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
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Ratings: 2,769 | Reviews: 580
4.28/5 rDev -2.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
4.02/5 rDev -8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.38/5 rDev +0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
L-Jet Black, 2 finger mocha head with great retention.....head and lacing are thick
S-Aroma is faint....mostly sweet chocolate, some mild roastiness......molasses.....mostly just sweet
T-Some roasty malts, lots of chocolate, some wood, mocha, toffee, fudge, cigar tobacco, chocolate covered cherries
F-Thick creamy, very little alcohol burn, smooth, carbonation is low
O-Great brew, smooth, alcohol well hidden
415 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
L-Jet Black, 2 finger mocha head with great retention.....head and lacing are thick
S-Aroma is faint....mostly sweet chocolate, some mild roastiness......molasses.....mostly just sweet
T-Some roasty malts, lots of chocolate, some wood, mocha, toffee, fudge, cigar tobacco, chocolate covered cherries
F-Thick creamy, very little alcohol burn, smooth, carbonation is low
O-Great brew, smooth, alcohol well hidden
415 characters
4.82/5 rDev +10.3%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
4.45/5 rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
pours oil black with a thin dark cream head, looks nice but the head could be better
aroma is sweet, notes of chocolate float up. slight coffee but a very clean and sweet smell
taste is clean and sweet, lots of chocolate with some bitterness to follow up. very nice stout, the 11% is hidden very very well.
clean easy to drink huge stout, damn good beer. am gonna have to pick up another bottle to save for the cold weather.
427 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
pours oil black with a thin dark cream head, looks nice but the head could be better
aroma is sweet, notes of chocolate float up. slight coffee but a very clean and sweet smell
taste is clean and sweet, lots of chocolate with some bitterness to follow up. very nice stout, the 11% is hidden very very well.
clean easy to drink huge stout, damn good beer. am gonna have to pick up another bottle to save for the cold weather.
427 characters
4.62/5 rDev +5.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.19/5 rDev -4.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
2017 vintage poured into 16 oz tulip
A: Black, motor oil consistency, with a fluffy 2 finger brown head
S: dark coffee, dark fruit, alcohol
T: dark fruit, molasses, fudge, figs, spicy alcohol
M: thick, chewy, soft, full body.
O: completely different beer as it warmed. Lots of complex flavors, perfect feel. Alcohol is a touch high and dominates some of the other flavors
379 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
2017 vintage poured into 16 oz tulip
A: Black, motor oil consistency, with a fluffy 2 finger brown head
S: dark coffee, dark fruit, alcohol
T: dark fruit, molasses, fudge, figs, spicy alcohol
M: thick, chewy, soft, full body.
O: completely different beer as it warmed. Lots of complex flavors, perfect feel. Alcohol is a touch high and dominates some of the other flavors
379 characters
4.47/5 rDev +2.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Thick as motor oil with a dark chocolate head ... Proper stout..
Big chocolate flavor to the finish ,a little sweet .
Seems a little thin but I had a world wide stout before this so I think that throws off the thickness perception lol.
237 characters
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Thick as motor oil with a dark chocolate head ... Proper stout..
Big chocolate flavor to the finish ,a little sweet .
Seems a little thin but I had a world wide stout before this so I think that throws off the thickness perception lol.
237 characters
4.35/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.41/5 rDev +0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Received in NBS BIF #6 from @Dragginballs76 – Thanks Michael!
2017 release. When I received it, I stored it at 42 degrees. It is served at 58 degrees in a hand washed and dried Jester King snifter.
Aroma – chocolate and coffee, lasts.
Head – small (Maximum one cm, aggressive pour), brown, dense, average retention, diminishing to an irregular three to five mm ring fed by effervescence.
Lacing – fair. Ring fragments, entirely tiny bubbles. Considering the alcohol content (11.2% ABV), it’s pretty amazing to even have the fragments.
Body – black, opaque, effervescent.
Flavor – Expresso and some chocolate – very smooth and lacking harshness. No alcohol, no hops, no diacetyl. After swallowing, a gastric alcohol burn slowly builds. Allowing it to warm in my mouth brings out a chocolate-covered cherry aspect, as well as some tobacco taste, but maybe the tobacco taste is a phantom from looking at the label while drinking.
Palate – full, creamy, soft carbonation.
This is an excellent RIS – well balanced and flavorful. It could easily sneak up on you if you drank more than a bomber or two.
Appearance 4, Aroma 4.25, Flavor 4.5, Palate 4.5, Overall 4.5.
1,190 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Received in NBS BIF #6 from @Dragginballs76 – Thanks Michael!
2017 release. When I received it, I stored it at 42 degrees. It is served at 58 degrees in a hand washed and dried Jester King snifter.
Aroma – chocolate and coffee, lasts.
Head – small (Maximum one cm, aggressive pour), brown, dense, average retention, diminishing to an irregular three to five mm ring fed by effervescence.
Lacing – fair. Ring fragments, entirely tiny bubbles. Considering the alcohol content (11.2% ABV), it’s pretty amazing to even have the fragments.
Body – black, opaque, effervescent.
Flavor – Expresso and some chocolate – very smooth and lacking harshness. No alcohol, no hops, no diacetyl. After swallowing, a gastric alcohol burn slowly builds. Allowing it to warm in my mouth brings out a chocolate-covered cherry aspect, as well as some tobacco taste, but maybe the tobacco taste is a phantom from looking at the label while drinking.
Palate – full, creamy, soft carbonation.
This is an excellent RIS – well balanced and flavorful. It could easily sneak up on you if you drank more than a bomber or two.
Appearance 4, Aroma 4.25, Flavor 4.5, Palate 4.5, Overall 4.5.
1,190 characters
4.26/5 rDev -2.5%
look: 5 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
look: 5 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
4.26/5 rDev -2.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
2017 release
Appearance - Pours pitch black with a cocoa colored, half finger width head. Fair retention before dissipating to a razor thin, broken layer of suds with a slightly thicker ring around the edge of the glass. Very little lacing in the form of a few spots.
Smell - Deep roasted malt and chocolate hit the nose first. Molasses. Touch of earthiness. Hint of smoke and faint dark fruitiness.
Taste - Roasted malt plays off a blend of dark and milk chocolate notes. Underlying smoke note that finds a trace of fruitiness riding alongside. Dark fruit develops as it warms, becoming more prominent than the smokiness, especially in the back end; hints of fig and black cherry tartness. Finish lingers with chocolate and tartness, undercut by a bit of roast that refuses to be shaken off completely.
Mouthfeel - Full-bodied with low carbonation. As full as it is, it doesn't come across as sticky or syrupy, instead it goes down velvety smooth before a dry, slightly boozy finish.
Overall - Great beer, and yet I find myself thinking it's missing that extra umph that would make it truly world class. For the price, I don't know that I'd pull the trigger again; not when Founders RIS can be had for approx. 1/4 the price.
1,232 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
2017 release
Appearance - Pours pitch black with a cocoa colored, half finger width head. Fair retention before dissipating to a razor thin, broken layer of suds with a slightly thicker ring around the edge of the glass. Very little lacing in the form of a few spots.
Smell - Deep roasted malt and chocolate hit the nose first. Molasses. Touch of earthiness. Hint of smoke and faint dark fruitiness.
Taste - Roasted malt plays off a blend of dark and milk chocolate notes. Underlying smoke note that finds a trace of fruitiness riding alongside. Dark fruit develops as it warms, becoming more prominent than the smokiness, especially in the back end; hints of fig and black cherry tartness. Finish lingers with chocolate and tartness, undercut by a bit of roast that refuses to be shaken off completely.
Mouthfeel - Full-bodied with low carbonation. As full as it is, it doesn't come across as sticky or syrupy, instead it goes down velvety smooth before a dry, slightly boozy finish.
Overall - Great beer, and yet I find myself thinking it's missing that extra umph that would make it truly world class. For the price, I don't know that I'd pull the trigger again; not when Founders RIS can be had for approx. 1/4 the price.
1,232 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
4.22/5 rDev -3.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
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
4.62/5 rDev +5.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.33/5 rDev -0.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
4.76/5 rDev +8.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
Bottled 07/02/2016: Pours as black as tar with a 2 finger brown/mocha colored foamy head that was packed with microscopic bubbles which crackled as this head dissipated very slowly and eased into a creamy layer on top and left real nice spotty foamy lacing that stuck around and formed rings. Pretty much what I expected and spot on for a RIS.
Smells of roasted malt, burnt brownies, dark chocolate, hot fudge, charred wood, burnt chocolate chip cookies, soy sauce, brown sugar, Hershey's chocolate syrup, dark fruit like cherry and plum, molasses, coffee grinds, vanilla, toffee, cocoa powder, smoked malts and campfire toasted marshmallows. It is sweet but the amount of roast, char and burnt notes almost dominate yet still tie in all the chocolate and cocoa. It's so damn complex it's near perfection as I get layer upon layer of chocolate, malt, roast and coffee that have a dash of piney hops to blend it all together like a perfect cup of burnt coffee with fresh beans. I could keep my nose in the glass all night.
Man, the flavor is just delicious. Roasted malt, dark chocolate, hot fudge, molasses, brown sugar, charred wood, burnt chocolate chip cookies, soy sauce, Hershey's chocolate syrup, dark fruit like cherry and plum, coffee grinds, vanilla, toffee, cocoa powder, baker's chocolate, brownie batter, char, ash or smoky notes, black licorice, anise, maple syrup, Toll House chocolate chips, generic cola, piney hops, herbs and a slight bitterness that could be dark coffee or hoppy notes. The list of flavors in the previous sentence is almost ridiculous, but that's what's going on here and it's all good. This brew is complex, reasonably well balanced and so dynamic that I can't image having a better time drinking a RIS save for Parabola. I love how this beer brings in campfire toasted marshmallows plus an intense coffee and vanilla sweetness without aging in a barrel - that is a masterfully crafted RIS.
Mouthfeel is chewy and thick with a nice texture, mild carbonation, a good level of bitterness and a roasty, sweet finish that is equal parts charred malt, dark chocolate, burnt coffee grinds, vanilla beans, espresso and piney hops. The finish has Tootsie Roll sweetness, vanilla and coffee attack, then a piney hop or black bold coffee bitterness, and then a sweet trailing flavor that's half chocolate syrup and half soy sauce. A world class beer all the way, glad it's now available in NY.
2,423 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
Bottled 07/02/2016: Pours as black as tar with a 2 finger brown/mocha colored foamy head that was packed with microscopic bubbles which crackled as this head dissipated very slowly and eased into a creamy layer on top and left real nice spotty foamy lacing that stuck around and formed rings. Pretty much what I expected and spot on for a RIS.
Smells of roasted malt, burnt brownies, dark chocolate, hot fudge, charred wood, burnt chocolate chip cookies, soy sauce, brown sugar, Hershey's chocolate syrup, dark fruit like cherry and plum, molasses, coffee grinds, vanilla, toffee, cocoa powder, smoked malts and campfire toasted marshmallows. It is sweet but the amount of roast, char and burnt notes almost dominate yet still tie in all the chocolate and cocoa. It's so damn complex it's near perfection as I get layer upon layer of chocolate, malt, roast and coffee that have a dash of piney hops to blend it all together like a perfect cup of burnt coffee with fresh beans. I could keep my nose in the glass all night.
Man, the flavor is just delicious. Roasted malt, dark chocolate, hot fudge, molasses, brown sugar, charred wood, burnt chocolate chip cookies, soy sauce, Hershey's chocolate syrup, dark fruit like cherry and plum, coffee grinds, vanilla, toffee, cocoa powder, baker's chocolate, brownie batter, char, ash or smoky notes, black licorice, anise, maple syrup, Toll House chocolate chips, generic cola, piney hops, herbs and a slight bitterness that could be dark coffee or hoppy notes. The list of flavors in the previous sentence is almost ridiculous, but that's what's going on here and it's all good. This brew is complex, reasonably well balanced and so dynamic that I can't image having a better time drinking a RIS save for Parabola. I love how this beer brings in campfire toasted marshmallows plus an intense coffee and vanilla sweetness without aging in a barrel - that is a masterfully crafted RIS.
Mouthfeel is chewy and thick with a nice texture, mild carbonation, a good level of bitterness and a roasty, sweet finish that is equal parts charred malt, dark chocolate, burnt coffee grinds, vanilla beans, espresso and piney hops. The finish has Tootsie Roll sweetness, vanilla and coffee attack, then a piney hop or black bold coffee bitterness, and then a sweet trailing flavor that's half chocolate syrup and half soy sauce. A world class beer all the way, glad it's now available in NY.
2,423 characters
Marshal Zhukov's Imperial Stout from Cigar City Brewing
Beer rating:
4.37 out of
5 with
2,769 ratings
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5