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Samuel Adams Imperial Stout
Boston Beer Company (Samuel Adams)
- From:
- Boston Beer Company (Samuel Adams)
- Massachusetts, United States
- Style:
- Russian Imperial Stout
- ABV:
- 9.2%
- Score:
- 86
- Avg:
- 3.8 | pDev: 13.68%
- Reviews:
- 810
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Mar 08, 2020
- Added:
- Jan 18, 2009
- Wants:
- 74
- Gots:
- 100
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.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by PatrickJR:
Reviewed by PatrickJR from North Carolina
3.98/5 rDev +4.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5
3.98/5 rDev +4.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5
Poured from a 12 oz bottle into oversized snifter.
This is much more of an RIS than an American D/I Stout, so I'm rating it as such.
A - Completely black and opaque. Half inch of brown, almost purple-looking head rises. Decent retention and some pretty great lacing as well.
S - Butter and roasted grain with a slight caramel appearance is the most obvious. There's also a bit of chocolate in here and touches of sour dark fruit.
T - Huge on the butter. Initially this tastes like an enormous amount of butter on a piece of heavily toasted, but not burnt, dark toast. Sweetness grows mid palate with a modest dose of chocolate and some noticable woody/smoky/roasted flavors. Afterwards is a fleeting note of tart dark fruit, perhaps plums or currants but the flavor is indistinct at best. Char-derived bitterness grows quickly late palate and carries over into the finish with earthy and faint coffee notes. Alcohol is well hidden. Absent are the huge burnt and coffee notes present in some larger stouts which is refreshing and personally a bit more appealing.
M - Thick, full bodied, with a low but noticable carbonation. Perfectly suited to the beer.
D - Although very well rounded, the butteriness of this brew becomes quite rich, especially as the beer approaches room temperature. This intensity detracts slighty, but overall this is an enjoyable RIS and up there with some of the best I've had. Though it can become quite sweet, the relative absence of bitter, roasty, coffee notes is quite welcome.
Mar 17, 2009This is much more of an RIS than an American D/I Stout, so I'm rating it as such.
A - Completely black and opaque. Half inch of brown, almost purple-looking head rises. Decent retention and some pretty great lacing as well.
S - Butter and roasted grain with a slight caramel appearance is the most obvious. There's also a bit of chocolate in here and touches of sour dark fruit.
T - Huge on the butter. Initially this tastes like an enormous amount of butter on a piece of heavily toasted, but not burnt, dark toast. Sweetness grows mid palate with a modest dose of chocolate and some noticable woody/smoky/roasted flavors. Afterwards is a fleeting note of tart dark fruit, perhaps plums or currants but the flavor is indistinct at best. Char-derived bitterness grows quickly late palate and carries over into the finish with earthy and faint coffee notes. Alcohol is well hidden. Absent are the huge burnt and coffee notes present in some larger stouts which is refreshing and personally a bit more appealing.
M - Thick, full bodied, with a low but noticable carbonation. Perfectly suited to the beer.
D - Although very well rounded, the butteriness of this brew becomes quite rich, especially as the beer approaches room temperature. This intensity detracts slighty, but overall this is an enjoyable RIS and up there with some of the best I've had. Though it can become quite sweet, the relative absence of bitter, roasty, coffee notes is quite welcome.
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by kryansutton
4.63/5 rDev +21.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.63/5 rDev +21.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
I was looking at some other reviews and I could not help but notice that one man Nailed his review. I have to give props so i am going to quote him "From notes 12/30/11: Pours a deep brownish-black with 1+ inch lasting, mocha, fine-bubbled, foamy head that leaves moderate lace. The aroma is roast, dry figs, prune, coffee, chocolate anise, and pungent hops. Taste is similar but with more anise/licorice from mid-sip into the aftertaste. Notes of char in the aftertaste. Mouthfeel is medium-bodied with low carbonation, mouth-coating."
All I would add, is the Beer fog at the crack of the cap, was Tantalizing, Pop it close to your nose, if you love a good stout, this full-bodied guy will be your best friend for as long as you can go without downing it from over excitement. To enjoy the second one with more time.
Mar 08, 2020All I would add, is the Beer fog at the crack of the cap, was Tantalizing, Pop it close to your nose, if you love a good stout, this full-bodied guy will be your best friend for as long as you can go without downing it from over excitement. To enjoy the second one with more time.
Reviewed by Buckeye55 from North Carolina
4.1/5 rDev +7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.1/5 rDev +7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Had it a few years back, just remember that it tasted of licorice and coffee. A very strong taste and very full bodied brew. I remember that after 4 or 5 of these monsters I was feeling pretty good, I guess attributed to the 9.2 abv.
I will have to revisit this one soon.
Apr 24, 2019I will have to revisit this one soon.
Reviewed by GuyFawkes from Illinois
3.92/5 rDev +3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
3.92/5 rDev +3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Drank 5/9/14 @ World of Beer Evanston.
Black color.
Minimal tan head; minimal lace.
Black licorice & fresh earth nose.
Thick mouthfeel.
Coffee grounds, fresh earth, molasses & mild black licorice flavors.
Dark & complex, yet drinkable.
Apr 16, 2019Black color.
Minimal tan head; minimal lace.
Black licorice & fresh earth nose.
Thick mouthfeel.
Coffee grounds, fresh earth, molasses & mild black licorice flavors.
Dark & complex, yet drinkable.
Reviewed by mothmanscott from Georgia
4.27/5 rDev +12.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.27/5 rDev +12.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
From notes 12/30/11: Pours a deep brownish black with 1+ inch lasting, mocha, fine bubbled, foamy head that leaves moderate lace. Aroma is roast, dry figs, prune, coffee, chocolate anise and pungent hops. Taste is similar but with more anise/licorice from mid-sip into the aftertaste. Notes of char in the aftertaste. Mouthfeel is medium bodied with low carbonation, mouth coating.
Jan 25, 2019Reviewed by JamFuel from Sweden
3.78/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.78/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Pours black, with soft, chocolate colored foam.
Smell is full of chocolate and licorice, with a hint of soy sauce.
Starts of slightly boozy, dark chocolate, licorice and a bit of coffee. Nice balance, and nice aftertaste.
Medium bodied, good level of carbonation.
Overall, a good Impy, a bit more muted and a bit too thin for me than the really excellent ones.
May 28, 2017Smell is full of chocolate and licorice, with a hint of soy sauce.
Starts of slightly boozy, dark chocolate, licorice and a bit of coffee. Nice balance, and nice aftertaste.
Medium bodied, good level of carbonation.
Overall, a good Impy, a bit more muted and a bit too thin for me than the really excellent ones.
Reviewed by tone77 from Pennsylvania
3.56/5 rDev -6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
3.56/5 rDev -6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Poured from a brown 12 oz. bottle. Has a black color with a 1/2 inch head. Smell is of dark fruits, roasted malts. Taste is roasted malts, alcohol, light hops, some dark fruits. Feels medium/full bodied in the mouth and overall is a decent beer, but not a great example of this style.
Sep 24, 2016Reviewed by rodbeermunch from Nevada
3.71/5 rDev -2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.71/5 rDev -2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Stiff black pour on this one. Tan colored head, 3/4". Impressive. Substantial roast and dark fruit notes, alcohol wafting.
Taste is more roast, more dark fruit, but the bitterness is lightly tamed. A bit of anise, chocolate malt, coffee and toffee malt notes.
These are good, the format is nice, better for sharing on a cold night.
Jul 17, 2016Taste is more roast, more dark fruit, but the bitterness is lightly tamed. A bit of anise, chocolate malt, coffee and toffee malt notes.
These are good, the format is nice, better for sharing on a cold night.
Samuel Adams Imperial Stout from Boston Beer Company (Samuel Adams)
Beer rating:
86 out of
100 with
1505 ratings
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