-
Stop lurking! Log in to search, post in our forums, review beers, see fewer ads, and more. — Todd, Founder of BeerAdvocate
Big Deluxe
Ritual Brewing Co.
- From:
- Ritual Brewing Co.
- California, United States
- Style:
- Russian Imperial Stout
Ranked #274 - ABV:
- 12.2%
- Score:
- 91
Ranked #6,101 - Avg:
- 4.12 | pDev: 10.44%
- Reviews:
- 15
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Mar 03, 2024
- Added:
- Dec 23, 2012
- Wants:
- 9
- Gots:
- 16
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Smarty_Pints:
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by WoodBrew from Ohio
4.19/5 rDev +1.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.19/5 rDev +1.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
I am trying this beer off the tapper at the brewery as part of a six sample flight. It poured an opaque dark mahogany amber with tan head that is leaving some lace. The scent had rich sweet malt notes. The taste was nicely balanced and easy to drink with sweet chocolate malt base with bold molasses and earth presence. The mouthfeel was fuller in body with good carbonation. Overall it is a solid beer.
Mar 03, 2024Reviewed by NickyMac from California
5/5 rDev +21.4%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
5/5 rDev +21.4%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Very dark, chocolatey, Smokey... One of my new favorites. I love it. Very strong. I guess it's everything you would expect from an imperial Stout, but I would say that it is well above average among the imperial stouts.
Aug 01, 2023Reviewed by Radome from Florida
4.23/5 rDev +2.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.23/5 rDev +2.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Tasted from a bomber bottle into a brandy snifter.
L - Mahogany brown and totally opaque in the glass. Moderate amounts of light brown head pulls back to a thick ring around the glass made up of tiny pin-head sized bubbles.
S - Strong malt notes of rich chocolate, espresso, roasted grain, light smoke. Has a light fruity note that could be from yeast or alcohol; maybe a bit of flowery hops as well, but only at an extremely low level. The impression is complex and inviting.
T - Flavors of rich malt: chocolate, espresso, raisins and prunes at a lower level. Late in the palate there is a low fruity note that seems mostly from yeast. The finish is off-dry and includes a moderate brandy-like alcohol flavor.
F- Medium to heavy body with a silky feel, likely from the oats. Low carbonation. Heavy duty hops bitterness that is well-proportioned for the other strong sensations in the beer. Moderate alcohol burn.
O - This is a delicious, strong and assertive stout. Lots of big flavors and aromas of a classic imperial stout.
Nov 04, 2018L - Mahogany brown and totally opaque in the glass. Moderate amounts of light brown head pulls back to a thick ring around the glass made up of tiny pin-head sized bubbles.
S - Strong malt notes of rich chocolate, espresso, roasted grain, light smoke. Has a light fruity note that could be from yeast or alcohol; maybe a bit of flowery hops as well, but only at an extremely low level. The impression is complex and inviting.
T - Flavors of rich malt: chocolate, espresso, raisins and prunes at a lower level. Late in the palate there is a low fruity note that seems mostly from yeast. The finish is off-dry and includes a moderate brandy-like alcohol flavor.
F- Medium to heavy body with a silky feel, likely from the oats. Low carbonation. Heavy duty hops bitterness that is well-proportioned for the other strong sensations in the beer. Moderate alcohol burn.
O - This is a delicious, strong and assertive stout. Lots of big flavors and aromas of a classic imperial stout.
Rated by Captain69 from Illinois
3.98/5 rDev -3.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.98/5 rDev -3.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
strong tasing beer - great to drink - but one is enough at 12 %
Jun 30, 2018Reviewed by sulldaddy from Connecticut
3.95/5 rDev -4.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
3.95/5 rDev -4.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Just picked up a 2014 bottle of this brew. Pouring the 22 oz bottle into a snifter. Got the bottle as part of a trade.
the beer pours cola brown with a dense beige head. Foam is about 3 cm and fades slowly to the thinnest of edge layers.
The aroma is brown sugar and roasted malt with a heavy dose of general booziness and some molasses. No hops show up here, but this is not a secret big beer.
the first sip reveals a slightly chewy body with sticky texture and fine tingly carbonation. Physical traits make this a sipping beer.
Flavor is roasted malt and coffee grounds with a good dose of brown sugar and anice. The booze is big and brings some black pepper after each sip. The hops dont show up and This beer is a sipper through and through.
very malty big boozy brew, if that is what you are looking for this is a winner.
Mar 18, 2018the beer pours cola brown with a dense beige head. Foam is about 3 cm and fades slowly to the thinnest of edge layers.
The aroma is brown sugar and roasted malt with a heavy dose of general booziness and some molasses. No hops show up here, but this is not a secret big beer.
the first sip reveals a slightly chewy body with sticky texture and fine tingly carbonation. Physical traits make this a sipping beer.
Flavor is roasted malt and coffee grounds with a good dose of brown sugar and anice. The booze is big and brings some black pepper after each sip. The hops dont show up and This beer is a sipper through and through.
very malty big boozy brew, if that is what you are looking for this is a winner.
Reviewed by alexanderc994 from California
4.55/5 rDev +10.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
4.55/5 rDev +10.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
Pours dark, dense viscosity with little head retention. Smells of chocolate, molasses, espresso, cold-brew coffee, with notes of cherry, sassafras root and black pepper. Strong roasted malt taste with smokey, bitter floavor and assertive hop presence. Moderately viscous mouthfeel and moderately dry finish. Quite astringent on the palate. Would pair with: grilled asparagus or summer squash with balsamic reduction; chocolate pot de creme or mousse; oak-smoked short rib; caramelized onions.
Dec 21, 2017Reviewed by KettleBellFreak from Tennessee
4.8/5 rDev +16.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
4.8/5 rDev +16.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
Very appealing deep, dark color, no light passing through even the edges. Smells of hazelnut, coffee and cigarettes. Taste is a great burnt sugar and booze with chocolate and the smoothest malt all the way to the end. SO DRINKABLE. Was nice and thick but it went down easy like a white wine.
Probably one of my favorite non BA stouts after mikkeller cocoa shake. Such a good drink.
Dec 31, 2015Probably one of my favorite non BA stouts after mikkeller cocoa shake. Such a good drink.
Reviewed by Lucnifter from California
4.3/5 rDev +4.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.3/5 rDev +4.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
22oz bottle. Pours black with mahogany in the edges and a mocha head. Roasty, coffee and toffee on the nose. Similar taste. Medium, full, creamy mouthfeel.
Quite nice.
Dec 25, 2015Quite nice.
Reviewed by Furlinator from California
4.1/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.1/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Mostly coffee on the nose. Big coffee flavor initially with some subtle cocoa and a noticeable alcohol presence. A solid, if not spectacular, coffee forward imperial stout.
Dec 19, 2015
Big Deluxe from Ritual Brewing Co.
Beer rating:
91 out of
100 with
93 ratings
We love reviews (150 characters or more)! Check out: How to Review a Beer. You don't need to get fancy. Drop some thoughts on the beer's attributes (look, smell, taste, feel) plus your overall impression. Something that backs up your rating and helps others. Thanks!