Drakonic Imperial Stout
Drake's Brewing Co.

Drakonic Imperial StoutDrakonic Imperial Stout
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From:
Drake's Brewing Co.
 
California, United States
Style:
Russian Imperial Stout
Ranked #402
ABV:
8.75%
Score:
89
Ranked #12,044
Avg:
3.97 | pDev: 9.82%
Reviews:
234
Ratings:
519
Status:
Active
Rated:
Jul 04, 2022
Added:
Aug 20, 2003
Wants:
  50
Gots:
  69
Drake's Drakonic Imperial Stout - 8.75% ABV, 40 IBUS
A big, malty beast of a beer that exemplifies the way we roll here at Drake's. Two-row malt is blended with Chocolate malt, roasted barley, and dark Crystal malts to make up the grist. Only one hop addition, Columbus, is added for bittering, allowing the abundance of malt in this beer to shine through. Enjoy the dense brownish head, the silky maltiness, and flavors of licorice, coffee and chocolate, rounded out with a slightly dry finish. here's to those who don't fear the mighty!
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by kiya:
Photo of kiya
Reviewed by kiya from California

3.52/5  rDev -11.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3
The first thing i noticed about this beer was the flip top that has been used to seal the beer at the bottling plant, as opposed to a having a traditional beer bottle cap, and then a flip top that can be used to reseal the beer. Once opened you're greeted with a louder than usual champagne bottle pop that releases an interesting aroma of a brew that isn't going to let you pass it by.

It pours a short but dense tan head which does shorten quickly but never fully dissipates through-out the tasting, holding it's composure well.

The aroma was the most impressive element of this beer for me. Stirring thoughts of freshly roasted espresso beans, warm molasses, and gingerbread. It was quickly apparent that the ABV was going to really give quite a kick due to the sharp initial aroma, before forming into a more subdued roasted scent.

After the enticing scents i was sort of expecting a smokier taste than what it offered. A mouthfeel that was large and round, and an alcohol bite in the back of the throat definitely could have been calmed down with some bolder dark fruit undertones which were, in my opinion, missing for the most part. it's a big beer, and definitely holds up well against other imperial stouts, but could use some bolder flavors besides the cocoa and licorice to even out some of the tingle from the alcohol. All in all, a good stout, and as the bottle says "A pint a day keeps the scurvy away". With a beer this strong in so many senses, i'd sure hope it keeps the scurvy away.
Jun 15, 2004
More User Ratings:
Photo of RyanK252
Reviewed by RyanK252 from California

4.14/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
On tap at Drake's Brewing Co

A: Pours basically black with a frothy khaki head that slowly settles to a thin layer and laces nicely.

S: Roasty, earthy, char, coffee, dark chocolate, molasses, a touch of spice, a hint of licorice, umami notes, burnt sugar, and toffee sweetness.

T: Roasty, char, espresso, dark chocolate, earthy, a touch of smoke, a little spice, molasses, hints of dark fruit and licorice, umami notes, and some toffee and burnt sugar sweetness.

M: Full body, moderate carbonation, creamy smooth. The 10.9% this batch was sporting is well hidden.

O: In a world of pastry stouts it's nice to see an OG imperial stout still hanging around and showing you don't need crazy amounts adjuncts to be good. Damn solid
Jul 04, 2022
 
Rated: 3.75 by YeastEnthusiast from New Jersey

Jul 01, 2019
 
Rated: 4.01 by Mikexw from New York

Mar 07, 2019
 
Rated: 4.19 by jhlosito75 from Pennsylvania

Feb 09, 2019
 
Rated: 4.08 by BarrelAgedG from California

Jan 21, 2019
 
Rated: 4.34 by stephenlee from England

Nov 14, 2018
 
Rated: 4.17 by wati47 from Nevada

Aug 18, 2018
Photo of West-Coast_Beer-Belly
Reviewed by West-Coast_Beer-Belly from California

4.67/5  rDev +17.6%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
Best Imperial Stout in America I have ever had. The perfect blend of malt and alcohol without being boozy like Bourbon Barrel aged stouts. I only wished they carried it in 6- packs so i could enjoy it more often.
Jul 04, 2018
 
Rated: 4.1 by user785335 from Florida

Apr 22, 2018
 
Rated: 4.27 by bigpoppa67 from Wisconsin

Apr 09, 2018
Photo of Boto
Reviewed by Boto from Connecticut

4.19/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
22oz. Bomber: This one pours an inky, dark brown color. There is a fair amount of a light brown head on it. Some lacing. Good nose! Chocolate, some coffee and some anise. The taste is very good. Chocolate, coffee, some roasted malts and some of the anise. That adds a bit of a bitter touch that isn't from hops. Very nice!
Mar 04, 2018
 
Rated: 4 by 8BaconBits from California

Jan 17, 2018
Photo of stevoj
Reviewed by stevoj from Idaho

3.75/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Sampled at Boise’s Imperial Stout get together. Overall decent, but not enough character to rasie it into the elite of the 120 bottles on display. Oily black pour with small ring of beige head. Roasty aroma, smooth and slick. Taste too features the rich roast grains.
Jan 16, 2018
 
Rated: 4.24 by dctarga from California

Jan 09, 2018
 
Rated: 4 by 1971bernat from Virginia

Dec 30, 2017
 
Rated: 4 by paulish from New York

Nov 11, 2017
 
Rated: 4.07 by Mxsluis from Michigan

Nov 08, 2017
 
Rated: 3.19 by cyberglob101 from California

Sep 25, 2017
 
Rated: 4.25 by shigg85 from Japan

Aug 10, 2017
Drakonic Imperial Stout from Drake's Brewing Co.
Beer rating: 89 out of 100 with 519 ratings