Ralphius - Salted Caramel
Free Will Brewing Co.

Ralphius - Salted CaramelRalphius - Salted Caramel
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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:
21 | 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.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
 
Rated: 4.74 by TedStrosser from Pennsylvania

Sep 30, 2022
 
Rated: 4.25 by bigred89 from Maryland

Apr 25, 2022
Photo of Sabtos
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
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, 2021
 
Rated: 4.38 by Scottsbeer from Florida

Apr 14, 2021
 
Rated: 3.84 by buzzy from Pennsylvania

Apr 01, 2021
 
Rated: 4.29 by TLA from Pennsylvania

Feb 05, 2021
 
Rated: 4.03 by EMH73 from New York

Jan 16, 2021
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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
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, 2021
 
Rated: 4.35 by tdm168 from Pennsylvania

Jan 09, 2021
 
Rated: 4.31 by Gkruszewski from New York

Dec 05, 2020
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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
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, 2020
 
Rated: 4.45 by GreenMind from Pennsylvania

Sep 22, 2020
 
Rated: 4.2 by BirdsandHops from Oregon

Sep 21, 2020
 
Rated: 5 by NonicPanic from Pennsylvania

Aug 03, 2020
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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
Bourbon and alcohol dominate Salty syrupy caramel flavors finish.
Jan 27, 2020
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Reviewed 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
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, 2020
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Reviewed by thebeers from Pennsylvania

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, 2020
 
Rated: 4.75 by jwat from Pennsylvania

Jan 09, 2020
 
Rated: 4.67 by TheWolf from Delaware

Dec 22, 2019
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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
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