110K+OT Batch #2 - I.R.I.S.
Cigar City Brewing

110K+OT Batch #2 - I.R.I.S.110K+OT Batch #2 - I.R.I.S.
Beer Geek Stats | Print Shelf Talker
From:
Cigar City Brewing
 
Florida, United States
Style:
Russian Imperial Stout
ABV:
11.5%
Score:
91
Avg:
4.08 | pDev: 13.73%
Reviews:
112
Ratings:
153
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Jul 27, 2015
Added:
May 12, 2009
Wants:
  114
Gots:
  14
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by NeroFiddled:
Photo of NeroFiddled
Reviewed by NeroFiddled from Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
$12.99 at Leuken's Big Town Liquors.

First off, I think the label sucks. It doesn't stand out on the shelf, and I don't really get the joke. I guess I could look it up, but I don't really care to spend the time. But more importantly, I hate the fact that the style isn't on the bottle. I understand the need to use the same run of labels from year to year (higher volume = lower price), but how about a tiny little Avery label printed out and slapped on the side or the neck. It's the same with the Humidor series. Anyway...

I've seen some really dark beers before, and I'm not sure, but this might be the darkest yet. Even when held to the light, the body remains an opaque black. The head is really dark as well, and since I picked this bottle up in Tampa I'll say that the head is as dark brown as any of the wrinkled old women I found 'leathering up' on the beach. The retention is excellent, and it leaves sheets of lace behind with each sip. They eventually erode, for the most part, but leave behind some really interesting shapes.

In the nose it's roasty with a burnt, acidic edge. It's very coffee-like. As it warms and you've had a taste or two some floral hops appear.

The flavor is massive, and coming from cigar city, that's perfect because it would be a great cigar beer. But I digress... it's remarkably rich and full. It actually tastes like dark, rich wort! It opens with roastiness and a sliver of fruit, and then widens to exhibit flavors of coffee, fudge, chocolate, and a hint of coconut as it warms. Some more fruit appears along with a bit of floral, leafy, earthy, and mildly citrusy hops, and then it's all squeegee'd clean at the swallow... or is it?... It's solidly bitter, but not overdone, and it finishes dry (the dark malts obviously help with that) and roasty (that too), with chocolate and caramel and a bit of nuttiness slowly fading to reveal an incredibly long-lasting note of dark brewed coffee. Somewhere in there, there's also a hint of anise, and perhaps cardamom (licorice and cola) - not that it's spiced, just that they're there.

In conclusion, at the pour I was expecting a bit of a mess given the incredibly dark color, but it is in fact, one of the finest heavy, dark brews I've ever tasted. The alcohol barely shows, and that's after the first serving, and it's just so incredibly rich and coffee-like while remaining balanced. Normally dark malt acidity would cut through it a bit too much, but that's not the case here. Remarkable! The only thing that could make this beer better would be a bit more complexity, but at the same time, if it was more complex it would probably not be as balanced as it is. KUDOS!!!
Sep 30, 2009
More User Ratings:
Photo of pmangold
Reviewed by pmangold from Florida

4.08/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
didn't expect to see this beer at a share - many of the flavors were still there - the nose was good too. it was just a little off and thin for a RIS and some oxidation was present (I blame age, not the stout.) I would of like to of tried this back when it was released.
Jul 27, 2015
 
Rated: 4.02 by ricoslim from Florida

Jul 25, 2015
 
Rated: 4 by BColton1 from Rhode Island

Mar 23, 2015
Photo of naproxen
Reviewed by naproxen from District of Columbia

4.14/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
I did let this one cellar longer than I should, but the bottle ain't bad. Still carbonated with a half finger head on initial pour. Dry chocolate Flavors with a viscosity that lingers in the back of the mouth.

Drink it already.

Bottle 417/449
Mar 10, 2015
Photo of Jwale73
Reviewed by Jwale73 from Rhode Island

3.47/5  rDev -15%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.25
Bottle 221/449. Pours one shade shy of black with no head; just a tight band around the edges. Nose is chocolatey and boozy with some clear elements of oxidation present. Taste is ashy, oxidized and reveals soy sauce, black licorice and baker's chocolate. Mouthfeel is light-medium in body with a mild carbonation and a slightly watery texture. Overall - this beer is past its prime.
Jan 23, 2015
 
Rated: 4.06 by wethorseblanket from California

Jan 13, 2015
 
Rated: 4 by johnyb from Florida

Dec 09, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by olradetbalder from Sweden

Dec 02, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by a77cj7 from South Dakota

Nov 21, 2014
 
Rated: 4.75 by craftbeerasian from Florida

May 17, 2014
 
Rated: 3.25 by DustinSWB from Florida

May 05, 2014
Photo of sendsilk
Reviewed by sendsilk from Florida

4.33/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Finally getting a chance to open the 110k batch 2!! I can't recall who was kind enough to trade this to me but I'll go through and update this at a later date. Thanks!,

Looks like the traditional CCB stout. Not quite as thick, but a nice head (after 4 years even!) and some decent lacing.

Smell is pretty much Cocoa powder. Nice chocolate and roast aroma.

Taste is very nice. Smooth and easy to drink. Thinner than their modern stouts, this has a nice chocolate taste with some roasty, smoky flavor and a hint of raspberry!

Love this beer! Four years old and drinking great! Probably not many of these left but if you can get one
Feb 28, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by Teleweizen2 from New Hampshire

Oct 27, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by zestar from California

Oct 27, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by ncaudle from Virginia

Aug 19, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by acurtis from New Jersey

Jun 29, 2013
 
Rated: 4.5 by jvillefan from California

May 08, 2013
 
Rated: 3.5 by drewone from California

May 07, 2013
 
Rated: 4.25 by beernads from Florida

Mar 12, 2013
110K+OT Batch #2 - I.R.I.S. from Cigar City Brewing
Beer rating: 91 out of 100 with 153 ratings