Imperial Stout
Left Hand Brewing Company

Imperial StoutImperial Stout
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From:
Left Hand Brewing Company
 
Colorado, United States
Style:
Russian Imperial Stout
ABV:
10.4%
Score:
86
Avg:
3.82 | pDev: 12.04%
Reviews:
433
Ratings:
524
Status:
Retired
Rated:
May 17, 2018
Added:
Jan 27, 2002
Wants:
  42
Gots:
  22
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Skidz:
Photo of Skidz
Reviewed by Skidz from Wisconsin

4.55/5  rDev +19.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
Pours out deep crimson brown and sits nearly black, a few strands of crimson shine though. A large tan head is formed, fading to a light skim and offers a nice display of lacings around the glass.

Smells intensely roasted, rich coffee and chocolate aromas. Raisins and dates are abundant and mingle with the tangy aroma of alcohol, tickling the back of the nose. Light wooden character, some spiciness as well..

Tastes big and sweet up front, loads of rich malty goodness pours out over your toungue. Apples and raisins provide a nice fruity taste and deep roasted coffee balances it out. Some toffee flavors sweeten the deal and are paired with dark chocolate flavors as well. Alcoho provides a nice warming glow, and a dash of pepper. Finish is nicely bittered and laced with plenty of rich coffee flavors.

Sinfully smooth and creamy in the mouth, with light carbonation on the sides. Slides around the mouth like a pad of butter in a hot pan, goes down just as easy. Perfection in the mouth.

A solid Impy all the way. Quality breakfast material, you could eat this with a fork. Delicious...oh yeah.
Jan 10, 2005
More User Ratings:
Photo of TheRandall
Rated by TheRandall from Indiana

4.25/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Why in _uck would Left Hand retire this beer? What a shame. It is amazing.
May 17, 2018
 
Rated: 4.15 by BobsBrewReview from Missouri

Jan 29, 2018
Photo of andrenaline
Rated by andrenaline from Canada (ON)

4/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
On tap nitro stout that went down like candy. Unreal. Could drink this stuff all night.
Nov 14, 2016
Photo of puboflyons
Reviewed by puboflyons from New Hampshire

4.43/5  rDev +16%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.25
From the 12 fl. oz Nitro bottle with an enjoy by date of 06/08/17. Sampled on October 23, 2016. Serving in the upper 40 degree range.

The pour is jet black with a soft, nitro-influenced tan head that laves a lot of lacing.

The first aroma sensation I get is dark roasted malts and then licorice, anise, and a touch of booze.

Full body that is very smooth and creamy.

The booze is more noticeable in the taste but there is still a mildly sweet dark roasted malt flavor and a semi-dry finish.
Oct 23, 2016
Photo of rodbeermunch
Reviewed by rodbeermunch from Nevada

3.52/5  rDev -7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Gives a hefty dark black as night vibe, with a beige head in the 1/2" range. Aroma was fire fire fire, smoke, char, roast.

Taste was right up the alley of all the normal stout descriptors, char, roast, coffee, chocolate, thick, bitter. Good mouthfeel, amazed how big of a beer this is abv wise in the mouthfeel. Very affordable and available, nice.
Apr 14, 2016
Photo of stakem
Reviewed by stakem from Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
12oz bottled 9/19/07 poured into a tulip. The brew appears black in color with a khaki head that fades leaving patchy lace.

Smells delicious like decadent milk chocolate, coffee and slight rootbeer/anise spiciness.

Tastes sweet and boozy with licorice, chocolate, roast, leather, earth. Like the nose, there is a bit of a cola/root beer/birch beer spiciness to the finish that is peculiar but interesting and enjoyable.

Medium to full bodied, modestly carbonated and quite enjoyable.Talk about a sleeper of a beer. This was not tasting its age and I feel like it aged quite gracefully with some unique nuance.
Feb 03, 2016
 
Rated: 4 by BEER88 from North Carolina

Jan 31, 2016
 
Rated: 4 by Grackos from Florida

Jan 24, 2016
 
Rated: 3.73 by djrn2 from New Jersey

Nov 08, 2015
 
Rated: 3.75 by brittanylicious from Indiana

Oct 23, 2015
 
Rated: 3.75 by heysuz from Indiana

Oct 17, 2015
 
Rated: 3.88 by DucksFan16 from Tennessee

Sep 05, 2015
Photo of ThaneMcC
Reviewed by ThaneMcC from Germany

4.21/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
With a vigorous pour (as directed) with copious light tan foamy head (2fb) and solid lacing. Smells of roasted malts, cocoa, dark fruits, molasses. Tastes of dark licorice, dark, semi sweet chocolate, fig/prune and a hint of smoke/leather. Despite the sweetness, very small floral hop influence and leaves a rather clean finish.
Mouthfeel is creamy, smooth, not quite full bodied but still a solid mouthfeel.

Overall, this is a tasty RIS – more complex than their nitro milk stout and equally good. I will pick this up wherever I can find it.
Aug 11, 2015
Photo of pat61
Reviewed by pat61 from Minnesota

4.07/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Pours bright dark brown under a very finely bubbled 1” tan cap that hugs the side of the glass. The aroma is very muted and disappointing. Palate a little molassy sweet up front with roast and chocolate and hints of dark fruit that give way to a big bitter finish. It feel soft and luscious in the mouth with a big body and a little above average carbonation. This is a nice big beer but it is not as well balanced as some.
May 26, 2015
 
Rated: 4.35 by MikeDive from Florida

Jan 11, 2015
 
Rated: 3.95 by WiggyKGB from Illinois

Dec 27, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by olradetbalder from Sweden

Nov 27, 2014
 
Rated: 3.25 by lmaduells from Spain

Nov 14, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by Hellpop65 from Kansas

Oct 27, 2014
Imperial Stout from Left Hand Brewing Company
Beer rating: 86 out of 100 with 524 ratings