Bourbon The Russian
2SP Brewing Company

Bourbon The RussianBourbon The Russian
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From:
2SP Brewing Company
 
Pennsylvania, United States
Style:
Russian Imperial Stout
Ranked #312
ABV:
11.6%
Score:
90
Ranked #8,526
Avg:
4.08 | pDev: 6.37%
Reviews:
12
Ratings:
40
Status:
Active
Rated:
Feb 03, 2024
Added:
Aug 18, 2015
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  4
IBU's: 50
Hops: Chinook, Cascade, Centennial
Availability: Winter

This is a barrel aged version of our 3 time GABF Gold medal winning Stout. Bob placed The Russian in barrels for 9 months, enhancing the beer with intense, bold flavors of sweet bourbon, vanilla, coffee, and roasted malts.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by stevoj:
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Reviewed by stevoj from Idaho

3.91/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
12oz can from my brother. Black pour with a thin beige head which fades to ring. Aroma is sweet, chocolatey, with minor bourbon notes. Taste brings more chocolate, sweet, minor bourbon presence. A bit sweet and not overly strong. Approachable. Follow on: much better as it warms. Sweetness fades, bourbon picks up. Still chocolatey AF.
Oct 19, 2021
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.73 by Bhubbard34 from Pennsylvania

Feb 03, 2024
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Rated by Braunmeister_1943 from Pennsylvania

4.39/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
I love 2SP’s “The Russian “ RIS! I love this BBA version even more! Not to be missed!
Jan 28, 2024
Photo of jmdrpi
Reviewed by jmdrpi from Pennsylvania

4.13/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
on draft, served in tulip glass

black in color, but no head. Nice oaky bourbon aroma with dark cocoa. Similar taste, not sweet. Medium to full bodied
Aug 06, 2023
 
Rated: 4.16 by oberon from North Carolina

Oct 16, 2022
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Reviewed by hman43 from North Carolina

3.84/5  rDev -5.9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Look: It pours very dark brown with a brown head. Head retention is very good.

Smell: Aromas of bourbon and roast are up front with some chocolate.

Taste: It has chocolate and roast in the flavor with some bourbon. There are secondary flavors of vanilla and low dark fruits.

Feel: It has a medium full body.

Overall, it is more sweet that bitter on the palate with a nice array of malt flavors with bourbon.
Jul 09, 2022
Photo of dbl_delta
Reviewed by dbl_delta from Pennsylvania

4.22/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Can dated 2/5/21 into pint glass. Pours a very dark brown with a surprisingly robust tan head (for an 11.5% RIS). Initial impression is cocoa, restrained bourbon, vanilla, roasted malts, and a touch of oak. Mouthfeel is medium-thick and sticky; alcohol is pretty well hidden. Finish is more chocolate and bourbon, with a slight bitterness. Overall, a thoroughly enjoyable RIS!
Apr 15, 2021
 
Rated: 4.58 by Dougwillhike from New Jersey

Apr 09, 2021
 
Rated: 4.25 by paulish from New York

Mar 28, 2021
 
Rated: 4.18 by Taenim from Maine

Mar 22, 2021
Photo of FBarber
Reviewed by FBarber from Illinois

4.15/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours a dark brown color, opaque but thinner in appearance. A head like Ive never seen on a BA beer - a full four finger mocha colored head forms before slowly dissipating until just a quarter inch of foam remains on the beer. However that last quarter inch or so remains for the duration of consumption. Aroma has notes of roasted malts, leather, pine, cocoa, bakers chocolate, with just a hint of bourbon on the nose. Its largely a Russian imperial stout that I'm not sure I could tell if it was barrel aged or not if I drank this blind.

Taste largely follows the nose with notes of roasted malts, cocoa, bakers chocolate, pine, leather, and some oak on the back end. The bourbon and oak really do come through moreso in the flavor. Moderate bitterness on the back end. Feel is on the thinner side, very smooth and silky. Mild carbonation.

Overall a really enjoyable bourbon barrel aged imperial stout.
Dec 13, 2020
 
Rated: 4.25 by pete6341 from New Jersey

Jan 22, 2020
 
Rated: 3.83 by Griffith from Connecticut

Mar 21, 2019
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Reviewed by thebeers from Pennsylvania

4.03/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Pours a rich, chocolatey brown with two fat fingers of dark tan head. I thought the head was looking a little fizzy at first, but it does have some heft and body to it and lasts a good while, despite leaving almost no lacing.

Smooth, light-ish bourbon aroma with almond, toffee, chocolate and cherry notes.

The taste is fairly similar. It comes across as light and approachable for the genre, with chocolate malt and a little almond, toffee, coffee and an even lighter hint of cherry and prune. It has a mildly bitter finish, tempered by a sweeter biscotti character.

Medium bodied for the style with an oily, lightly tacky slickness and strong carbonation.

The barrel aging adds a definite sweetness that cuts into the bitterness of the base. A pleasure to try.
Feb 20, 2019
 
Rated: 4.04 by Rifugium from North Dakota

Jan 19, 2019
 
Rated: 4.14 by GreenMind from Pennsylvania

Dec 09, 2018
 
Rated: 4 by teamwiggum from Wisconsin

Aug 11, 2018
 
Rated: 4.18 by dafla67 from Pennsylvania

Jul 23, 2018
 
Rated: 4.17 by rolltide8425 from Pennsylvania

Dec 21, 2017
 
Rated: 4 by SiepJones from Pennsylvania

Dec 18, 2017
Bourbon The Russian from 2SP Brewing Company
Beer rating: 90 out of 100 with 40 ratings