Ralphius - Salted Caramel
Free Will Brewing Co.


- From:
- Free Will Brewing Co.
- Pennsylvania, United States
- Style:
- Imperial Pastry Stout
Ranked #371 - ABV:
- 15.6%
- Score:
- 94
Ranked #2,981 - Avg:
- 4.37 | pDev: 7.09%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 7
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Sep 30, 2022
- Added:
- Dec 12, 2019
- Wants:
- 1
- Gots:
- 1
Imperial Stout aged in bourbon barrels with fleur de sel. We heightened the beer's taste of caramel by simply adding a touch of fleur de sel, a salt that is skimmed off shallow pools of seawater along the coast of France. This addition adds the impression of increased viscosity and leaves behind a bit of ocean on your lips.
ABV varies by year.
ABV varies by year.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by Sabtos from Ohio
3.69/5 rDev -15.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75
3.69/5 rDev -15.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75
Glossy black with a short tan head dispersing to a creamy curled collar leaving some lightly opaque residue on the glass.
Its ultra roast almost conveys molasses and cedar while accented by dark fruits. There is a hint of salted caramel in the aftertaste, but that's minimal.
The viscous medium body is fairly hot and finishes semi-sticky at first, becoming quite unusually powder dry shortly after.
Vintage 2019.
How is the first time I'm having a beer by Free Will from Pennsylvania here in New Mexico at a farmhouse brewery????
Aug 03, 2021Its ultra roast almost conveys molasses and cedar while accented by dark fruits. There is a hint of salted caramel in the aftertaste, but that's minimal.
The viscous medium body is fairly hot and finishes semi-sticky at first, becoming quite unusually powder dry shortly after.
Vintage 2019.
How is the first time I'm having a beer by Free Will from Pennsylvania here in New Mexico at a farmhouse brewery????
Reviewed by Roguer from Connecticut
4.39/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
4.39/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
Decent head production for the style and ABV, although it's quickly gone.
Nose is very similar to the regular Ralphius, with a heavy dose of sweet bourbon, chocolate, molasses, espresso, and booze.
Impressively salty right off the bat, along with both an initial wave of caramel that comes back on the back half, with a new sweet richness after the salt has faded. It's absolutely over the top, and it's exactly what it promised to be. It's saltier than any beer I've ever had.
If you can wrap your mind around the rest of the flavors, you'll find lush notes of espresso, toast, red grape, chocolate, vanilla, and bourbon.
Thick, chewy body. Unbelievably non-boozy for the ABV, just like regular Ralphius.
Jan 09, 2021Nose is very similar to the regular Ralphius, with a heavy dose of sweet bourbon, chocolate, molasses, espresso, and booze.
Impressively salty right off the bat, along with both an initial wave of caramel that comes back on the back half, with a new sweet richness after the salt has faded. It's absolutely over the top, and it's exactly what it promised to be. It's saltier than any beer I've ever had.
If you can wrap your mind around the rest of the flavors, you'll find lush notes of espresso, toast, red grape, chocolate, vanilla, and bourbon.
Thick, chewy body. Unbelievably non-boozy for the ABV, just like regular Ralphius.
Reviewed by jmdrpi from Pennsylvania
3.95/5 rDev -9.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
3.95/5 rDev -9.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
2019 can, so just about a year old, getting ready for this years release
pours motor oil black, tan colored head. big aroma of caramel, chocolate, bourbon, coffee. This one is pretty smooth now, but too much on the sweet side for me. thick and silky body. overall I just liked all of the other variants much more.
Nov 15, 2020pours motor oil black, tan colored head. big aroma of caramel, chocolate, bourbon, coffee. This one is pretty smooth now, but too much on the sweet side for me. thick and silky body. overall I just liked all of the other variants much more.
Rated by howardnss from Pennsylvania
4.53/5 rDev +3.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.53/5 rDev +3.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Bourbon and alcohol dominate Salty syrupy caramel flavors finish.
Jan 27, 2020Reviewed by edthehead from Maryland
4.42/5 rDev +1.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.42/5 rDev +1.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Dark brown/black viscous appearance, foamy tan head, low retention, minor lacing. Chocolate, caramel, sea salt, boozy bourbon notes. Moderate to thick body, mild carbonation, creamy.
Jan 25, 2020Reviewed by thebeers from Pennsylvania
4.24/5 rDev -3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.24/5 rDev -3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Dark brown with a ruddy tint and a finger-and-a-half of chocolate milk-colored head. Solid sheets of lacing. Not too shabby for the ABV.
Somewhat muted aroma with yummy caramel and chocolate the most prevalent.
Big, boozy bourbon as expected in the taste, with great, roasty malt flavors, a touch of dark fruit and a kiss of umami as appropriate for an RIS. The caramel here takes a backseat, adding a complementary impression without completely stealing the show (as with most Ralph variants). It’s still present though, and tastes high quality.
Medium bodied, oily feel with moderate carbonation.
An excellent beer all-around. The base beer will put more hair on your chest, but this delivers as advertised.
Jan 18, 2020Somewhat muted aroma with yummy caramel and chocolate the most prevalent.
Big, boozy bourbon as expected in the taste, with great, roasty malt flavors, a touch of dark fruit and a kiss of umami as appropriate for an RIS. The caramel here takes a backseat, adding a complementary impression without completely stealing the show (as with most Ralph variants). It’s still present though, and tastes high quality.
Medium bodied, oily feel with moderate carbonation.
An excellent beer all-around. The base beer will put more hair on your chest, but this delivers as advertised.
Reviewed by dafla67 from Pennsylvania
4.68/5 rDev +7.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
4.68/5 rDev +7.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
Pours jet black. Aroma is wonderful mix of chocolate, coffee & bourbon. Taste is a well balance of caramel, bourbon & hints of vanilla. Caramel and bourbon dominating flavors. Thick mouthfeel. Incredible stout. I'm going to find more of this stout.
Dec 18, 2019
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