Pulcinella
Hi-Wire Brewing

PulcinellaPulcinella
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From:
Hi-Wire Brewing
 
North Carolina, United States
Style:
Russian Imperial Stout
ABV:
9%
Score:
85
Avg:
3.74 | pDev: 15.78%
Reviews:
6
Ratings:
36
Status:
Active
Rated:
May 04, 2018
Added:
Nov 03, 2015
Wants:
  1
Gots:
  5
Hi-Wire Pulcinella Russian Imperial Stout has been aged in various oak barrels, including Napa Valley Zinfandel, Kentucky bourbon, and North Carolina dark rum barrels.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by REVZEB:
Photo of REVZEB
Rated by REVZEB from Illinois

3.68/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Feb 20, 2016
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.84 by socon67 from New York

May 04, 2018
 
Rated: 3.75 by Cpmitchno1 from Virginia

Dec 31, 2017
 
Rated: 3.97 by OtisCampbell007 from Tennessee

Dec 26, 2017
 
Rated: 4.3 by khargro2 from Tennessee

Dec 26, 2017
Photo of Ozzylizard
Reviewed by Ozzylizard from Pennsylvania

3.62/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Received from @Dragginballs76 in NBS BIF #6 - Thanks Michael!
Undated bomber (2016 vintage) stored at 42 degrees and served at 58 degrees in a hand washed and dried Jester King snifter.
Aroma – Very strong roasted malt.
Head – Large (Maximum 4.7 cm, aggressive pour), tan, high density, good retention, slowly diminishing to an irregular five to eight mm ring fed by exuberant effervescence and a complete dense layer with small rocks.
Lacing – None.
Body – Dark brown/black, opaque, marked effervescence. No sediment in bottom.
Flavor – The roasted malt from the nose does not translate to roasted malt on the tongue. Instead, there is a weak, slightly sour, almost vomit-like, taste with hints of soap. None of the advertised notes of chocolate or vanilla are found, although I rarely taste vanilla in anything – probably a mutation in my sensory apparatus. Hops, alcohol (9% ABV), and diacetyl are unfortunately absent as well.
To eliminate one variable (clean glass), the second pour was into a Brewery Vivant snifter that had been sitting on the shelf for some time. Everything was less – aroma, head, repugnant flavor – probably because of further warming and allowing the bomber to breathe.
Palate – Medium, creamy, soft carbonation.
Impression: Wow. I really dislike being negative about a beer in a style I love, particularly when it comes from someone who has consistently sent excellent beers. While this has an excellent aroma and looks very appealing (absent the lacing), the flavor is incredibly off. Hopefully this was just a bad bottle.
Appearance 4, Aroma 4.5, Flavor 3, Palate 4, Overall 3.5.
Dec 10, 2017
 
Rated: 3.59 by bcsbeer from Florida

Aug 08, 2017
 
Rated: 3.06 by tommy5 from Michigan

May 28, 2017
Photo of ThickNStout
Reviewed by ThickNStout from Georgia

4.23/5  rDev +13.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
22oz bottle from Hops and Vines (Asheville, NC). 9.99. 2016 vintage. Served in a Wicked Weed snifter.

Pours black with three fingers of fluffy pale tan froth. A persistent layer of fine bubbles spread to a woolly crown, leaving a few speckles of lace.

Lots of sweet barrel in the nose. Dark sugary rum, oaky bourbon and a little wine meet heavily roasted malts, bakers cocoa, raisin bread. Pleasant.

Some roasty sweet barrel char leads the taste. Bitter dark chocolate, sugary dark rum, hearty kilned dark malts, raisin toast, bourbon-kissed wet wood, stone fruit skins, faint coffee, burnt caramel and an occasional faint whisper of alcohol.

Beautifully velvety, creamy, full feel with smooth carbonation. The aftertaste recalls that deep barrel character with plenty of malty roast.

Quite a successful here job from Hi-Wire. Pulcinella's mixture of rum, bourbon and wine barrels seems to mitigate each individual spirit but leave a strong overall barrel character. A unique treat that I'm glad I picked up.
May 08, 2017
 
Rated: 3.8 by kbuzz from North Carolina

Mar 26, 2017
 
Rated: 4.21 by imperialking from Illinois

Mar 20, 2017
 
Rated: 3.96 by Kegatron from Pennsylvania

Mar 07, 2017
 
Rated: 3.68 by Mantooth from North Carolina

Feb 28, 2017
 
Rated: 3.49 by ekenney from Washington

Feb 18, 2017
 
Rated: 3.75 by baklo from North Carolina

Feb 07, 2017
 
Rated: 3.78 by HopsForBrains from North Carolina

Feb 06, 2017
 
Rated: 3.61 by Grackos from Florida

Dec 27, 2016
 
Rated: 3.3 by ntanner83 from Massachusetts

Dec 21, 2016
 
Rated: 3.75 by ADTaber from South Carolina

Dec 06, 2016
 
Rated: 4.09 by dbrauneis from North Carolina

Dec 02, 2016
Pulcinella from Hi-Wire Brewing
Beer rating: 85 out of 100 with 36 ratings