Big Swede
Valkyrie Brewing

Big SwedeBig Swede
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From:
Valkyrie Brewing
 
Wisconsin, United States
Style:
Russian Imperial Stout
ABV:
8.5%
Score:
87
Avg:
3.85 | pDev: 10.65%
Reviews:
91
Ratings:
115
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Jun 30, 2020
Added:
May 13, 2002
Wants:
  19
Gots:
  4
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Photo of scaliasux
Reviewed by scaliasux from Wisconsin

3.59/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
L - Very dark brown. Quite thin, tan head.

S - Rich and malty. Coffee, toffee, dark fruit.

T - Rich roasted malt flavors. Sweet. Coffee, vanilla, chocolate, toffee.

F - Full.

O - A sweet malty slow-sipper.
Jun 30, 2020
Photo of Victory_Sabre1973
Reviewed by Victory_Sabre1973 from Minnesota

4.07/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours pitch black with a minimal, off white head. What little is there has great retention and there's some lacing on the glass.
The nose has some hints of chocolate, and a slight boozy aroma. Nothing too strong.
Taste - Starts out mellow, then the flavors kick in. Some vanilla, and chocolate. Nice boozy finish, but not harsh.
Decent body, maybe a bit thin for the style, but not bad at all.
A solid RIS and I'm glad I picked up a couple when I was there last.
Sep 14, 2018
 
Rated: 3.78 by Angerhaus from Rhode Island

Feb 02, 2016
Photo of Cfred371
Reviewed by Cfred371 from Minnesota

4.39/5  rDev +14%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
I let the beer sit and warm for 10-15 minutes.
Look: the beer pours black, with a very slight tan head. There is little to no carbonation it appears.

Smell: I get raisins, vanilla, brown sugar.

Taste: Chocolate, vanilla and brown sugar come through strong, and dark fruits rise mid palate.

Feel: the beer seems a little light in body for a stout, certainly syrupy, but not as thick as I prefer. There is a light hop bitterness on the finish as well, leaving the mouth watering for more.

Overall: This beer is a nice surprise, and I'm happy that a town near my hometown has such good offerings.
Dec 24, 2015
 
Rated: 3.43 by 22Blue from Kansas

Nov 20, 2015
 
Rated: 3.5 by harpus from Alabama

Aug 25, 2015
 
Rated: 3.45 by gregy55902 from Minnesota

Aug 03, 2015
 
Rated: 4 by donnie_vendetta from Wisconsin

Apr 18, 2015
 
Rated: 3.77 by tommy5 from Michigan

Mar 20, 2015
Photo of charliedrama
Rated by charliedrama

3.33/5  rDev -13.5%
look: 4 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
An aggressive pour gives a 1 finger head. Heavy alcohol taste.
Mar 01, 2015
Photo of egrace84
Rated by egrace84 from Illinois

2.83/5  rDev -26.5%
look: 2.75 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Was looking forward to this, but was hugely let down. A strange plastic note on the taste.
Feb 02, 2015
Photo of Duff27
Rated by Duff27 from Illinois

2.8/5  rDev -27.3%
look: 2.75 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 2.75
Nothing about this beer was appealing.
Feb 02, 2015
 
Rated: 4 by npendres from Wisconsin

Nov 10, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by einman from Minnesota

Nov 09, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by derkfromwi from Wisconsin

Oct 18, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by s_wit from Wisconsin

Sep 24, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by cl3 from Wisconsin

Sep 16, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by mychalg9 from Illinois

Jul 14, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by JasonSullivan from Wisconsin

Apr 05, 2014
Photo of martyl1000
Reviewed by martyl1000 from Wisconsin

4.05/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Even a fairly aggressive pour into a tulip glass produces almost no head, w/ a solvent alcohol refracting on the glass. The aroma is subtly rich. I get burnt coffee, a woody alcohol, plus a bit of leather and paint from a can.

Flavor in the mouth is remarkably reminiscent of Bell's Expedition Stout, but without the complexity. What layers exist are limited to bitter coffee grounds and tannic red-wine tartness. The flavor screams Bell's Expedition Stout, while lacking that beer's hugeness. There's an umami flavor on the back end not unlike cold ham.

Medium-bodied, slick-viscous mouthfeel.

Not my favorite double stout, but at $6.50 a four-pack, will definitely be drinking this again.
Mar 30, 2014
Big Swede from Valkyrie Brewing
Beer rating: 87 out of 100 with 115 ratings