Rescue Buoy
Rip Current Brewing

Rescue BuoyRescue Buoy
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From:
Rip Current Brewing
 
California, United States
Style:
Russian Imperial Stout
ABV:
11.2%
Score:
88
Avg:
3.92 | pDev: 12.5%
Reviews:
6
Ratings:
33
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Jun 15, 2023
Added:
May 27, 2013
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  2
Massive Russian Imperial Stout offering complex, rich dark bread, fruits (plum, fig, raisin) and dark sugar-like flavors. We've added oats to the beer to give it body, and used molasses, honey and dark sugars to give it more complexity.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by crob3888:
Photo of crob3888
Rated by crob3888 from California

4.25/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

May 30, 2015
More User Ratings:
Photo of BucannonXC5
Reviewed by BucannonXC5 from California

3.89/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Type: 12-oz. can
Reviewed as: Russian Imperial Stout
Glass: Rip Current 8-oz. beer glass
Price: $4.25
From: Bottlecraft Beer Shop in North Park (San Diego), Calif.
Purchased: Jan. 5, 2022
Consumed: Jan. 7, 2022
Misc.: No canned on date

Snuck over to Bottlecraft and grabbed one of these to complete a mixed 4-pack. Was looking to review more Rip Current beers as I’ve liked most stuff I’ve had from them, including the 10 reviews. Had this once before, giving a taster a 3.75 on Untappd on Jan. 29, 2016, and writing “Smooth. 5-oz. taster.” Untappd description was “Massive Russian Imperial Stout offering complex, rich dark bread, fruits (plum, fig, raisin) and dark sugar-like flavors. We've added oats to the beer to give it body, and used molasses, honey and dark sugars to give it more complexity.”

Poured a pitch black color with two fingers of khaki-tan frothy head. Pretty calm underneath with just a few bubbles coming up along the sides of the glass. Average spotty lacing. Decent retention. (Sight - 3.75)

Smelled chewy caramel, toffee, molasses, roasty malts, bitter dark chocolate, rich coffee, fig, leather, oat and hints of honey. Not nearly as good from the can. (Smell - 4.00)

First thing I thought on the taste was how smooth it was for 11.2 pct. ABV. In order got chewy caramel, toffee, molasses, bitter dark chocolate, rich coffee, fig, prune, leather, oat, honey and roasty malt. (Taste - 3.75)

Full body. Creamy-to-sticky texture. Average-to-soft carbonation. Long, bitter finish. (Feel - 4.00)

Was back and forth on a few categories overall, but would have this again for sure. (Overall - 4.00)

3.89 | 87 | B+
Jun 15, 2023
Photo of Blogjackets
Reviewed by Blogjackets from Ohio

4.04/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
The body pours a dark black. Small-and-quickly-fading head with little lacing throughout the tasting.

Aroma has notes of vanilla, coffee and dark chocolate. Taste substantially follows nose with a molasses background flavor that is not too sweet yet is very present. Nice coffee finish works well with the malt. No overt evidence of the high ABV.

Good mouthfeel and carbonation. Heavy but appropriate for the style and ABV.
Oct 02, 2022
Photo of rand
Reviewed by rand from California

4.27/5  rDev +8.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
500 mL bottle into a snifter

Jet black, oily-viscous brew. Wafts of vanilla and anise and molasses. Boozy bouquet. Carob notes on the palate. Super oaky and smooth. The extra year in the barrels has really rounded out the flavors. Lighter complexion than expected.

Nothing breakthrough, but quaffably smooth barrel-aged brew.
May 12, 2021
 
Rated: 3.57 by Bammer21 from Illinois

Feb 17, 2017
 
Rated: 4.14 by tbone1384 from Wyoming

Sep 24, 2016
 
Rated: 4 by largadeer from California

Aug 18, 2016
 
Rated: 4.21 by EdrickCS from California

Jul 17, 2016
 
Rated: 3.93 by StoutSnob40 from California

Apr 09, 2016
Photo of StJamesGate
Reviewed by StJamesGate from New York

3.81/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
On tap at the brewery, Vista, CA.
Viscous jet black. 3.75
Big prune and brown sugar nose. 4
Huge malt syrup sugars, some soy, then a whack of Christmas cake. 3.75
Big, chewy, salty. 3.75

Undercooked. Needs hops or wood or something to cut it down to size. Nothing striking in this fiercely competitive category. 3.75
Feb 19, 2016
 
Rated: 3.78 by nmann08 from Virginia

Feb 11, 2016
 
Rated: 4.15 by kmanjohnson from California

Dec 28, 2015
 
Rated: 4 by DeadeyeOTDO from Arizona

Nov 19, 2015
 
Rated: 4 by t2grogan from Arizona

Nov 14, 2015
 
Rated: 3.94 by rawfish from California

Jun 22, 2015
 
Rated: 3.96 by QuakeAttack from California

Jun 04, 2015
 
Rated: 4.55 by Nick29 from California

May 30, 2015
 
Rated: 4.5 by Taby from California

May 30, 2015
 
Rated: 4 by Nicole_Wyman from California

May 30, 2015
 
Rated: 4 by sillyhed8 from California

Apr 28, 2015
Rescue Buoy from Rip Current Brewing
Beer rating: 88 out of 100 with 33 ratings