Samuel Adams Imperial Stout | Boston Beer Company (Samuel Adams)
Brewed by:
Boston Beer Company (Samuel Adams)
Massachusetts, United States
samueladams.com
Style: Russian Imperial Stout
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 9.20%
Availability: Year-round
Notes / Commercial Description:
Imperial in stature and bigger than your average stout. This colossal stout was inspired by those created by 18th century English brewers for the Russian Imperial Court of Catherine II. The special malts in this intense and massive brew delivers rich flavors of dark chocolate, coffee, and anise.
Added by Duhast500 on 01-18-2009
Reviews: 805 | Ratings: 1,492
Reviews by Gryphon69:
More User Reviews:
4/5 rDev +4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
9.2% ABV. per label.Good to see SA branch out and make a foray into this style.Poured into a snifter an oil slick black with a minimal cappuccino (like the bottle says)colored head that is gone rather quickly.Aromas of charred dark fruit and black licorice,dark roast coffee and a bit of wood as well.Flavors are heavy on the black licorice with molasses and dark fruit quite prevelant as well,a nice bit of raw earthiness in the finish as well.A solid stab at the style,just all around good.
★ 492 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
9.2% ABV. per label.Good to see SA branch out and make a foray into this style.Poured into a snifter an oil slick black with a minimal cappuccino (like the bottle says)colored head that is gone rather quickly.Aromas of charred dark fruit and black licorice,dark roast coffee and a bit of wood as well.Flavors are heavy on the black licorice with molasses and dark fruit quite prevelant as well,a nice bit of raw earthiness in the finish as well.A solid stab at the style,just all around good.
★ 492 characters
4.5/5 rDev +17.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Pours very dark, thick and syrupy. The frothy brown head is gone pretty quickly with little lacing. Smells of roasted coffee and semi-sweet dark chocolate. Mouth feel is creamy, smooth and very tasty with a little bit of bitterness. For a Sammy, it was an unexpected treat. I liked it a lot. Reminded me of the Stone 12th anniversary bitter dark chocolate oatmeal stout but a bit less smokey. I'll be getting more.
★ 414 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Pours very dark, thick and syrupy. The frothy brown head is gone pretty quickly with little lacing. Smells of roasted coffee and semi-sweet dark chocolate. Mouth feel is creamy, smooth and very tasty with a little bit of bitterness. For a Sammy, it was an unexpected treat. I liked it a lot. Reminded me of the Stone 12th anniversary bitter dark chocolate oatmeal stout but a bit less smokey. I'll be getting more.
★ 414 characters
4.36/5 rDev +14.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
Oil slick black. Darker than my burnt 3 day old coffee. Ample 2 finger head, thick mocha chocolate color. Considerable lacing. No light getting through.
Dark malt. Boozie, rum raisin. Light espresso, maybe chocolate.
Dark bakers chocolate. Deep espresso, all througout. Wow. Dark malted roasted malt (does that make sense?). Ending with port in a yummy way. Some drying, hops, biscuit. Something upfront I cant place.
Thick, juicy. I can just let this sit in my mouth all night. Take a small sip, o2 it, and relax. Wow, sits perfect.
Reminds me a lot of Bells Expedition Stout. Not quite as syrupy with mouthfeel, a little better in that manner.
At 65F, line me up 6 of these. Ill knock them down, and they will knock me down. Id win the battle, but they would win the war.
By far the best Sam Adams ive had. Favorite to day was their Boston Ale (not Lager).
★ 864 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
Oil slick black. Darker than my burnt 3 day old coffee. Ample 2 finger head, thick mocha chocolate color. Considerable lacing. No light getting through.
Dark malt. Boozie, rum raisin. Light espresso, maybe chocolate.
Dark bakers chocolate. Deep espresso, all througout. Wow. Dark malted roasted malt (does that make sense?). Ending with port in a yummy way. Some drying, hops, biscuit. Something upfront I cant place.
Thick, juicy. I can just let this sit in my mouth all night. Take a small sip, o2 it, and relax. Wow, sits perfect.
Reminds me a lot of Bells Expedition Stout. Not quite as syrupy with mouthfeel, a little better in that manner.
At 65F, line me up 6 of these. Ill knock them down, and they will knock me down. Id win the battle, but they would win the war.
By far the best Sam Adams ive had. Favorite to day was their Boston Ale (not Lager).
★ 864 characters
4/5 rDev +4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
This beer was a syrupy-looking black brew with a small orange/tan head and a tiny bit of lace. It had a bittersweet chocoloate and roasted malt aroma. A nice espresso bitterness, also some chocolate and dark fruit. More bitter than sweet, a pretty good stout.
★ 259 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
This beer was a syrupy-looking black brew with a small orange/tan head and a tiny bit of lace. It had a bittersweet chocoloate and roasted malt aroma. A nice espresso bitterness, also some chocolate and dark fruit. More bitter than sweet, a pretty good stout.
★ 259 characters
3.93/5 rDev +2.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4
A - Pours pitch black with two fingers of brown head. Head looks creamy and has good retention. A nice amount of lacing left behind.
S - Chocolate, coffee, roasted malt, dark fruits and a bit of anise. Also a touch of hops. Pretty nice.
T - The taste has more coffee than chocolate, moderate roastedoak malt, a subtle but noticeable hop punch, a bit of anise, raisin and faint cherry. Alcohol not noticeable at all.
M - Mouthfeel is medium, definitely not heavy, slighty bitter and dry on the finish.
O - Pretty good RIS overall, at a great price. Like a lot of Sam Adams beers, this seems a bit subdued, and so doesn't really stand out. But it is a tasty and easy drinking RIS that I could see having again.
★ 712 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4
A - Pours pitch black with two fingers of brown head. Head looks creamy and has good retention. A nice amount of lacing left behind.
S - Chocolate, coffee, roasted malt, dark fruits and a bit of anise. Also a touch of hops. Pretty nice.
T - The taste has more coffee than chocolate, moderate roastedoak malt, a subtle but noticeable hop punch, a bit of anise, raisin and faint cherry. Alcohol not noticeable at all.
M - Mouthfeel is medium, definitely not heavy, slighty bitter and dry on the finish.
O - Pretty good RIS overall, at a great price. Like a lot of Sam Adams beers, this seems a bit subdued, and so doesn't really stand out. But it is a tasty and easy drinking RIS that I could see having again.
★ 712 characters
4.33/5 rDev +13.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
I love this stout.
A: Black, black, black with an amazing tan head.
S: Light licorice aroma.
T: Little bit heavier licorice flavor.
M: Smooth end.
D: I'm not a licorice person but I do like stouts. I was surprised how much I enjoyed this beer despite my handicap.
★ 268 characters
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
I love this stout.
A: Black, black, black with an amazing tan head.
S: Light licorice aroma.
T: Little bit heavier licorice flavor.
M: Smooth end.
D: I'm not a licorice person but I do like stouts. I was surprised how much I enjoyed this beer despite my handicap.
★ 268 characters
4.2/5 rDev +9.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
12 ounce bottle, w/o freshness/vintage info...come on now, the label says "age it", how about some dating info? Anyway, rant over, this one pours Imperial stout dark/almost black, under the expected dark tan head, froth, film and leaves light and fine tiny spots of lace. Nose is full of dark chocolate, espresso, chocolate milk and burnt grains. Full flavor, heady stuff @ over 9%. Nose carries nicely into the tongue sensations, more dark, dark chocolate, roasted grains and dark coffee. Thick and smooth mouth feel. Real nice job here by S.A. Impressive.
★ 557 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
12 ounce bottle, w/o freshness/vintage info...come on now, the label says "age it", how about some dating info? Anyway, rant over, this one pours Imperial stout dark/almost black, under the expected dark tan head, froth, film and leaves light and fine tiny spots of lace. Nose is full of dark chocolate, espresso, chocolate milk and burnt grains. Full flavor, heady stuff @ over 9%. Nose carries nicely into the tongue sensations, more dark, dark chocolate, roasted grains and dark coffee. Thick and smooth mouth feel. Real nice job here by S.A. Impressive.
★ 557 characters
3.71/5 rDev -2.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Appearance: dark black color, with big chocolate brown head, medium carb
Smell: chocolate, with malts, and some wood
Taste: bitter dark chocolate, coffee, alcohol, and roasted malt
Mouthfeel: dry, slightly bitter, rich full body
Drinkability: A drinkable Imperial Stout, the high ABV is moderately masked. If this were on draft, I may get it, but I have had better imperial stouts
★ 384 characters
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Appearance: dark black color, with big chocolate brown head, medium carb
Smell: chocolate, with malts, and some wood
Taste: bitter dark chocolate, coffee, alcohol, and roasted malt
Mouthfeel: dry, slightly bitter, rich full body
Drinkability: A drinkable Imperial Stout, the high ABV is moderately masked. If this were on draft, I may get it, but I have had better imperial stouts
★ 384 characters
4.2/5 rDev +9.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
The beer pours a black color with a tan head. The aroma is roasted malt, chocolate, coffee and a little bit of dark fruit. A nice, complex aroma and better than I expected. The flavor is a mix of heavy roasted/charred malt, dark chocolate and some coffee. There is also a nice bit of cream flavor. Medium to thick mouthfeel and medium carbonation. A very nice Imperial Stout, easily the best beer from the Samuel Adams Imperial Series.
★ 435 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
The beer pours a black color with a tan head. The aroma is roasted malt, chocolate, coffee and a little bit of dark fruit. A nice, complex aroma and better than I expected. The flavor is a mix of heavy roasted/charred malt, dark chocolate and some coffee. There is also a nice bit of cream flavor. Medium to thick mouthfeel and medium carbonation. A very nice Imperial Stout, easily the best beer from the Samuel Adams Imperial Series.
★ 435 characters
3.29/5 rDev -13.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Poured nicely with a 2 finger head.. completely black..im not seeing any light through this stout. Moderate lacing of the tannish foam. 1st smells of roasted malts with some chocolate, and smoky fruit?, but not overpowering. Tastes of coffee..dark cocoa. Mouthfeel is great: thick, mild carbonation, coats the tongue nicely. I think Sam Adams does a nice job of trying to bring a wide variety of brews to a mass market. Id drink it again but i think id take a Founders or Arcadia Ales IS over it anyday.
★ 503 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Poured nicely with a 2 finger head.. completely black..im not seeing any light through this stout. Moderate lacing of the tannish foam. 1st smells of roasted malts with some chocolate, and smoky fruit?, but not overpowering. Tastes of coffee..dark cocoa. Mouthfeel is great: thick, mild carbonation, coats the tongue nicely. I think Sam Adams does a nice job of trying to bring a wide variety of brews to a mass market. Id drink it again but i think id take a Founders or Arcadia Ales IS over it anyday.
★ 503 characters
Samuel Adams Imperial Stout from Boston Beer Company (Samuel Adams)
3.82
out of 5
based on 1,492 ratings.
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
12oz bottle into the oversized wine glass
A- A wonderful dense black with some brown. Little to no head with slight lacing around the glass.
S- First thing that grabbed me was a chocolate covered cherry, with some coffee and more dark fruits like prunes
T- Light on the malts, more of a dark fruit with chocolate and some coffee, kind of on the sweet side.
M- More on the lighter side of a stout, not overly heavy but smooth.
O- It is ok, more balanced out with nothing really popping out to grab me. But to be fair, I did try this after a Old Rasputin RIS and the SA iS is on the other end of the spectrum. Wonderfull appearance, average nose, alright taste and mouthfeel.
★ 678 characters