Tsarina Valentina
18th Street Brewery - Gary Taproom


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- From:
- 18th Street Brewery - Gary Taproom
- Indiana, United States
- Style:
- Stout - Russian Imperial
Ranked #32 - ABV:
- 12%
- Score:
- 97
Ranked #544 - Avg:
- 4.41 | pDev: 7.03%
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Feb 25, 2022
- Added:
- Dec 11, 2014
- Wants:
- 128
- Gots:
- 69
SCORE
97
World-Class
97
World-Class


Notes:
Formerly: Bitches' Bank
Traditionally released during the Christmas Season, the beloved by many Bitches' Bank has been rebranded as Tsarina Valentina. The bold Russian Imperial Stout with Cocoa Nibs, Vanilla Beans and Cinnamon is the same perfected recipe since it's inception back in 2014.
Traditionally released during the Christmas Season, the beloved by many Bitches' Bank has been rebranded as Tsarina Valentina. The bold Russian Imperial Stout with Cocoa Nibs, Vanilla Beans and Cinnamon is the same perfected recipe since it's inception back in 2014.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
4.34 by mdaschaf from Indiana on Feb 25, 2022
4.41 by Manta200 from Kentucky on Mar 16, 2020
3.73 by SWChi from Illinois on Feb 05, 2020
4.29 by Mikexw from New York on May 19, 2019
4.32 by Biggiekrock627 from Maryland on Apr 21, 2019
4.35 by MJSFS from Florida on Mar 14, 2019
4.43 by Wisconsin_IPA_Lover from Wisconsin on Feb 18, 2019
3.8/5 rDev -13.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
by NCSapiens from Indiana
Had on tap.
L: Pours black with one finger of light brown head. Something looks off with the carbonation and bubbles are sticking to the sides of the glass-not sure if that’s a problem with the tap or the beer. After sitting for a couple minutes, the head settles down into light foam around the rim with minimal lacing.
S: picking up traces of cinnamon.
T: notes of cinnamon and vanilla, with some chocolate, coffee toasty malts and peppers on the finish. Taste is good and masked the alcohol well. I’m not a big fan of the peppers, but that’s personal preference.
F: a bit light mouthfeel for the style and lacking carbonation.
O: this is a solid beer, but too unbalanced and thin to be truly great.
Feb 09, 2019
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
by NCSapiens from Indiana
Had on tap.
L: Pours black with one finger of light brown head. Something looks off with the carbonation and bubbles are sticking to the sides of the glass-not sure if that’s a problem with the tap or the beer. After sitting for a couple minutes, the head settles down into light foam around the rim with minimal lacing.
S: picking up traces of cinnamon.
T: notes of cinnamon and vanilla, with some chocolate, coffee toasty malts and peppers on the finish. Taste is good and masked the alcohol well. I’m not a big fan of the peppers, but that’s personal preference.
F: a bit light mouthfeel for the style and lacking carbonation.
O: this is a solid beer, but too unbalanced and thin to be truly great.
Feb 09, 2019
4.5/5 rDev +2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
by OompaMentor from Georgia
11/20/2018; NYC - Thanksgiving (Hell's Kitchen)
Jan 04, 2019
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
by OompaMentor from Georgia
11/20/2018; NYC - Thanksgiving (Hell's Kitchen)
Jan 04, 2019
4.1/5 rDev -7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
by REVZEB from Illinois
Had on tap. Pours jet black with some mocha brown bubbles and lacing. Smells strongly of cinnamon, coffee and vanilla, with some chocolate and peppers. Taste features the cinnamon is an intense way with lots of roasted malt too. Vanilla, chocolate, and other spices take the backseat along with the addition of glazed nuts. A tad unbalanced in the roasted feel, disagree with the ba masses, I think barrel aged is clearly better
Jan 04, 2019
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
by REVZEB from Illinois
Had on tap. Pours jet black with some mocha brown bubbles and lacing. Smells strongly of cinnamon, coffee and vanilla, with some chocolate and peppers. Taste features the cinnamon is an intense way with lots of roasted malt too. Vanilla, chocolate, and other spices take the backseat along with the addition of glazed nuts. A tad unbalanced in the roasted feel, disagree with the ba masses, I think barrel aged is clearly better
Jan 04, 2019
4.07 by GRBLUE12 from Florida on Dec 18, 2018
4.34 by MTKATL from Georgia on Nov 26, 2018
4.47 by NolaHopHead from Louisiana on May 12, 2018
4.15 by Beerhemoth from Illinois on Feb 27, 2018
4.5 by Beerbuddha from Florida on Jan 20, 2018
4.29/5 rDev -2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
by Treyliff from West Virginia
750ml bottle poured into a snifter
A- pours deep black with a one-finger foamy khaki head, short retention
S- smells of coffee, cinnamon, green pepper skin, chocolate and roasted malt
T- plenty of cinnamon infused coffee up front, m followed by a green pepper flavor that doesn't bring any heat. The finish is roast with some alcohol heat lingering
M- medium body with low carbonation leads to a slightly thin mouthfeel that continues into the finish
O- solid Mexican style stout that has equal influences of cinnamon, pepper and coffee
Jan 04, 2018
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
by Treyliff from West Virginia
750ml bottle poured into a snifter
A- pours deep black with a one-finger foamy khaki head, short retention
S- smells of coffee, cinnamon, green pepper skin, chocolate and roasted malt
T- plenty of cinnamon infused coffee up front, m followed by a green pepper flavor that doesn't bring any heat. The finish is roast with some alcohol heat lingering
M- medium body with low carbonation leads to a slightly thin mouthfeel that continues into the finish
O- solid Mexican style stout that has equal influences of cinnamon, pepper and coffee
Jan 04, 2018
4.37 by bschmidt_37 from Illinois on Dec 24, 2017
3.9/5 rDev -11.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
by Sabtos from Ohio
8 ball black with a thick, light tan foam.
Smell has a toasty roastiness running along chocolate and some stale nuts. Additionally, I'm so used to this aroma profile in beer that I must be getting fooled into smelling some smoky chili peppers...but it really seems like it's there!
Taste is sticky maple glazed roasted nuts and cinnamon with cocoa...and there's those peppers again, giving off a red fruit-like note, leaning sweet. A woody sharpness suggests some hops, or else that's the rye.
A light froth is present in this medium bodied ale, finishing sticky and semi-dry
Dec 11, 2017
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
by Sabtos from Ohio
8 ball black with a thick, light tan foam.
Smell has a toasty roastiness running along chocolate and some stale nuts. Additionally, I'm so used to this aroma profile in beer that I must be getting fooled into smelling some smoky chili peppers...but it really seems like it's there!
Taste is sticky maple glazed roasted nuts and cinnamon with cocoa...and there's those peppers again, giving off a red fruit-like note, leaning sweet. A woody sharpness suggests some hops, or else that's the rye.
A light froth is present in this medium bodied ale, finishing sticky and semi-dry
Dec 11, 2017
4.27 by cd34 from Illinois on Nov 04, 2017
4.5 by Eziel from Ohio on Aug 19, 2017
4.53 by Raziel313 from California on Aug 12, 2017
4.5/5 rDev +2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
by BEER88 from Washington
Had at a bottleshare and from whatmy photos imaged and my memory suits me it was a very tasty beer! Cheers.
Jul 29, 2017
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
by BEER88 from Washington
Had at a bottleshare and from whatmy photos imaged and my memory suits me it was a very tasty beer! Cheers.
Jul 29, 2017
4.35 by Zonian1 from Ohio on Jun 25, 2017
4.5 by Pearlstreetbrewingco from Florida on May 08, 2017
4.5 by axf4129 from Indiana on Apr 30, 2017
4.88 by jparizo from Indiana on Apr 16, 2017
4.47 by South2NW from Oregon on Apr 11, 2017
3.98 by pezhead_79 from Indiana on Mar 23, 2017
4.25 by rspauldi from Texas on Mar 16, 2017
4 by acurtis from New Jersey on Feb 24, 2017
4.31 by Bammer21 from Illinois on Jan 24, 2017
4.1 by Brian29 from Ohio on Jan 18, 2017
3 by YvesB from Belgium on Jan 17, 2017
3.95 by JoeMans from New York on Jan 15, 2017
4.19 by 22Blue from Kansas on Jan 15, 2017
4.25 by osuskin from Indiana on Jan 08, 2017
4.5 by DevinK from Connecticut on Jan 07, 2017
4.55/5 rDev +3.2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
by SayBoom from Ukraine
Hunahpu's 2015 vintage vs Bitches' Bank 2016.
L: BB=Hunahpu’s.
S: BB= Hunahpu’s. It is the strongest side of this stuff.
T: BB< Hunahpu’s. Lots of the spice and an excess of chocolate.
F: BB< Hunahpu’s. Medium bodied.
O: BB< Hunahpu’s. Good.
Jan 03, 2017
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
by SayBoom from Ukraine
Hunahpu's 2015 vintage vs Bitches' Bank 2016.
L: BB=Hunahpu’s.
S: BB= Hunahpu’s. It is the strongest side of this stuff.
T: BB< Hunahpu’s. Lots of the spice and an excess of chocolate.
F: BB< Hunahpu’s. Medium bodied.
O: BB< Hunahpu’s. Good.
Jan 03, 2017
4.25 by rossracing from Illinois on Dec 27, 2016
4.74 by spycow from Illinois on Dec 26, 2016
Tsarina Valentina from 18th Street Brewery - Gary Taproom
Beer rating:
97 out of
100 with
237 ratings