Sputnik
Austin Beerworks

Beer Geek Stats | Print Shelf Talker
From:
Austin Beerworks
 
Texas, United States
Style:
Russian Imperial Stout
Ranked #154
ABV:
8%
Score:
94
Ranked #2,675
Avg:
4.23 | pDev: 10.87%
Reviews:
27
Ratings:
163
Status:
Active
Rated:
Feb 01, 2023
Added:
Dec 30, 2011
Wants:
  16
Gots:
  20
Brewed with oats and coffee
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by kevinscott:
Photo of kevinscott
Rated by kevinscott from Texas

4.75/5  rDev +12.3%

Jan 08, 2013
More User Ratings:
Photo of Pegasus
Reviewed by Pegasus from Texas

4.41/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Appearance: A deep brown colored body is surmounted by a small, finely-beaded tan head with good retention. A thick and irregular, but unbroken ring of lacing adorns the glass wall. Patches of fat bubbles cling to the glass wall beneath the surface.

Aroma: A very pleasant aroma of roasted malt, cold coffee, and bitter cocoa presents. No alcohol note seems evident.

Taste: Upon tasting, there are notes of dark roasted malt, cold coffee, cola, followed by dark caramel and molasses. Following on are wood notes and vanilla, while the coffee flavor intensifies. Late on the taste turns sweeter, like brown sugar, with the alcohol content of 8.5% contributing a gentle warmth, but otherwise obscured. The finish is dominated by dark roasted malt and a little mild sweetness.

Mouthfeel: Full and smooth, with a bit of zesty carbonation.

Drinkability/notes: A very nice example, true to the style, and very pleasing during our ephemeral Central Texas winter season.

Presentation: Packaged in a standard twelve-ounce aluminum can, served in a La Fin du Monde tulip.
Feb 01, 2023
Photo of Darkmagus82
Reviewed by Darkmagus82 from Texas

3.93/5  rDev -7.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Served on tap in a pint glass
Appearance – The beer is served a very dark brown color with a small head of tan colored foam. The head fades rather fast leaving just a light level of lace on the sides of the glass.
Smell – The aroma of the brew is heavy of a roasted malt smell mixed with some coffee and cocoa. Along with these smells comes notes of caramel and molasses as well as a bit of cola.
Taste – The taste begins with roasted malt and brown bread like flavor mixed with some cocoa and a light coffee. There are some sweeter flavors of a milk chocolate taste with some light vanilla. At the same time there is some molasses and brown sugar as well as a bit of dark fruit of raisin and prune. As the taste moves forward, the sweetness decreases some, all while the coffee gets a bit stronger. The alcohol throughout is hidden well, in the end leaving one with a moderately sweet and roasty taste to linger on the tongue.
Mouthfeel – The body of the brew is medium in thickness and chewiness with a carbonation level that is moderate. A little thicker body and lower carbonation may have been better for the style, but overall, the feel was OK.
Overall- A pretty nice stout overall, with an easy drinking nature and flavorful profile.
May 03, 2022
Photo of imnodoctorbut
Reviewed by imnodoctorbut from Texas

4.45/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
canned 11/30/20

coffee brown body pours with a thin fizzy cream head that has low retention and leaves a few speckles of lacing as it settles to a thin halo

aroma is rich milk chocolate, toffee tinged roasted malt, and deep hit of Ethiopian coffee (dark stone fruit/blueberry; bergamot)

taste follows the nose. milk chocolate and fruity coffee, with toffee malt.

mouthfeel is moderately carbonated, medium bodied. full and smooth, a little spice and carbo prickles occasionally. finishes slightly dry and earthy bittersweet.

overall:
pretty freakin sublime, y'all. if you're a fan of Ethiopian coffee and milk chocolate, this will get you good. oats lend a welcome smoothness. notable and pretty unique among other stouts.
Jan 19, 2021
 
Rated: 4.11 by HighE80 from Pennsylvania

Dec 25, 2020
 
Rated: 4.83 by bigfoot675 from Texas

Feb 28, 2020
Photo of Hooded
Reviewed by Hooded from Texas

4.46/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Notes from 1/20/2020.
Sputnik 2019 edition.
Poured from a 12oz can into a tulip glass.
The appearance is dark brown with one finger of tan foam leaving a moderate amount of thin lacing. 4.25
The aroma is medium in strength, and has notes of dark roasted coffee, milk chocolate, and roasted malt. 4.5
The taste is between medium and strong. I taste toasted oats, roasted malt, milk chocolate and dark chocolate, with a finish that is between medium and light in bitterness. 4.5
The mouth feel is between medium and thick, silky, and has an excellent creaminess. 4.25
Overall, the balance of taste and creaminess make this a delicious beer. A somewhat thicker mouth feel would make this a world class beer. 4.25
Jan 27, 2020
Photo of brentk56
Reviewed by brentk56 from North Carolina

4.1/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Appearance: Arrives espresso colored with a one finger head that fades to a ringlet; spots and streaks of lace

Smell: Chocolate, coffee and a hint of roasted grain

Taste: Chocolate and roast forward with a fruity coffee flavor developing; somewhat roasty, in the finish

Mouthfeel: Medium to full bodied with moderate carbonation

Overall: A little low in the ABV to be in the same game as many RISs, this nevertheless is an enjoyable beer to consume
Jan 22, 2020
 
Rated: 3.99 by AmitC from New York

Jan 08, 2019
 
Rated: 4.19 by SadMachine from New Jersey

Dec 30, 2018
 
Rated: 3.98 by Agriverbear from Texas

Dec 19, 2018
 
Rated: 3.29 by AngEo from Texas

Feb 09, 2018
 
Rated: 4.1 by fthegiants from California

Feb 01, 2018
 
Rated: 4.4 by flyingmick from Texas

Jan 21, 2018
 
Rated: 4.24 by jaydoc from Kansas

Jan 09, 2018
 
Rated: 3.73 by ckeegan04 from Texas

Jan 04, 2018
 
Rated: 4.82 by acashk from Texas

Dec 30, 2017
 
Rated: 4.05 by MI_beerdrinker from Texas

Dec 27, 2017
 
Rated: 4.25 by cdwil from Texas

Dec 23, 2017
 
Rated: 4 by rspauldi from Texas

Dec 21, 2017
Sputnik from Austin Beerworks
Beer rating: 94 out of 100 with 163 ratings