Hellwoods
Bellwoods Brewery

HellwoodsHellwoods
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From:
Bellwoods Brewery
 
Ontario, Canada
Style:
Russian Imperial Stout
Ranked #240
ABV:
10%
Score:
92
Ranked #4,867
Avg:
4.15 | pDev: 9.64%
Reviews:
40
Ratings:
127
Status:
Active
Rated:
Sep 17, 2023
Added:
Sep 09, 2012
Wants:
  22
Gots:
  16
This is an unapologetic beer. Dark, viscous, bitter, and rich — it's a dangerous elixir of love. Originally developed by English brewers in the 18th century for export to the court of Catherine the Great in Russia, our interpretation of the style would surely make lady C proud. We’ve waited our whole lives to brew a beer with such bravado, and it always sells out faster than we can supply the next batch. Some people claim that imperial stouts are only for the dead of winter, but we feel that this sidekick is there for you, anytime you call.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Brew_Darrymore:
Photo of Brew_Darrymore
Rated by Brew_Darrymore from Bulgaria

3.58/5  rDev -13.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

Nov 24, 2015
More User Ratings:
Photo of AnyBeerULike
Reviewed by AnyBeerULike from Canada (ON)

4.27/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
2021 version. Pours a medium thickness, black color. Fluffy, cafe au lait head formation with good retention and lacing. Caramel on the nose. Coffee, chocolate flavor with a hint of hop. Overall a great simple stout, wish there were more like this, non-adjunct, non-barrel aged available.
Sep 17, 2023
Photo of Sabtos
Reviewed by Sabtos from Ohio

3.35/5  rDev -19.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
A lot lighter in color than I'd expect, it displays essentially brown with a clear, bubbly tan head.

This 2017 bottle at DLD didn't just have a lot of tough competition next to it, but it was pretty oxidized on its own already, exhibiting a woody roast that was a little pungent and cardboardy.

It was probably fine fresh, but no more.
May 25, 2023
Photo of Roy_Hobbs
Reviewed by Roy_Hobbs from Connecticut

3.94/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Standout visually is the robust, dense chocolate milkshake brown head that had excellent retention and beer porn levels of lacing. Excellent looking beer. Aroma is understated, with light chocolate and light roast both there, but discretely.

Taste is richer than I anticipated, especially up front. I would almost have guessed there was a small amount of maple syrup used, although that's not the case. The initial sweetness fades on the tongue and is replaced by light bitterness that I think balances the beer well. It's not overly complex, but it is quite tasty. Feel is very thick and creamy.

Overall, very enjoyable beer. Thanks, @coronaeus.
Dec 11, 2022
Photo of taxandbeerguy
Reviewed by taxandbeerguy from Canada (ON)

4.09/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
473 ml can from the brewery. Review from notes. Served cold into a pint glass.

Appearance - Virtually black brew with a small tan head poured. Moderate staying power. Ominous.

Smell - Lots of roasty notes, some roasted malts, chocolate and hints of sweeter elements, maybe milk chocolate and marshamallows too.

Taste - Semi bitter brew, but with more milk chocolate flavoring, was sweeter than expected. Grainy backbone and smooth cohesive flavor.

Mouthfeel - Thick and smooth, heavy body and there's no mistaking the 10% ABV. Very good for the style.

Overall - A very solid imperial stout, was hoping for something a little bolder and a little more bitter, Hellwoods was very smooth and more milk chocolatey than expected. Overall a very good beer and worth trying.
Nov 11, 2022
Photo of BBThunderbolt
Reviewed by BBThunderbolt from Kiribati

3.43/5  rDev -17.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
Thanks to Coronaeus for this one. 16oz can (dated 10/26/21) poured into 14oz teku. Poured a solid black color with a bit over a half-inch of brown head that decent retention and lacing.

The aroma had slight roast at the front, with underlying malt and grain. No real hop aspect.

The same on the tongue; roast, malt and grain.

The body was fairly typical for the style; full, smooth, and even, with a semi-sweet finish.

Drinkability was very good, especially on the rainy PNW day I'm consuming it.

Overall, a nice example of the style. Enjoyable, and certainly worth your time if you see it.
Dec 18, 2021
 
Rated: 4.46 by Long813 from Canada (ON)

Nov 10, 2020
Photo of BGDrock
Reviewed by BGDrock from Canada (ON)

4/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Frighteningly dark body, slowly forming a dense, milk-chocolate marshmallow head with strong retention, holding a short layer for several minutes.
Mild aroma, dark berries, port, bittersweet chocolate nibs.
Assertive bitter flavour, both from the roasted malts and hops. Dark, strong roast espresso and raw cacaco, with red wine characteristics and acidity. A touch of black old-school black licorice. Hop flavours of pine. All of it carry through the achingly long, dry finish, bracingly bitter. There is light sweetness to provide some balance, like melted marshmallows. Light carbonation, full body though not heavy or thick, only lightly syrupy. Actually has some brightness to the feel.

Heed the warnings, this is an aggressively bitter, astringent stout with complex red wine and espresso characteristics. Dangerously drinkable despite that. Enjoy.
Oct 31, 2020
Photo of Cramshawbar
Reviewed by Cramshawbar from Canada (ON)

3.76/5  rDev -9.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Looks dark and wonderful with a tasteful head retention. The nose becomes better as it breathes. Strong Russian, as it ought to be, but I like my stouts with less coffee burn and with some added vanilla, maybe bourbon aging. So this is not quite my style, but well done regardless. Creamy, spicy and bitter.
Feb 15, 2020
 
Rated: 4.23 by SteveWeiler from Canada (ON)

Feb 11, 2020
Photo of octortus
Reviewed by octortus from Canada (ON)

3.94/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
473 mL Bottle. ABV 12%.
Appearance: Black, Over one finger of creamy mocha head, Great retention, Spotty lacing.
Aroma: Lightly roasted coffee, Bittersweet chocolate, Slight molasses, Slight licorice, Hop presence, Unbalanced.
Mouthfeel: Creamy, Under full body, Slight alcohol, Syrupy.
Flavour: Grassy hop bitterness, Burnt toffee, More balanced, Roasted coffee, Smoke, Char aftertaste lingers, Spicy.
Overall: A pretty great RIS, but lacks something that will really make you go "Wow!".

Review: 118
Jan 22, 2020
Photo of TerryW
Reviewed by TerryW from Canada (ON)

4.14/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
This is a big, in your face beer. Very pronounced flavours. Lots of dark fruit, dark bitter chocolate and coffee. All that is laid on top of a sweet body of malt with a burned toffee thing going. A sursprisingly quiet nose. High alcohol at 10%, but well managed within the context of the brew. Very handsome looking, too. Walnut dark, with a big dark head that lightens as it settles to a film.

Well made, very tasty, but don't expect any mercy here. If you're not familiar with the style, it'll come across as extreme. But fans will enjoy it.
Jul 02, 2018
 
Rated: 3.92 by rab53 from Washington

Jun 02, 2018
Photo of Ciocanelu
Reviewed by Ciocanelu from Romania

4.25/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Really dark brown color, creamy brown head. Aroma has a bright fruity/vegetal note, toasted malt and some chocolate in the background. Taste has milk chocolate, cocoa powder, dark chocolate bitterness on the finish. Smooth mouthfeel. Nice, quite classic imperial stout.
May 15, 2018
 
Rated: 4.05 by Daniellobo from District of Columbia

Mar 11, 2018
Photo of spinrsx
Rated by spinrsx from Canada (ON)

3.83/5  rDev -7.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Bottle from Byron. Needs a little more sweetness to balance out the roasted/charred flavour.
Nov 02, 2017
 
Rated: 4.38 by Simon212 from Canada (ON)

Oct 05, 2017
 
Rated: 4.54 by StormAles from Canada (ON)

Sep 25, 2017
 
Rated: 4.69 by FyreStorm from Canada (ON)

Sep 03, 2017
Photo of TheDoctor
Reviewed by TheDoctor from Canada (QC)

4.33/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Serving: Bottle
No date


A:
Pours a super thick jet black with a moussey two fingers of cinnamon foam. Settles to a half-inch cuff. Good retention; some lacing. (4.25)

S:
Immediate roast sweetness on opening the bottle. Molasses and oats, dark chocolate, hint of dark fruits and spice. (4.25)

T:
Soft, sweet layers of chocolatey malt roastiness. Milk chocolate, mocha, maple, coffee and light bite.  (4.25)

M:
Rich, full body with a creamy velvet feel, soft carbonation and a silky finish. (4.5)

O:
Very nice Imperial Stout.
It's absolutely what and how a great stout should be, in my opinion. It manages to be a big, full-bodied beast and yet not cross the line into palate burnout or the occasional shudder. Creamy cocoa mocha with maple water, thick, rich, substantial and with just the bitterness to balance it all out.
Excellent beer! (4.5)
Aug 31, 2017
Hellwoods from Bellwoods Brewery
Beer rating: 92 out of 100 with 127 ratings