The Krispy Karl
51st Ward Beer Company

The Krispy KarlThe Krispy Karl
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From:
51st Ward Beer Company
 
Illinois, United States
Style:
American Imperial Stout
ABV:
9.25%
Score:
88
Avg:
3.96 | pDev: 11.62%
Reviews:
10
Ratings:
56
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Aug 01, 2018
Added:
Sep 03, 2014
Wants:
  3
Gots:
  16
No description / notes.
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Rated: 3.96 by vande from Illinois

Aug 01, 2018
 
Rated: 4.08 by cd34 from Illinois

May 28, 2018
Photo of ZebulonXZogg
Reviewed by ZebulonXZogg from Illinois

4.2/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Pours almost black with a small tan head that's gone in a flash.
Very aromatic on the pour, roasted malts, coffee, vanilla and booze from the 10.2% abv.
Taste is similar, bitter, high ABV is noticeable, very warming effect.
Smooth texture, light carbonation.
Pretty solid RIS from a small Chicago suburban brewer. I'll keep an eye out for this.
Oct 08, 2017
 
Rated: 3.08 by Chuckdiesel24 from Illinois

Jun 21, 2017
Photo of Beginner2
Rated by Beginner2 from Illinois

3.8/5  rDev -4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Had as the nightcap to the Zoo beerfest. I hope to find it again and review it under more sober circumstances.
Jun 19, 2017
 
Rated: 3.48 by spointon from Illinois

Jan 02, 2017
 
Rated: 4.34 by Richter525 from Michigan

Dec 29, 2016
 
Rated: 3.8 by bschmidt_37 from Illinois

Dec 29, 2016
 
Rated: 3.5 by thinwhiteduke from Illinois

Sep 15, 2016
Photo of FBarber
Reviewed by FBarber from Illinois

2.85/5  rDev -28%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.5
Gushed on opening. Pours a dark shiny black with a huge, gusher tan head. Head dissipates slowly leaving a thin tan head with tons of lacing. outside of the gushing the beer actually looks quite nice.

Smell is very tart - kind of odd. Some malts, green coffee and hops are there, but its impossible to get past that odd tartness.

Taste has lots of malts up front. Also noted are green coffee, almost pepper like, hints of chocolate. Very rough around the edges. Lots of heat on the finish. Lingering berry like tartness on the finish. Just not a great imperial stout.

Feel is a bit thin for the style. Low carbonation - shocking given how much it gushed.

Overall this was pretty bad - tartness that didn't belong for the style. Very rough around the edges. Wouldn't drink this one again.
Sep 12, 2016
 
Rated: 3.92 by rossracing from Illinois

Sep 04, 2016
 
Rated: 4 by durlta from Iowa

Jul 31, 2016
 
Rated: 4.03 by shoegueuze from California

May 23, 2016
 
Rated: 4.49 by diddy4l from Illinois

Apr 30, 2016
 
Rated: 3.15 by Amundra

Apr 24, 2016
 
Rated: 4.46 by jws7968 from Illinois

Jan 26, 2016
 
Rated: 4.27 by belgbeerdrinker from Colorado

Dec 27, 2015
Photo of stingray
Reviewed by stingray from Wisconsin

3.94/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
12 oz bottle poured into a snifter at cellar temp. Listed on bottle as a Russian Imperial Stout, 10.9% ABV. No date but presumably a 2015 vintage.

L: Pretty thick and heavy, though not as viscous as I consider ideal for a RIS. Dark brown, not quite black. One finger of dark tan head. No residual lacing. Very appetizing

S: Burnt coffee, dark chocolate, black currant.

T: Lots of coffee and chocolate. Something lingered in the background that I couldn't identify until I swirled it around in my mouth and really brought out the donut! I wasn't sure about that aspect going in but I enjoyed it. Unfortunately not much else unique about this brew. Alcohol is well hidden, I would have guessed 8.5-9%.

F: Light carbonation that was just right. Didn't feel as thick in my mouth as I expected.

O: Fun to try a slight tweak on the style and I like supporting small breweries. I'm not a fan of dark chocolate or coffee so I'm surprised to list those as prominent flavors in a beer I liked. It didn't disappoint at all but didn't impress me either. It's not hard to find other RIS I prefer so I'm not inclined to try it again unless I come across a barrel aged or some other alternate version.
Dec 18, 2015
 
Rated: 4.14 by Chris-1911 from Illinois

Dec 17, 2015
 
Rated: 4 by tim007007 from Illinois

Dec 17, 2015
The Krispy Karl from 51st Ward Beer Company
Beer rating: 88 out of 100 with 56 ratings