-
Stop lurking! Log in to search, post in our forums, review beers, see fewer ads, and more. — Todd, Founder of BeerAdvocate
Impending Descent - Bourbon Barrel-Aged
Tröegs Brewing Company
- From:
- Tröegs Brewing Company
- Pennsylvania, United States
- Style:
- Russian Imperial Stout
Ranked #226 - ABV:
- 12%
- Score:
- 92
Ranked #4,551 - Avg:
- 4.16 | pDev: 11.06%
- Reviews:
- 45
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Dec 31, 2022
- Added:
- Nov 25, 2016
- Wants:
- 6
- Gots:
- 22
One day, we got the urge to one-up our already colossal Imperial Stout, and we’re glad we did. A year in bourbon barrels has smoothed the sharp edges of Impending Descent, and armfuls of chocolate, vanilla and raw cane sugar make it a meal. A warm, velvety, intense meal. If you have the patience, you could tuck a few away in your cellar, but we think it’s ready for your glass.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by bros:
None found.
Reviewed by GuyFawkes from Illinois
2.83/5 rDev -32%
look: 3.75 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3
2.83/5 rDev -32%
look: 3.75 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3
Undated bottle; drank 12/25/22 @ Pokemon Communion.
Black/brown appearance.
A rough pour yielded a minimal tan head; minimal lace.
Bourbon, bubblegum & body odor notes in the nose. Wow, this was offensive to my nostrils.
Medium mouthfeel.
Bubblegum, bourbon & faint dark chocolate flavors.
This smelled awful & tasted pretty bad; yikes!
Dec 31, 2022Black/brown appearance.
A rough pour yielded a minimal tan head; minimal lace.
Bourbon, bubblegum & body odor notes in the nose. Wow, this was offensive to my nostrils.
Medium mouthfeel.
Bubblegum, bourbon & faint dark chocolate flavors.
This smelled awful & tasted pretty bad; yikes!
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by jlindros from Massachusetts
4.21/5 rDev +1.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.21/5 rDev +1.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Pours a foamy fizzy 1 finger brown head with good retention, great sticky lacing, pitch black color
Nose brings a lot, spicy hops and a lot of them, vanilla, burnt brown sugar, cooked raisin, a bit of a rum like character and mild sweet bourbon, dark chocolate, rich vanilla
Taste brings more of everything, fair spicy hops, with med bitterness, dark chocolate, cocoa, rich vanilla and spice, more of that burnt sugar and caramelized roasted brown sugar thing, into sweet rum and bourbon blend, some cooked raisins and fig, a bit of alcohol, cocoa powder, sticky sweet finish
Mouth is fuller bod, rich a bit chewy, med to lighter carb, a bit of warming alcohol
Overall not bad, I was worried the spicy hops would dominate but they blended well with the barrel aging, sugar added interesting flavors that blended with the bourbon and vanilla and fruit to add an interesting rum like character, but all in all a decent beer
Feb 07, 2022Nose brings a lot, spicy hops and a lot of them, vanilla, burnt brown sugar, cooked raisin, a bit of a rum like character and mild sweet bourbon, dark chocolate, rich vanilla
Taste brings more of everything, fair spicy hops, with med bitterness, dark chocolate, cocoa, rich vanilla and spice, more of that burnt sugar and caramelized roasted brown sugar thing, into sweet rum and bourbon blend, some cooked raisins and fig, a bit of alcohol, cocoa powder, sticky sweet finish
Mouth is fuller bod, rich a bit chewy, med to lighter carb, a bit of warming alcohol
Overall not bad, I was worried the spicy hops would dominate but they blended well with the barrel aging, sugar added interesting flavors that blended with the bourbon and vanilla and fruit to add an interesting rum like character, but all in all a decent beer
Reviewed by Newbeergeek1 from Maine
4.36/5 rDev +4.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.36/5 rDev +4.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Rey very nice. Don’t get a little bitter after taste like the regular impending Descent gives me. I had some at the brewery nd then bought 4 bottles of it to go. Already a year old and it will be fun to age a couple for another year.
Oct 20, 2021Reviewed by CHickman from New York
4.28/5 rDev +2.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
4.28/5 rDev +2.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Bottle from the brewery, it pours opaque black with a solid 2 finger thick brown foamy head that faded slowly and left excellent foamy lacing coating the glass, with rings as it went down. The nose reminds me of BCBS at the onset, with rich malt, roasted grains, vanilla and dark chocolate to start. Then it shifts to smoked malts, charred oak, metallic notes, faint piney or herbal notes, burnt coffee grinds, coffee beans, cocoa powder and more dark chocolate. No sign of the alcohol in the nose, this smells like a well aged RIS that sat just long enough in bourbon barrels.
Tastes very much like it smells with cocoa, dark chocolate, piney hops, smoked malts, charred oak, metallic notes, burnt coffee grinds, coffee beans, faint vanilla, roasted grains, spruce tips or earthy notes and then more dark chocolate followed by some dark fruit, black licorice and/or Sambuca. It's very complex yet has no alcohol burn and completely hides the ABV in each sip. The body is thick but the feel is creamy, allowing this to slide down effortlessly. This is a solid, quality stout that I would seek out again.
Jun 26, 2021Tastes very much like it smells with cocoa, dark chocolate, piney hops, smoked malts, charred oak, metallic notes, burnt coffee grinds, coffee beans, faint vanilla, roasted grains, spruce tips or earthy notes and then more dark chocolate followed by some dark fruit, black licorice and/or Sambuca. It's very complex yet has no alcohol burn and completely hides the ABV in each sip. The body is thick but the feel is creamy, allowing this to slide down effortlessly. This is a solid, quality stout that I would seek out again.
Reviewed by VABA from Virginia
4.25/5 rDev +2.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.25/5 rDev +2.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Pours a nice solid jet black color with a slight head and lacing
Aroma has Bourbon, cocoa and vanilla hints
The taste follows the nose with a well balanced Bourbon, cocoa and vanilla flavor
A medium bodied decently carbonated beer
A very well done Bourbon stout
Dec 29, 2020Aroma has Bourbon, cocoa and vanilla hints
The taste follows the nose with a well balanced Bourbon, cocoa and vanilla flavor
A medium bodied decently carbonated beer
A very well done Bourbon stout
Reviewed by Smakawhat from Maryland
4.4/5 rDev +5.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.4/5 rDev +5.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Poured from the bottle into a teku glass.
Nearly a sound out of the bottle from the pour into the glass, as a slow forming dark walnut nearly black body. Negligeable head but fairly dark collar, not just a tan but a more darker brown forms, and always keeps a real nice soft collar.
Good nose on the brew. Aroma seems to bend to classic barrel aging, nice oaky aroma touching some dark chocolate, a hint of whiskey like booze, but there's a much nicer fruity component going on here, more like a sense of strawberry and cherry. Fainting char, and a bit of bitterness also, quite different than most bourbon barrel aged brews.
This is a really enjoyable palate. Mid palate hits at first with real dark chocolate notes, but more of a dry cocoa quality. Powder like bitterness matching with a bit of silky tones of vanilla, but some rough edged char and ash. Finish is real nice, soft bitterness almost earthy to pine like, with more of that powder like cocoa blasting out of your mouth. A nice simple oak rounded mouthfeel compliments and adds more depth.
Very different than most barrel aged stouts, somehow the fruity character doesn't seem to come through from the nose, but there's this great powder dryness and bitterness of dark chocolate that is very unique. Going to be remembering this one next year I hope.
Dec 14, 2020Nearly a sound out of the bottle from the pour into the glass, as a slow forming dark walnut nearly black body. Negligeable head but fairly dark collar, not just a tan but a more darker brown forms, and always keeps a real nice soft collar.
Good nose on the brew. Aroma seems to bend to classic barrel aging, nice oaky aroma touching some dark chocolate, a hint of whiskey like booze, but there's a much nicer fruity component going on here, more like a sense of strawberry and cherry. Fainting char, and a bit of bitterness also, quite different than most bourbon barrel aged brews.
This is a really enjoyable palate. Mid palate hits at first with real dark chocolate notes, but more of a dry cocoa quality. Powder like bitterness matching with a bit of silky tones of vanilla, but some rough edged char and ash. Finish is real nice, soft bitterness almost earthy to pine like, with more of that powder like cocoa blasting out of your mouth. A nice simple oak rounded mouthfeel compliments and adds more depth.
Very different than most barrel aged stouts, somehow the fruity character doesn't seem to come through from the nose, but there's this great powder dryness and bitterness of dark chocolate that is very unique. Going to be remembering this one next year I hope.
Reviewed by Peach63 from New York
3.76/5 rDev -9.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
3.76/5 rDev -9.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Pours deep brown with a 1/4 inch tan head, which dissipates. Minimal lacing.
Aroma of roast malts, coffee, oak, bourbon, toffee, molasses, vanilla.
Taste is a bit astringent. Coffee, roast malts, oak, bourbon.
Full bodied, light carbonation. Dry, astringent aftertaste.
A bit astringent for my taste but a decent stout none-the-less.
Jun 28, 2020Aroma of roast malts, coffee, oak, bourbon, toffee, molasses, vanilla.
Taste is a bit astringent. Coffee, roast malts, oak, bourbon.
Full bodied, light carbonation. Dry, astringent aftertaste.
A bit astringent for my taste but a decent stout none-the-less.
Reviewed by ryan1788a5 from Massachusetts
4.34/5 rDev +4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.34/5 rDev +4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
12.7oz bottle poured into a snifter. Vintage 2017.
Black pour, short-lived head, minimal lacing. Nose is fudge, dark berry, wood and bourbon. Taste is fudge, tootsie rolls, bourbon ball candy, caramel, plum, blackberries dipped in dark chocolate, peppery bourbon and wood. Hefty body, fat mouthfeel with a chewy and creamy texture. Slight warmth.
This beer is not getting the attention it should, because it is a fantastic bourbon barrel aged imperial stout, and an instant-classic sort of beer. Awesome.
Nov 08, 2019Black pour, short-lived head, minimal lacing. Nose is fudge, dark berry, wood and bourbon. Taste is fudge, tootsie rolls, bourbon ball candy, caramel, plum, blackberries dipped in dark chocolate, peppery bourbon and wood. Hefty body, fat mouthfeel with a chewy and creamy texture. Slight warmth.
This beer is not getting the attention it should, because it is a fantastic bourbon barrel aged imperial stout, and an instant-classic sort of beer. Awesome.
Reviewed by good_to_sea from Pennsylvania
4.28/5 rDev +2.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
4.28/5 rDev +2.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Look: Thick, ink black with a persistent chocolate-brown head.
Smell: Smoky dark malt, chocolate, vanilla, bourbon, tobacco, caramel, licorice, soy sauce.
Taste: Bourbon and chocolate. Vanilla. Smoky licorice. Hint of soy sauce. Boozy, bitter red wine/bourbon aftertaste.
Feel: Milkshake-thick, velvety, foamy.
Overall: Complex and interesting -- worth checking out. Tastes better as it warms up. Definitely a beer to sip on slowly.
Bottled on 2017, drank in 2019.
Oct 20, 2019Smell: Smoky dark malt, chocolate, vanilla, bourbon, tobacco, caramel, licorice, soy sauce.
Taste: Bourbon and chocolate. Vanilla. Smoky licorice. Hint of soy sauce. Boozy, bitter red wine/bourbon aftertaste.
Feel: Milkshake-thick, velvety, foamy.
Overall: Complex and interesting -- worth checking out. Tastes better as it warms up. Definitely a beer to sip on slowly.
Bottled on 2017, drank in 2019.
Reviewed by WunderLlama from Massachusetts
3.9/5 rDev -6.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.9/5 rDev -6.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Caged and corked bottle poured into a snifter
Dark brown liquid, thin brown layer of creamy foam, quickly recedes to islands of foam
Aroma of roast malts, tobacco, bourbon, peppery spiciness, dark cocoa
Taste is roasted malts, ash, hint of dark cocoa
Bitterness lingers on the tongue
Aug 11, 2019Dark brown liquid, thin brown layer of creamy foam, quickly recedes to islands of foam
Aroma of roast malts, tobacco, bourbon, peppery spiciness, dark cocoa
Taste is roasted malts, ash, hint of dark cocoa
Bitterness lingers on the tongue
Impending Descent - Bourbon Barrel-Aged from Tröegs Brewing Company
Beer rating:
92 out of
100 with
130 ratings
We love reviews (150 characters or more)! Check out: How to Review a Beer. You don't need to get fancy. Drop some thoughts on the beer's attributes (look, smell, taste, feel) plus your overall impression. Something that backs up your rating and helps others. Thanks!