The Grade Imperial Stout
Tarantula Hill Brewing Co.


- From:
- Tarantula Hill Brewing Co.
- California, United States
- Style:
- Russian Imperial Stout
- ABV:
- 9.5%
- Score:
- +4 ratings needed
- Avg:
- 4.11 | pDev: 6.57%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 4
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Jun 23, 2023
- Added:
- Dec 03, 2020
- Wants:
- 0
- Gots:
- 1
Imperial stout rested on vanilla beans, coffee beans + cacao nibs
Named after the massive hill on the 101 freeway that connects Thousand Oaks to Camarillo, The Grade is indeed a tall beer. The Grade’s base beer starts out as a traditional Russian Imperial Stout - then we add in lactose to the brew to give it a smoother / creamier mouthfeel.
Named after the massive hill on the 101 freeway that connects Thousand Oaks to Camarillo, The Grade is indeed a tall beer. The Grade’s base beer starts out as a traditional Russian Imperial Stout - then we add in lactose to the brew to give it a smoother / creamier mouthfeel.
Recent ratings and reviews.
Reviewed by LiquidAmber from Washington
4.25/5 rDev +3.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.25/5 rDev +3.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Poured into a Fremont small snifter. Pours a very dark mahogany brown, appearing opaque in the glass with a one finger khaki head with great retention and solid lacing. Aroma of dark toasted malt, cocoa, vanilla and light lactose. Flavor is dark toasted malt with light char, coffee, milk chocolate, vanilla; charry coffee finish with a light bitterness. Medium bodied with moderate creaminess. A full bodied stout described as a Russian imperial stout base with vanilla, cacao nibs and coffee added. It tastes exactly like that; the malt body is robust and maybe a hair light for the RIS style, it is roasty, full and well supports the adjunct flavors. All three are well balanced and do not dominate, but each is a clear note in the flavor. I was unaware of the coffee added and thought this might have had some hop bitterness, but no suspect that it is associated with the coffee; it is well revealed in the mocha finish. Very nicely done and flavorful. A great introduction to the brewery. I see this can is a few months old, but it is robust enough to have held up quite well; perhaps it has mellowed it a bit. Would like to try again.
May 09, 2023Reviewed by tradershmulie from Connecticut
4.36/5 rDev +6.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
4.36/5 rDev +6.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Absolutely gorgeous pour. Black color, beautiful thick brown head that stays around.
No noticeable aroma, was hoping for something more given the vanilla, coffee & cacao.
Very nice taste. Definitely get notes of vanilla.
Wonderful beer overall.
May 02, 2023No noticeable aroma, was hoping for something more given the vanilla, coffee & cacao.
Very nice taste. Definitely get notes of vanilla.
Wonderful beer overall.
Reviewed by DarkLordScott from Wisconsin
4.45/5 rDev +8.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.45/5 rDev +8.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Pours deep black with a one finger head. Aroma is chocolate with coffee notes detectable now and then. Taste is wonderfully balanced -- with profiles of roasted malt, chocolate and coffee, all separately. This is a delight to drink. Nicely carbonated -- one of the best coffee brews I've had.
Feb 24, 2023Reviewed by TMoney2591 from Illinois
3.82/5 rDev -7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
3.82/5 rDev -7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Served from the can in a Lagunitas mason jar.
I'm not so worried about the grade of a structure called Tarantula Hill so much as the fact that said hill may actually be made of literal tarantulas. Creepy. Anyway, this stuff pours a straight obsidian topped by a finger of sandstone foam. The nose comprises roasted malts, light sweet coffee, mild chocolate syrup, and a twinge of vanilla bean. The taste brings in more of the same, all of the elements combining into a healthy cooperative situation. The body is a hefty medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a relatively silky feel. Overall, a tasty, fairly drinkable impy stout, something I want more of around me at all times, kids. Get crackin'!
Jun 16, 2021I'm not so worried about the grade of a structure called Tarantula Hill so much as the fact that said hill may actually be made of literal tarantulas. Creepy. Anyway, this stuff pours a straight obsidian topped by a finger of sandstone foam. The nose comprises roasted malts, light sweet coffee, mild chocolate syrup, and a twinge of vanilla bean. The taste brings in more of the same, all of the elements combining into a healthy cooperative situation. The body is a hefty medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a relatively silky feel. Overall, a tasty, fairly drinkable impy stout, something I want more of around me at all times, kids. Get crackin'!
Rated by Captain69 from Illinois
3.74/5 rDev -9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.74/5 rDev -9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
creamy stout with strong malt flavors great to drink
Dec 03, 2020
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