Nyx
Faction Brewing
- From:
- Faction Brewing
- California, United States
- Style:
- Russian Imperial Stout
Ranked #337 - ABV:
- 12.5%
- Score:
- 89
Ranked #15,270 - Avg:
- 4.04 | pDev: 4.7%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 2
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Jul 13, 2025
- Added:
- Nov 08, 2014
- Wants:
- 0
- Gots:
- 1
SCORE
89
Very Good
89
Very Good
Imperial stout aged in St. George Spirits Whiskey Barrels for 4 Years.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by colts9016 from Idaho
3.75/5 rDev -7.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.75/5 rDev -7.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Review: 2456
Name: NYX
Brewer: Faction Brewing
Location: Alameda, CA
Style: Russian Imperial Stout
ABV: 12.5%
Canned: 2022
Date: 12 July 2025
The last beer for the night: a Russian Imperial Stout. Brontes was the last beer I had from Faction. I am hoping for good things. Using a tulip glass, the serving temperature is 50 degrees. The pour created a half-fingered, light tan head with poor retention. The head dissipated quickly, leaving nothing on the glass. The color is pitch black with dark, rusty-brown hues and is opaque. The Appearance is average for this style.
Nosing the beer, the whiskey is prominent with notes of caramel, char, oak, and slight alcohol burn. Smelling the beer again, I notice chocolate, coffee, molasses, anise, light Maillard notes, raisins, bready aromas, dark roasted malts, toasted bread crust, light malty sweetness, leather, and a light resinous note.
Sipping the beer, it is evident they used a whiskey barrel because it is pungent with notes of caramel, light Maillard notes, raisins, bread, dark toasted bread crust, malty sweetness, Maillard, char, toffee, molasses, anise, leather, a hint of tobacco, some earthiness, and chocolate.
The mouthfeel is thin and finishes warm. The body is medium-plus and has low carbonation.
Final Thought: Russian Imperial Stout is my favorite beer; this one falls short. The body and the mouth need more heft. The alcohol creates a warmer finish than I would like. Overall, this is a decent beer; it has potential.
Jul 13, 2025Name: NYX
Brewer: Faction Brewing
Location: Alameda, CA
Style: Russian Imperial Stout
ABV: 12.5%
Canned: 2022
Date: 12 July 2025
The last beer for the night: a Russian Imperial Stout. Brontes was the last beer I had from Faction. I am hoping for good things. Using a tulip glass, the serving temperature is 50 degrees. The pour created a half-fingered, light tan head with poor retention. The head dissipated quickly, leaving nothing on the glass. The color is pitch black with dark, rusty-brown hues and is opaque. The Appearance is average for this style.
Nosing the beer, the whiskey is prominent with notes of caramel, char, oak, and slight alcohol burn. Smelling the beer again, I notice chocolate, coffee, molasses, anise, light Maillard notes, raisins, bready aromas, dark roasted malts, toasted bread crust, light malty sweetness, leather, and a light resinous note.
Sipping the beer, it is evident they used a whiskey barrel because it is pungent with notes of caramel, light Maillard notes, raisins, bread, dark toasted bread crust, malty sweetness, Maillard, char, toffee, molasses, anise, leather, a hint of tobacco, some earthiness, and chocolate.
The mouthfeel is thin and finishes warm. The body is medium-plus and has low carbonation.
Final Thought: Russian Imperial Stout is my favorite beer; this one falls short. The body and the mouth need more heft. The alcohol creates a warmer finish than I would like. Overall, this is a decent beer; it has potential.
Reviewed by UCLABrewN84 from California
4.1/5 rDev +1.5%
look: 3 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.25
4.1/5 rDev +1.5%
look: 3 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.25
On tap at Shelton Brothers The Festival 2014 held at Crafted in San Pedro, CA.
Described as a Russian Imperial Stout aged in St. George Spirits – B&E Bourbon barrels.
Pours an opaque black with a foamy dark khaki head that fades to nothing. No lacing on the drink down. Smell is of dark roasted malt, cocoa, bourbon, and wood aromas. Taste is much the same with coca, vanilla, bourbon, and wood flavors on the finish. There is a mild amount of roast and wood bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a lower level of carbonation with a slightly crisp and medium bodied mouthfeel. Overall, this is a very good beer with great bourbon barrel aged characteristics that work well with the base beer.
Serving type: on tap.
Nov 10, 2014Described as a Russian Imperial Stout aged in St. George Spirits – B&E Bourbon barrels.
Pours an opaque black with a foamy dark khaki head that fades to nothing. No lacing on the drink down. Smell is of dark roasted malt, cocoa, bourbon, and wood aromas. Taste is much the same with coca, vanilla, bourbon, and wood flavors on the finish. There is a mild amount of roast and wood bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a lower level of carbonation with a slightly crisp and medium bodied mouthfeel. Overall, this is a very good beer with great bourbon barrel aged characteristics that work well with the base beer.
Serving type: on tap.
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