Laika Russian Imperial Stout | Straight To Ale
Brewed by:
Straight To Ale
Alabama, United States
straighttoale.com
Style: Russian Imperial Stout
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 9.75%
Availability: Rotating
Notes / Commercial Description:
Named for the Russian space dog, Laika is a huge, chewy beast of a beer. Dark, rich and robust, it has a wonderful body and a flavor that has notes of chocolate, coffee and toffee. It is a fantastic dessert beer. It is part of our Right to Brew series, which we make in conjunction with local homebrewers, scaling up their recipes and producing them to help bring attention to the ongoing fight to legalize homebrewing in Alabama.
Added by sommersb on 12-22-2010
HISTOGRAM
View: Beers | Place Reviews
Ratings: 178 | Reviews: 44
3.3/5 rDev -18.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25
4.27/5 rDev +5.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.1/5 rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Look - a deep oily dark brown with a small mocha head with little retention.
Smell - huge roasted malts, bittersweet chocolate, caramel, molasses, vanilla, and a strong foundation of booze rounding it all out.
Taste - basically follows the nose but isn’t as rich and robust, and the roasted malts, coffee, molasses, and vanilla are the strongest notes.
Feel - medium carbonation and kinda thin body for the style.
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look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Look - a deep oily dark brown with a small mocha head with little retention.
Smell - huge roasted malts, bittersweet chocolate, caramel, molasses, vanilla, and a strong foundation of booze rounding it all out.
Taste - basically follows the nose but isn’t as rich and robust, and the roasted malts, coffee, molasses, and vanilla are the strongest notes.
Feel - medium carbonation and kinda thin body for the style.
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3.87/5 rDev -4.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
12 oz can poured into pint glass.
A: pours a coffee black with hints of coca cola brown, off white one finger foam head that slowly fades
S: roasted malt, dark chocolate, coffee
M: creamy rich heavy body
T: sweet chocolate malt, roasted malt, nice sryupy feel
O: good brew, the alcohol is well hidden;
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look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
12 oz can poured into pint glass.
A: pours a coffee black with hints of coca cola brown, off white one finger foam head that slowly fades
S: roasted malt, dark chocolate, coffee
M: creamy rich heavy body
T: sweet chocolate malt, roasted malt, nice sryupy feel
O: good brew, the alcohol is well hidden;
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4.29/5 rDev +6.2%
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
3.99/5 rDev -1.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
A: Pours an opaque yet still clear thick viscous jet black in color with moderate amounts of fine active visible carbonation along the edges of the glass and faint dark cola brown highlights. The beer has a three finger dense foamy dark mocha colored head that slowly reduces to a large patch of thick film covering the entire surface of the beer with a thick ring at the edges of the glass. Significant amounts of lacing are observed.
S: Moderate to strong aromas of roasted malts, moderate aromas of bittersweet chocolate, and moderate aromas of caramel sweetness. Light to moderate aromas of earthy hops.
T: Upfront there are moderate to strong flavors of roasted malts with moderate flavors of dark bittersweet + milk chocolate and caramel sweetness. That is followed by light flavors of charred malts and a moderate amount of earthy hops. There is a moderate amount of roasty bitterness in the finish which lingers for quite a while. Hints of booziness in the finish.
M: Medium to full bodied with moderate amounts of carbonation.
O: This is a big, rich imperial stout which is very enjoyable but definitely a slow sipper. A bit boozy but not overwhelmingly so. I could definitely see myself enjoying this one again.
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look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
A: Pours an opaque yet still clear thick viscous jet black in color with moderate amounts of fine active visible carbonation along the edges of the glass and faint dark cola brown highlights. The beer has a three finger dense foamy dark mocha colored head that slowly reduces to a large patch of thick film covering the entire surface of the beer with a thick ring at the edges of the glass. Significant amounts of lacing are observed.
S: Moderate to strong aromas of roasted malts, moderate aromas of bittersweet chocolate, and moderate aromas of caramel sweetness. Light to moderate aromas of earthy hops.
T: Upfront there are moderate to strong flavors of roasted malts with moderate flavors of dark bittersweet + milk chocolate and caramel sweetness. That is followed by light flavors of charred malts and a moderate amount of earthy hops. There is a moderate amount of roasty bitterness in the finish which lingers for quite a while. Hints of booziness in the finish.
M: Medium to full bodied with moderate amounts of carbonation.
O: This is a big, rich imperial stout which is very enjoyable but definitely a slow sipper. A bit boozy but not overwhelmingly so. I could definitely see myself enjoying this one again.
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4.5/5 rDev +11.4%
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
4.38/5 rDev +8.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Pours dark black with very small mocha head.
The aroma is rich dark malty sweetness, dark fruit, char, chocolate, and a little tobacco.
Flavor is dark rich malts, espresso, with a dark dry chocolatey finish.
The mouthfeel is a little thin for the style, but overall is great.
This is an awesome beer, I have no idea how it's even possible it has an 89 on here.
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look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Pours dark black with very small mocha head.
The aroma is rich dark malty sweetness, dark fruit, char, chocolate, and a little tobacco.
Flavor is dark rich malts, espresso, with a dark dry chocolatey finish.
The mouthfeel is a little thin for the style, but overall is great.
This is an awesome beer, I have no idea how it's even possible it has an 89 on here.
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4.32/5 rDev +6.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Got this in a 12oz can from a buddy, pours a dark black tar color with a nice dark tan head. Aroma is a bit weak with nothing much than faint roasted malts. The beer tastes outstanding though, nice bourbon characteristics with some good amount of alcohol heat, vanilla and charred notes. Mouthfeel is thicker than most stouts but not as viscous as I like my heavy stouts to be. All in all this is a very good dark and dialed up stout that's sure to make stout fanboys happy.
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look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Got this in a 12oz can from a buddy, pours a dark black tar color with a nice dark tan head. Aroma is a bit weak with nothing much than faint roasted malts. The beer tastes outstanding though, nice bourbon characteristics with some good amount of alcohol heat, vanilla and charred notes. Mouthfeel is thicker than most stouts but not as viscous as I like my heavy stouts to be. All in all this is a very good dark and dialed up stout that's sure to make stout fanboys happy.
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2.65/5 rDev -34.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.75
look: 3.75 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.75
3.5/5 rDev -13.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.81/5 rDev -5.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
3.78/5 rDev -6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Appearance – The beer was dark with mocha bubbles crowning the glass.
Smell – The nose was dark and malty with hints of chocolate.
Taste – My initial impression is dark and bubbly chocolate. The malts were rich. There was a noted metallic taste which was a bit of a draw back. The stout faded into a dry rich chocolate.
Mouthfeel – The feel did not allow the rich chocolate to linger. Instead metal seemed to cling to my teeth.
Overall – Of the Laikas, this is my least favorite.
494 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Appearance – The beer was dark with mocha bubbles crowning the glass.
Smell – The nose was dark and malty with hints of chocolate.
Taste – My initial impression is dark and bubbly chocolate. The malts were rich. There was a noted metallic taste which was a bit of a draw back. The stout faded into a dry rich chocolate.
Mouthfeel – The feel did not allow the rich chocolate to linger. Instead metal seemed to cling to my teeth.
Overall – Of the Laikas, this is my least favorite.
494 characters
4.24/5 rDev +5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
2014 vintage
22oz bottle poured into a snifter
A- pour like motor oil, jet black with a one-finger thick and creamy dark tan head that retains long after the pour, leaving small patches of lace
S- roasted malt gives deep aromas of dark chocolate with a hint of espresso, followed by notes of dark cherry, sherry, sweet vanilla cream & earthy tobacco. Some alcohol heat hits the nostrils on the close
T- dark roasted malt gives flavors of rich dark chocolate, followed by notes of rum soaked dark fruits, mainly black cherry & fig. Earthy tobacco, licorice & molasses close it out, with a linger of cocoa and more dark fruit
M- medium body with low carbonation leads to a foamy mouthfeel that turns creamy into a slightly warming finish
O- a couple of years has brought out some great dark fruit notes and i quite complex for a straight up RIS, very good
861 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
2014 vintage
22oz bottle poured into a snifter
A- pour like motor oil, jet black with a one-finger thick and creamy dark tan head that retains long after the pour, leaving small patches of lace
S- roasted malt gives deep aromas of dark chocolate with a hint of espresso, followed by notes of dark cherry, sherry, sweet vanilla cream & earthy tobacco. Some alcohol heat hits the nostrils on the close
T- dark roasted malt gives flavors of rich dark chocolate, followed by notes of rum soaked dark fruits, mainly black cherry & fig. Earthy tobacco, licorice & molasses close it out, with a linger of cocoa and more dark fruit
M- medium body with low carbonation leads to a foamy mouthfeel that turns creamy into a slightly warming finish
O- a couple of years has brought out some great dark fruit notes and i quite complex for a straight up RIS, very good
861 characters
3.68/5 rDev -8.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
4.19/5 rDev +3.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.06/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Black pour
Metallic-y coffee up front on the nose, milk chocolate follows
Huge sweet body, followed by dark chocolate and coffee, lingering black malt bitterness on the finish.
Not a perfect RIS, but tasty for sure.
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look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Black pour
Metallic-y coffee up front on the nose, milk chocolate follows
Huge sweet body, followed by dark chocolate and coffee, lingering black malt bitterness on the finish.
Not a perfect RIS, but tasty for sure.
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3.42/5 rDev -15.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.25
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.25
4.25/5 rDev +5.2%
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
4.08/5 rDev +1%
look: 4.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
L- Jet black with a nice mocha head.
S- espresso coffee and dark chocolate.
T- sweet raisins and plums with dark chocolate and milk coffee. Quite delicious.
F- slightly lighter bodied than most other RISs I've had.
O- delicious beer, not the best RIS I've had but still a top notch brew. I'll definitely get this again.
320 characters
look: 4.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
L- Jet black with a nice mocha head.
S- espresso coffee and dark chocolate.
T- sweet raisins and plums with dark chocolate and milk coffee. Quite delicious.
F- slightly lighter bodied than most other RISs I've had.
O- delicious beer, not the best RIS I've had but still a top notch brew. I'll definitely get this again.
320 characters
Laika Russian Imperial Stout from Straight To Ale
Beer rating:
4.04 out of
5 with
178 ratings
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