Russian Imperial Stout
Berkshire Brewing Company

Russian Imperial StoutRussian Imperial Stout
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From:
Berkshire Brewing Company
 
Massachusetts, United States
Style:
Russian Imperial Stout
Ranked #349
ABV:
8.5%
Score:
90
Ranked #8,328
Avg:
4.05 | pDev: 10.86%
Reviews:
323
Ratings:
580
Status:
Active
Rated:
Nov 19, 2023
Added:
Nov 30, 2001
Wants:
  84
Gots:
  70
You don’t need to be royalty to enjoy Berkshire’s dark-as-night interpretation of the traditional Russian Imperial Stout. Rich maltiness produces hints of chocolate, licorice, toffee, and ripe, dark fruit. Its velvety texture bathes your palate in luxury,begging to be paired with a dessert or to be enjoyed as a nightcap. Suitable for drinking now, this fine ale also ages beautifully in a cool, dark place…waiting patiently to transport you to the time of the Czars.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by FLAbeergutinMASS:
Photo of FLAbeergutinMASS
Reviewed by FLAbeergutinMASS from Massachusetts

4.23/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
This is a fantastic stout. Being an "Imperial" stout is definitely a double meaning. This beer is as dark as Dhart Vader-get it Imperial?!?!?!!? Ah, never mind.

Appearance-dark, dark, dark, with a 1 inch head. Held up to the light there are definite caramels.

Smell-smokey, nutty, crisp.

Taste-fantastic! Reminds me of the first stout I ever had, but better. Orange and vanilla mixed in with slight berries, unreal.

Mouthfeel-coats your mouth with pleasant flavors (see above), fortunately the taste lingers.

Drinkability-If you've read this you know this is a great brew. Heavy, but very delicious
Mar 25, 2005
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 5 by BP300 from Massachusetts

Nov 19, 2023
 
Rated: 4.02 by snowmageddon from Massachusetts

Jul 14, 2023
Photo of Roy_Hobbs
Reviewed by Roy_Hobbs from Connecticut

3.54/5  rDev -12.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
Almost ink black with a finger of short-lived head that receded to a very thin ring. Decent legs. Nice malts & chocolate on the nose. Nice roasted malts on the tongue. Smooth with no alcohol burn. Feel is on the thin side. Solid beer.
Apr 29, 2022
Photo of Ozzylizard
Reviewed by Ozzylizard from Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Steel Rail (2021) from Berkshire. Received from @Roy_Hobbs in BIF #14. 12 oz can. Stored at home at 38 degrees. Reviewed12/12/21. Note that I use DD/MM/YY protocol.
Can stamped on bottom “VINTAGE 20??”. Served at 52.8 degrees in a hand washed and dried Jester King snifter. Final temperature 59.3 degrees.
Appearance – 4
First pour – Deep Amber (SRM 15), clear.
Body – Ruby Brown (SRM 24), opaque. When rear-lite, slightly translucent with reddish overtones.
Head – Large (Maximum six cm, aggressive center pour), wheat with top rocks, rapidly diminishing to a five to twelve mm jagged lacy crown and a complete cap with rocks. Second pour produces a 0.7 cm head.
Lacing – Fair. Single narrow ring of extremely tiny bubbles with stalactites.
Aroma – 4 – Initially milk chocolate and some burnt malt, no hops, no yeast.
Flavor – 4.25 – Taste follows the nose, no hops, no yeast. Some raisins show up as it warms further. No advertised licorice or coffee. No ethanol (8.7 % ABV, according to website, NOT marked on container) taste or aroma. Marked gastric warming. No dimethylsulfide or diacetyl. Some slightly bitter maltiness builds on the aftertaste.
Palate – 4 – Medium, velvety, soft but lively carbonation.
Final impression and summation: 4 Seems a bit thin for a RIS but otherwise quite good. I was unable to convince myself or either the advertised coffee or licorice in the flavors, but the chocolate, burnt malt, and dark fruit (raisins, anyway) were distinctly present. Overall, a decent RIS.
Dec 14, 2021
 
Rated: 3.77 by DVMin98 from North Carolina

Oct 20, 2021
 
Rated: 4.39 by j37geogaddi from Massachusetts

Apr 05, 2021
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Reviewed by BeerAndGasMasks from Virginia

4.06/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
From the older bottle, it pours a very dark, clear, reddish brown color with a nice light brown head that lasts a while. In the nose, it is roasty malty with black malt and burnt notes. In the mouth, it is smooth, creamy and the taste follows the nose. Nice!
Mar 30, 2021
Photo of Manta200
Rated by Manta200 from Kentucky

4.1/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Courtesy of IMN0P.
Nov 03, 2020
 
Rated: 4.06 by Jeez from Massachusetts

Oct 03, 2020
 
Rated: 3.67 by JakerLou from New Hampshire

Aug 22, 2020
Photo of tradershmulie
Reviewed by tradershmulie from Connecticut

4.06/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Dark brown, not black. Typical brown head.

Definitely some interesting smell -

Nice taste. Medium mouthfeel. Not heavy, like you would expect from a RIS, but good tasting. Full flavor, but not especially interesting.

Easy to drink, smooth. Not particularly strong for the style, but alcohol still well hidden.

Very good beer. I expected more, but still worth drinking.
Aug 16, 2020
Photo of harrypowers
Reviewed by harrypowers from Massachusetts

4.13/5  rDev +2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Pours a warm opaque black with little head.

Smells of malt and fruits like raisins and figs. Tastes of malt, molasses, coffee and raisins. No bitterness.

Lighter in body and ABV in comparison to other russian imperial stouts I have had. Smooth lush mouthfeel. Low carbonation.

Very enjoyable. Recommended!
Jul 18, 2020
Photo of Wxb1111
Reviewed by Wxb1111 from Rhode Island

4.46/5  rDev +10.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
I found a 4pack in cans and gave this a shot. Smell was superb. Taste really struck me as very complex with some nice vanilla notes. A nice sweet malty flavor very drinkable... Overall a wonderful Russian Imperial well worth searching for.
Dec 14, 2019
 
Rated: 3.68 by liquorpig from Massachusetts

Nov 22, 2019
Photo of Oh_Dark_Star
Rated by Oh_Dark_Star from Washington

2.77/5  rDev -31.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5
Bottle aged for 6 months. Little of that characteristic Russian stout feel. Would have thought this to be the American stout variety.
Apr 30, 2019
 
Rated: 3.49 by socon67 from New York

Mar 24, 2019
Photo of Pete9094
Rated by Pete9094 from Pennsylvania

3.98/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Very good RIS but just a tad bit thin with the body. May improve with age. Still a good RIS, though.
Mar 19, 2019
 
Rated: 4.23 by Abstractspirit from Rhode Island

Jan 02, 2019
Photo of illpass78
Reviewed by illpass78 from Maine

4.1/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Bomber poured into stemware.

Appearance: Black with an off white, short head that dissipates. Not a ton of lace.

Aroma: Vanilla, coffee beans, dark chocolate.

Taste: Follows nose. Very nice mix of vanilla and black coffee. Some booze. Very tasty. More flavor emerges as it warms.

Mouthfeel: Boozy enough to drink slowly, but not an overpowering beer on the palate.

Overall: Very well executed RIS. A delightful cold weather beer.
Dec 03, 2018
Russian Imperial Stout from Berkshire Brewing Company
Beer rating: 90 out of 100 with 580 ratings