rich tobacco and dark chocolate notes are there but the hops are just humongous. The palate punishment is quite possibly too much, but I keep coming back for more. The hops, the dankness, the cigar ash...just wow. It's really delicious, but it's palate punishment on so many levels. This is the dungeon of stouts. Why is it named Marshall Zhukov? Was he an evil, tempestuous, disturbed man? I think one can only handle 6 ounces of this at a time before being transported to a black hole in space.
1,565 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
This beer is a blunt in a bottle.
Deep, dark, abyss-like black pour with an angry red head of 1/2 finger. Bubbles flirt with you as they smile up the side shallowly.
You know when you're about to try a drug that you know could be a turning point for your life, and it's right there in front of you? That's the aroma. It's got such a depth, a danger, something so unknown you don't even dare to figure out why or who or how. The aroma is cigars, tobacco, leather, oak, wood, slight vanilla (but only in a sense that you're in a cigar smoker's Cadillac). This beer is DARK. Zero bright notes.
And then it hits you. Bam. Right in the kisser. Tobacco. Ash. Dark chocolate. Cigar papers. Molasses. Pungent piney bitterness from piney and smokey hops. Herbal bitterness is off the charts for style. This beer is 100% dark, takes no prisoners, and will kill you.
Feel is thick, viscous, coats the mouth, sharp carbonation up the middle.
Overall, if there's a beer that perfectly flirts on the line between Imperial Stout and Black IPA, this is the golden child. The rich tobacco and dark chocolate notes are there but the hops are just humongous. The palate punishment is quite possibly too much, but I keep coming back for more. The hops, the dankness, the cigar ash...just wow. It's really delicious, but it's palate punishment on so many levels. This is the dungeon of stouts. Why is it named Marshall Zhukov? Was he an evil, tempestuous, disturbed man? I think one can only handle 6 ounces of this at a time before being transported to a black hole in space.
1,565 characters
4.77/5 rDev +9.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
Poured into a 16 oz Snulip, vintage 2017. Pours as pitch black as any beer ever, with a massive 2 finger dark mocha head that leaves some massive streaks of lace behind, with excellent retention.
Smell is deep dark chocolate, expresso beans, vanilla, molasses, and just a tickle of alcohol.
Taste is what you would expect dark chocolate and roasty coffee dominate up front with vanilla, molasses, leather, and warming alcohol in the long lingering and satisfying finish.
Mouthfeel is big and viscous, enough life, definetly dry as you expect from a beer of this girth, and a sipper that because of the complex flavors and amazing taste goes down way too easy.
Overall it was hard to judge knowing my sky high expectations, well it totally delivered one of the best stout I have ever had and possibly the most gorgeous beer on earth! Thanks Doctorzombie for this treat.
872 characters
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
Poured into a 16 oz Snulip, vintage 2017. Pours as pitch black as any beer ever, with a massive 2 finger dark mocha head that leaves some massive streaks of lace behind, with excellent retention.
Smell is deep dark chocolate, expresso beans, vanilla, molasses, and just a tickle of alcohol.
Taste is what you would expect dark chocolate and roasty coffee dominate up front with vanilla, molasses, leather, and warming alcohol in the long lingering and satisfying finish.
Mouthfeel is big and viscous, enough life, definetly dry as you expect from a beer of this girth, and a sipper that because of the complex flavors and amazing taste goes down way too easy.
Overall it was hard to judge knowing my sky high expectations, well it totally delivered one of the best stout I have ever had and possibly the most gorgeous beer on earth! Thanks Doctorzombie for this treat.
872 characters
3.93/5 rDev -10.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
4.51/5 rDev +3.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.04/5 rDev -7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
4.32/5 rDev -1.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
4.29/5 rDev -1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.39/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Bottled 9 months ago. Impressive head retention for an 11% beer. Big RIS aromatics. Dark chocolate, leather, wood, and cherry. Chocolate and caramel flavor, with a medium-to-full mouthfeel. Opens roasty and piney and transitions into fudge. If I'm rating to style, this is excellent. It doesn't have the savoriness that turns me off to some RISs.
346 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Bottled 9 months ago. Impressive head retention for an 11% beer. Big RIS aromatics. Dark chocolate, leather, wood, and cherry. Chocolate and caramel flavor, with a medium-to-full mouthfeel. Opens roasty and piney and transitions into fudge. If I'm rating to style, this is excellent. It doesn't have the savoriness that turns me off to some RISs.
346 characters
4.3/5 rDev -1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Pitch black no highlights, thin beige foam, looks almost still, but there is sufficient and really fine and well integrated carbonation. Body weighs thick on the tongue. Smell is milk chocolate, vanilla and some booze. Flavor is a good roastiness and less chocolaty but also not too much coffee. Very nicely balanced also with the ending bitterness to balance sweetness. It is nice to sip such a well executed thick stout. I understand why cigar city uses it as a base for all kind of barrel ageing and additives from the dessert table and beyond, but I really enjoy it as it is. This beer got enough going on already
617 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Pitch black no highlights, thin beige foam, looks almost still, but there is sufficient and really fine and well integrated carbonation. Body weighs thick on the tongue. Smell is milk chocolate, vanilla and some booze. Flavor is a good roastiness and less chocolaty but also not too much coffee. Very nicely balanced also with the ending bitterness to balance sweetness. It is nice to sip such a well executed thick stout. I understand why cigar city uses it as a base for all kind of barrel ageing and additives from the dessert table and beyond, but I really enjoy it as it is. This beer got enough going on already
617 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
4.45/5 rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.63/5 rDev +5.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
4.29/5 rDev -1.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
4.46/5 rDev +2.1%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Black/brown color with a heavy tan head. Aroma was delicious with chocolate, roast, and hops. Flavor of roasted coffee and dark chocolate, yet balanced with bittering from hops. Mouthfeel is heavy, without being cloyingly sweet.
228 characters
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Black/brown color with a heavy tan head. Aroma was delicious with chocolate, roast, and hops. Flavor of roasted coffee and dark chocolate, yet balanced with bittering from hops. Mouthfeel is heavy, without being cloyingly sweet.
228 characters
4.41/5 rDev +0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Poured into a hotel glass. Nearly opaque dark brown color with a modest but long-lasting tan head. The aroma was all RIS with chocolate, roasted malt, and floral hoppy notes. Coffee and milk chocolate on the early palate, joined by a floral and assertive bitterness that balanced it nicely. The lasting impression was rich dark chocolate. Body was full but not overly sweet. Very nice.
385 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Poured into a hotel glass. Nearly opaque dark brown color with a modest but long-lasting tan head. The aroma was all RIS with chocolate, roasted malt, and floral hoppy notes. Coffee and milk chocolate on the early palate, joined by a floral and assertive bitterness that balanced it nicely. The lasting impression was rich dark chocolate. Body was full but not overly sweet. Very nice.
385 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
4.47/5 rDev +2.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
3.97/5 rDev -9.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
4.8/5 rDev +9.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
Amazing Russian Imperial Stout.
Pours a pitch black with a narrow dense layer of medium brown head.
The beer has a big heavy body that even leaves a molasses colored pattern on the interior of the glass.
Beer has a nice nose and a rich robust RIS bite. Phenomenal Beer.
273 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
Amazing Russian Imperial Stout.
Pours a pitch black with a narrow dense layer of medium brown head.
The beer has a big heavy body that even leaves a molasses colored pattern on the interior of the glass.
Beer has a nice nose and a rich robust RIS bite. Phenomenal Beer.
273 characters
4.63/5 rDev +5.9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
Black with a foamy mocha cap, settles into a quarter inch lacing. Aroma is delicate, some classic dark malt with hints of English hops, burnt cherry, espresso & molasses. The taste is a nice balancing act between some of the huskier flavors with a gentle sweetness - there is definitely some blackstrap molasses / muscovado sugar throughout, it compliments those dark flavors well, towards the back palate you get more traditional roasted malt, coffee / espresso, vanilla and tobacco leaf. Ends with a dry English hop bitterness. Traditional and excellent.
556 characters
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
Black with a foamy mocha cap, settles into a quarter inch lacing. Aroma is delicate, some classic dark malt with hints of English hops, burnt cherry, espresso & molasses. The taste is a nice balancing act between some of the huskier flavors with a gentle sweetness - there is definitely some blackstrap molasses / muscovado sugar throughout, it compliments those dark flavors well, towards the back palate you get more traditional roasted malt, coffee / espresso, vanilla and tobacco leaf. Ends with a dry English hop bitterness. Traditional and excellent.
556 characters
4.52/5 rDev +3.4%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.5/5 rDev +3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Marshal Zhukov's Imperial Stout from Cigar City Brewing
Beer rating:
4.37 out of
5 with
2,846 ratings
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