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110K+OT Batch #2 - I.R.I.S.
Cigar City Brewing
- 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:
- 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:
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
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, 2009First 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!!!
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by pmangold from Florida
4.08/5 rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
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, 2015Reviewed 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
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, 2015Drink it already.
Bottle 417/449
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
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, 2015Reviewed 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
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, 2014Looks 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
110K+OT Batch #2 - I.R.I.S. from Cigar City Brewing
Beer rating:
91 out of
100 with
153 ratings
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