Impending Descent
Tröegs Brewing Company

Impending DescentImpending Descent
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From:
Tröegs Brewing Company
 
Pennsylvania, United States
Style:
Russian Imperial Stout
Ranked #243
ABV:
9.8%
Score:
92
Ranked #4,659
Avg:
4.15 | pDev: 9.4%
Reviews:
37
Ratings:
194
Status:
Active
Rated:
Apr 29, 2023
Added:
Nov 20, 2014
Wants:
  13
Gots:
  42
This colossal, palate-numbing Imperial Stout is brewed with six different malt varieties to unleash a barrage of chocolate, vanilla, dark fruit and coffee on the tongue. Copious amounts of American hops impart a serious dose of grapefruit rind and pine resin, resulting in a labyrinth of complex flavors and aromas.

119 IBU
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by MikeWard:
Photo of MikeWard
Reviewed by MikeWard from Pennsylvania

3.92/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Growler picked up at the brewery this afternoon.

Initially a very lively pour. Jet black body, loose bubbly dark tan head. This dissipates to a ring and faint covering. Interesting lacing at the beginning.

Standard RIS aroma, molasses, dk fruit, a hint of soy.

On tasting, no soy, so that's a win. Licorice, bitter dark chocolate, roasty bitter hops, a little dark fruit, some molasses. For this palate, it's just a bit too bitter and aggressive. Some sweet for balance would have been nice.

Mouth full, finish bitter and roasty.

Overall, glad Troegs bought this one back, was an annoying gap in my Troegs beers. A little too bitter and roasty for me. Maybe Flying Mouflan next?
Nov 13, 2020
More User Ratings:
Photo of 57md
Reviewed by 57md from Pennsylvania

4.08/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Pours a dark brown color with ruby edges and over a finger of tan head. The nose has modest roast followed by a sweet note which is likely from the vanilla. The nose is pleasant but weak for a big 9+% stout.

The flavor profile has a bit more roast than the nose would indicate. Overall, this is a good, but not extraordinary effort from a great PA brewery.

This offering paired well with a home-made spicy pepper cheesesteak sandwich (and damn right, it's Philly style because there ain't no other kind of cheesesteak).
Apr 29, 2023
Photo of Bluerabbitbell
Reviewed by Bluerabbitbell from Pennsylvania

4.35/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Brought this one home after our visit to the brewery, 12/28/22.

Gorgeous opaque blackness with a thick, warm-brown colored head.

The aroma is raisin, currant, and a warming bourbon.

The flavors, as we taste them, are a rich woodsy tannin, vanilla, bitter lemon rind, licorice, and dark chocolate. It has a very drying of the mouth quality.
Dec 28, 2022
Photo of Braunmeister_1943
Reviewed by Braunmeister_1943 from Pennsylvania

4.45/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Bottle date is 2018. Pours a pitch black. Definite BA bourbon smell with a less forward cocoa smell. Rather thin watery mouthfeel. Taste is very heavy cocoa. There’s a lingering bourbon aftertaste. Not getting much vanilla in the smell or flavor. I definitely was expecting more from this offering considering the source.
Jul 02, 2022
 
Rated: 4.12 by Boone757 from Virginia

May 06, 2022
 
Rated: 3.76 by Icemann383 from New York

Apr 21, 2022
 
Rated: 4 by bvargajr from Colorado

Feb 13, 2022
Photo of SLeffler27
Reviewed by SLeffler27 from New York

3.92/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Very dark brown (SRM 29-32). A dark walnut head starts as one-half inch and rocky, falling to a fine, froth ring. Ample spotty lace is deposited on a Pretentious Beer Glass Company snifter.

The initial whiff is chocolate booze. This is similar, though far boozier, than Kahlua. The base is a pleasant, dark roast, with light, melted rubber. It is less layered with character than I had hoped to find.

Surprisingly, Rum is the first impression, followed by a strong, dark char of slightly burnt malt. Unfortunately, the rubber comes through, and it is lacking any Kahlua. Bakers' chocolate and day-old black coffee present high bitterness against light sweetness. The finish is long, with a burnt quality. Warmth reveals some pumpernickel rye.

The body is full with a scratchy wool texture. The alcohol is more present than expected, and almost hot, even though 10% is printed on the label. Carbonation is light and fine. The beer feels dry, even though residual sugar builds on the lips.

This Stout simultaneously met and confounded my expectations. It is a meal for the stomach and the brain. Disregarding the expectations and the alcohol, it definitely is worthy, and I enjoyed it during an early evening in the late Spring. I imagine it would be much better on a brisk Autumn evening around a campfire.
Dec 30, 2021
 
Rated: 4.25 by Peaches13 from Pennsylvania

Dec 21, 2021
 
Rated: 4.26 by PittBeerGirl from Ohio

Nov 13, 2021
Photo of Newbeergeek1
Reviewed by Newbeergeek1 from Maine

4.02/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Had this side by side at the brewery and went with the bbl aged. This is nice but the bbl aging is just nicer. That is not to say that this isn’t darned good as well
Oct 20, 2021
 
Rated: 3.5 by njbusa from New Jersey

Oct 19, 2021
 
Rated: 4.75 by kkazemi from North Carolina

Jul 30, 2021
Photo of BruChef
Reviewed by BruChef from New York

1.69/5  rDev -59.3%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 1 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1.5
Bottled 2018
Pours thin but almost black with dark brown hues. Light does not penetrate.
Smells faintly of bourbon and vanilla, burnt raisins, scorched chocolate, tannic red wine.
Taste is ashy, dirt/earthy, roast/acrid coffee, over steeped black tea, bakers chocolate. Slight bourbon and burnt caramel. Outer layer of a Charred marshmallow. VERY astringent. Way too much dark specialty grains.

Medium thin body.

This beer is one of the worst BBA’d impy stouts I’ve ever had. Especially considering the price. Four months is just not enough time for a beer like this to spend in barrels but even then I’m not sure longer would’ve helped anyway. It’s entirely too bitter and astringent and it’s overall almost undrinkable.
Jan 30, 2021
 
Rated: 4.1 by Taenim from Maine

Oct 17, 2020
 
Rated: 4 by 1971bernat from Virginia

Apr 06, 2020
Photo of stevoj
Reviewed by stevoj from Idaho

4.5/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
Small pour at Churhkey. Best beer of the trip so far. Dark, ruddy brown pour, scant beige head. Full, woody, boozy aroma. Taste brings in some chocolate and roast malts. Deceptively smooth and exceptionally tasty.
Feb 12, 2020
 
Rated: 4.54 by RichRubes610 from Pennsylvania

Jan 31, 2020
 
Rated: 4 by SiepJones from Pennsylvania

Jan 02, 2020
 
Rated: 4.25 by BuxMontBeerLover from Pennsylvania

Dec 28, 2019
Impending Descent from Tröegs Brewing Company
Beer rating: 92 out of 100 with 194 ratings