Ralphius - HooDoo
Free Will Brewing Co.
- From:
- Free Will Brewing Co.
- Pennsylvania, United States
- Style:
- Russian Imperial Stout
- ABV:
- 14.4%
- Score:
- +6 ratings needed
- Avg:
- 4.35 | pDev: 1.15%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 4
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Jan 25, 2026
- Added:
- Dec 02, 2024
- Wants:
- 0
- Gots:
- 0
NO SCORE
-
-
Imperial Stout Aged for 14 months in a HooDoo chicory liqueur barrel.
Recent ratings and reviews.
Reviewed by sulldaddy from Connecticut
4.38/5 rDev +0.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
4.38/5 rDev +0.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Sampling a 2025 vintage of this beer in a 375 ml bottle at cellar temp. picked up while in Pennsylvania for the Holidays after direct order from the brewery.
The beer pours a dark cola brown to black coffee color with no light passing through. A creamy tan head of 1 cm foams up and fades quickly to a sturdy edge layer. Some scattered lattice when I swirl the glass, but also legs form like with a dark red wine.
Aroma is roasted malt and coffee grounds with some rooty chicory and a bit of char. No hop notes and not really boozy or fusol at all.
First sip reveals a medium body with smooth and slightly sticky texture and fine, gentle carbonation.
Flavor is some roasted malts and rooty chicory with some burnt brown sugar, very caramelized notes here., some barrel char as well and no hint of hops nor much on ABV, not fusol or peppery , but definitely some warming in my belly after I swallow.
Beer drinks dangerously easy and I enjoy the mix of flavors and roasted and char notes. Kinda wish I bought a second bottle, will definitely look for this one on the next Ralphius release event.
Jan 25, 2026The beer pours a dark cola brown to black coffee color with no light passing through. A creamy tan head of 1 cm foams up and fades quickly to a sturdy edge layer. Some scattered lattice when I swirl the glass, but also legs form like with a dark red wine.
Aroma is roasted malt and coffee grounds with some rooty chicory and a bit of char. No hop notes and not really boozy or fusol at all.
First sip reveals a medium body with smooth and slightly sticky texture and fine, gentle carbonation.
Flavor is some roasted malts and rooty chicory with some burnt brown sugar, very caramelized notes here., some barrel char as well and no hint of hops nor much on ABV, not fusol or peppery , but definitely some warming in my belly after I swallow.
Beer drinks dangerously easy and I enjoy the mix of flavors and roasted and char notes. Kinda wish I bought a second bottle, will definitely look for this one on the next Ralphius release event.
Reviewed by jmdrpi from Pennsylvania
4.41/5 rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.41/5 rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
2024 release - 375 ml bottle
pours inky black, with thin tan colored head. big aroma - woody/spicy component from the chicory barrel, on top of dark chocolate. similar taste, quite complex. feel is super smooth, no booziness considering a 14% abv beer.
Nov 17, 2025pours inky black, with thin tan colored head. big aroma - woody/spicy component from the chicory barrel, on top of dark chocolate. similar taste, quite complex. feel is super smooth, no booziness considering a 14% abv beer.
Reviewed by DIM from Pennsylvania
4.33/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.33/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
This is interesting and I like it, but not as much as the double barrel 3 year hoodoo from the previous year.
This is the least boozy Ralphius I've tried which is pretty cool. The rich, multilayered chocolate shines through in a big way. The chicory barrel seems to add a little earthy anise and... something else. I'm getting some kind of lightly spiced, milky coffee concoction vibe. Good stuff.
May 11, 2025This is the least boozy Ralphius I've tried which is pretty cool. The rich, multilayered chocolate shines through in a big way. The chicory barrel seems to add a little earthy anise and... something else. I'm getting some kind of lightly spiced, milky coffee concoction vibe. Good stuff.
Reviewed by Beersnake from California
4.28/5 rDev -1.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
4.28/5 rDev -1.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Poured at fridge temp. Pours a very thick black with a little bit of light brown head. The nose is caramelized sugar, burnt toffee, wood, and dark chocolate. Lovely.
The taste is VERY good. Different. Lots of deep dark fruit, chicory, molasses, burnt toffee, vanilla, raspberry chocolate, and a nice layer of pie crust. Definitely more enjoyable as it warms up a bit. This is a really interesting take on the traditional Ralphius. I'm really enjoying this one!
Mouthfeel is thick and creamy, and the aftertaste is molasses and chicory.
Jan 21, 2025The taste is VERY good. Different. Lots of deep dark fruit, chicory, molasses, burnt toffee, vanilla, raspberry chocolate, and a nice layer of pie crust. Definitely more enjoyable as it warms up a bit. This is a really interesting take on the traditional Ralphius. I'm really enjoying this one!
Mouthfeel is thick and creamy, and the aftertaste is molasses and chicory.
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