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Unorthodox Russian Imperial Stout
Two Roads Brewing Company
- From:
- Two Roads Brewing Company
- Connecticut, United States
- Style:
- Russian Imperial Stout
Ranked #439 - ABV:
- 9.2%
- Score:
- 86
Ranked #19,476 - Avg:
- 3.81 | pDev: 9.19%
- Reviews:
- 58
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Apr 04, 2022
- Added:
- Aug 04, 2014
- Wants:
- 6
- Gots:
- 77
This most unorthodox Russian Imperial Stout is brewed with malted rye and aggressively hopped with four different Pacific Northwest varieties to create a depth of character that's unmistakable. Full-bodied with notes of rye, treacle, chocolate and espresso that join together to create a crescendo of flavor. You’ll want to do an unabashed Kalinka after just one taste!
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Casey_L:
Rated by Casey_L from Texas
3.77/5 rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Nov 06, 2016
3.77/5 rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Nov 06, 2016
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by MikeWard from Pennsylvania
3.62/5 rDev -5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
3.62/5 rDev -5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
12oz bottle into a tulip. Bottled 1/4/17, so not far from 4 years old.
Looks outstanding in the glass. Jet black body with a nice tan head. This shrinks to a fat ring, and continues to leave very good lacing.
Aroma of dried fruit, licorice, and red wine.
Then the taste. Ouch. None of the above aromas translate to the tasting, except maybe licorice. Quite bitter, though not from the hops after nearly 4 years. Heavily roasted taste as well. There is nary a trace of sweetness to begin to balance it out.
Mouth between medium and full, finish roasty and bitter.
Overall, it seems this has not aged well. Bitterness and roast not softened by age, treacle and chocolate mentioned on the bottle have faded with age. Will struggle to get through this one.
Nov 08, 2020Looks outstanding in the glass. Jet black body with a nice tan head. This shrinks to a fat ring, and continues to leave very good lacing.
Aroma of dried fruit, licorice, and red wine.
Then the taste. Ouch. None of the above aromas translate to the tasting, except maybe licorice. Quite bitter, though not from the hops after nearly 4 years. Heavily roasted taste as well. There is nary a trace of sweetness to begin to balance it out.
Mouth between medium and full, finish roasty and bitter.
Overall, it seems this has not aged well. Bitterness and roast not softened by age, treacle and chocolate mentioned on the bottle have faded with age. Will struggle to get through this one.
Reviewed by TheSupremeAJ from Pennsylvania
4.22/5 rDev +10.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
4.22/5 rDev +10.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
I like that this is not cloying or sweet. The coffee profile is suited to a whole bean connoisseur. The chocolate profile reminds me of a Hershey bar. The hops are a bit too westy and uncomplimentary. The ABV is nice and hidden fine. TBH I poured it in a Coke glass and one might think it is Coke based on the foam and lacing. It's not overpowering. Creamy and refreshing just a bit all over the place. Curious to see how this one ages. I got it from Shangy's in Emmaus, PA and they gave it a five mug rating.
Jul 18, 2019Reviewed by izraelc from New York
3.3/5 rDev -13.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
3.3/5 rDev -13.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
A lot going on here. Maybe too much. Pours opaque. Deep brown foam. Smells like burnt coffee. Too may layers. You get bitter coffee and sweet chocolate and an alcohol finish. Someone's trying too hard.
Jan 12, 2019Reviewed by EmperorBevis from England
3.96/5 rDev +3.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
3.96/5 rDev +3.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Bottled
Pours a jet black body with good tan head
Aroma ma has
Bevis Maun
Two Roads Brewing Company by Unorthodox
Bevis Maun is drinking an Unorthodox by Two Roads Brewing Company
Groovy baby
Bottle
Brewery Pioneer (Level 25) Earned the Brewery Pioneer (Level 25) badge!
Imperial Czar (Level 5) Earned the Imperial Czar (Level 5) badge!
Dec 03, 2018Pours a jet black body with good tan head
Aroma ma has
Bevis Maun
Two Roads Brewing Company by Unorthodox
Bevis Maun is drinking an Unorthodox by Two Roads Brewing Company
Groovy baby
Bottle
Brewery Pioneer (Level 25) Earned the Brewery Pioneer (Level 25) badge!
Imperial Czar (Level 5) Earned the Imperial Czar (Level 5) badge!
Reviewed by JJKBeerLvr from Pennsylvania
4.32/5 rDev +13.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.32/5 rDev +13.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Sampled September 2018 from 12oz bottle in pint glass. Bottled on date Jan 12, 2018..
Appearance: Very dark black, dark color, with a dark tan head of less than 1 finger. The head flattened and dissipated quickly. The head left a little coating on the glass.
Smell: Strong hops aroma, especially for a RIS. There are also roasted malt aromas, coffee, and a little chocolate in the aroma. Interesting combination and balance between the hops, malts, and other aromas.
Taste: Strong mix of bitterness from the hops, coffee and burnt malt flavors. Full-bodied with nice balance. It is very smooth. There is a hint of sweetness like chocolate, but that is definitely overshadowed by the hops and coffee flavors.
Mouthfeel: Full-bodied, with strong alcohol which matches with the 9.2% on the label.
Overall: This was the first time I tried anything from Two Roads brewery. This is a big RIS in both typicaly stout flavors of coffee and roasted malts, along with the prominent hops flavor. This is a very good Imperial stout. It has strong flavors as well as alcohol, and the mix of malts and hops makes for a unique and interesting stout. As someone who loves RIS and IPAs, this is a nice mix and I would buy it again. I am very interested in trying their other stouts now.
Sep 29, 2018Appearance: Very dark black, dark color, with a dark tan head of less than 1 finger. The head flattened and dissipated quickly. The head left a little coating on the glass.
Smell: Strong hops aroma, especially for a RIS. There are also roasted malt aromas, coffee, and a little chocolate in the aroma. Interesting combination and balance between the hops, malts, and other aromas.
Taste: Strong mix of bitterness from the hops, coffee and burnt malt flavors. Full-bodied with nice balance. It is very smooth. There is a hint of sweetness like chocolate, but that is definitely overshadowed by the hops and coffee flavors.
Mouthfeel: Full-bodied, with strong alcohol which matches with the 9.2% on the label.
Overall: This was the first time I tried anything from Two Roads brewery. This is a big RIS in both typicaly stout flavors of coffee and roasted malts, along with the prominent hops flavor. This is a very good Imperial stout. It has strong flavors as well as alcohol, and the mix of malts and hops makes for a unique and interesting stout. As someone who loves RIS and IPAs, this is a nice mix and I would buy it again. I am very interested in trying their other stouts now.
Reviewed by Mr-Beer from New York
4.02/5 rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
4.02/5 rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Dark in color andDark in taste. Rich Espresso dark chocolate in flavor with hints of nuttiness. Another of the dark beers. Another highly recommended dark beer
May 19, 2018Reviewed by beergoot from Colorado
3.91/5 rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.91/5 rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Dark, opaque body; thick, frothy, creamy head. Rather faint aroma of roasted grain and chocolate notes. Excellent flavor of cocoa and chocolate with a boozy undertone; somewhat spicy. Heavy body yet a tad watery; a nice sweet residual sugar note on the palate.
A very tasty RIS delivering a nice balance of chocolate sweetness and deep roasted and charred grain goodness. Perhaps it is a bit weak in the aroma and the mouthfeel, but the taste will satisfy lovers of big, rich stouts.
Apr 10, 2018A very tasty RIS delivering a nice balance of chocolate sweetness and deep roasted and charred grain goodness. Perhaps it is a bit weak in the aroma and the mouthfeel, but the taste will satisfy lovers of big, rich stouts.
Unorthodox Russian Imperial Stout from Two Roads Brewing Company
Beer rating:
86 out of
100 with
246 ratings
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