Big Eddy Russian Imperial Stout | Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company
Brewed by:
Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company
Wisconsin, United States | website
Style: Russian Imperial Stout
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 9.50%
Availability: Rotating
Notes / Commercial Description:
No notes at this time.
Added by jj21 on 10-27-2007
Reviews: 485 | Ratings: 1,274
Reviews by the Alström Bros:
More User Reviews:
3.87/5 rDev +0.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
My first of the "Big Eddy" line.Poures nearly jet black except for just one small ring of ruby at the bottom of the glass when held right up to the light,a half finger creamy mocha colored head atop.Dark fruit with a slight sour tinge in the nose,a roasted nut note wich comes along with alot of the beers of the same style is there as well,odd no roast playing a role.Like drinking a liquid raisin at the first couple sips,oddly the roast is subdued as well as the chocolate,it's all about dark fruit and alcohol.I like this beer but it's one sided in the dark fruit category,still this is top notch from this brewery.Actually this is not the the first "Big Eddy" beer I have tried.
★ 683 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
My first of the "Big Eddy" line.Poures nearly jet black except for just one small ring of ruby at the bottom of the glass when held right up to the light,a half finger creamy mocha colored head atop.Dark fruit with a slight sour tinge in the nose,a roasted nut note wich comes along with alot of the beers of the same style is there as well,odd no roast playing a role.Like drinking a liquid raisin at the first couple sips,oddly the roast is subdued as well as the chocolate,it's all about dark fruit and alcohol.I like this beer but it's one sided in the dark fruit category,still this is top notch from this brewery.Actually this is not the the first "Big Eddy" beer I have tried.
★ 683 characters
4.35/5 rDev +13.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Very excited to try this R.I.S. from Leinenkugel's! Bottle says 9.5% abv. Pours into my glass a viscous, dark tar black with a solid half inch of creamy dark tan head on top. No light getting through at all! Aromas begin with deep roasted malts. Dark chocolate, coffee and a slight smokiness. Dark fruits mixed in with some vanilla. There's some hops in there as well. A great aroma overall.
First sip brings big roasty malts with a rich chocolate upfront. Rolls into a hint of molasses and a wonderful dark fruity aspect. A touch of smokiness and coffee as it flows down. Bitterness on the finish with some hops as well. I enjoy the fruity, cherry aspect here. This is a robust, tasty brew.
Mouthfeel is dense and creamy, with a big body. It goes down smooth overall. A big, hearty brew that is great for a cold night. I've never been a huge fan of Leine's regular offerings, but this one just blew me away. I hope they keep up with the Big Eddy series as this is one helluva a good R.I.S. from a brewery I wouldn't have expected to brew something like this. Seek it out. Thanks to nchrist13.
★ 1,095 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Very excited to try this R.I.S. from Leinenkugel's! Bottle says 9.5% abv. Pours into my glass a viscous, dark tar black with a solid half inch of creamy dark tan head on top. No light getting through at all! Aromas begin with deep roasted malts. Dark chocolate, coffee and a slight smokiness. Dark fruits mixed in with some vanilla. There's some hops in there as well. A great aroma overall.
First sip brings big roasty malts with a rich chocolate upfront. Rolls into a hint of molasses and a wonderful dark fruity aspect. A touch of smokiness and coffee as it flows down. Bitterness on the finish with some hops as well. I enjoy the fruity, cherry aspect here. This is a robust, tasty brew.
Mouthfeel is dense and creamy, with a big body. It goes down smooth overall. A big, hearty brew that is great for a cold night. I've never been a huge fan of Leine's regular offerings, but this one just blew me away. I hope they keep up with the Big Eddy series as this is one helluva a good R.I.S. from a brewery I wouldn't have expected to brew something like this. Seek it out. Thanks to nchrist13.
★ 1,095 characters
4.22/5 rDev +9.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Presentation: It was poured from a brown 12 oz bottle into a tulip glass. 9.5% abv and a very brief description of the beer. Appearance: Very dark used motor oil like pour. Looks Black in the glass and has a small dark tan head. It fades out quickly leaving a light ring. Some lacing on the glass. Smell: It has a slightly lighter nose than I was expecting but still full of dark roasted maltiness and earthy hops. Taste/Palate: It is full of deep roasted maltiness caramel like sweetness and a touch of prune. The finish bring some hop bitterness and and mild dry earthy tones. Overall it remains fairly sweet.
★ 611 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Presentation: It was poured from a brown 12 oz bottle into a tulip glass. 9.5% abv and a very brief description of the beer. Appearance: Very dark used motor oil like pour. Looks Black in the glass and has a small dark tan head. It fades out quickly leaving a light ring. Some lacing on the glass. Smell: It has a slightly lighter nose than I was expecting but still full of dark roasted maltiness and earthy hops. Taste/Palate: It is full of deep roasted maltiness caramel like sweetness and a touch of prune. The finish bring some hop bitterness and and mild dry earthy tones. Overall it remains fairly sweet.
★ 611 characters
2.82/5 rDev -26.6%
look: 5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 2
A- Pours dark black. 2 finger dark tan head. when held up to a light there is sort of a cherry wood color around the edges of the glass. one of the prettiest beers I've seen.
S- chocolaty, malty and smokey. smells like soy sauce. both dark and light fruits (raisins and oranges maybe?). a touch of alcohol scent.
T- chocolate malts are the first taste I get, followed by smoke, soy sauce and fruit. finishes with alcohol and a tiny bit of hops. Flavors are not balanced, they conflict. To quote the guy at the beer store where I bought it "It tastes like someone poured about 1/3 of a bottle of sunset wheat into a decent imperial stout."
M- Pretty good. maybe a bit thin and too carbonated for me but I basically like drinking motor oil mixed with cement.
D- I've had beers higher than 9.5% ABV that were more drinkable. alcohol flavor is too pronounced and there is too much carbonation. Also if I want soy sauce I'll drink a bottle of soy sauce, not a beer.
★ 965 characters
look: 5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 2
A- Pours dark black. 2 finger dark tan head. when held up to a light there is sort of a cherry wood color around the edges of the glass. one of the prettiest beers I've seen.
S- chocolaty, malty and smokey. smells like soy sauce. both dark and light fruits (raisins and oranges maybe?). a touch of alcohol scent.
T- chocolate malts are the first taste I get, followed by smoke, soy sauce and fruit. finishes with alcohol and a tiny bit of hops. Flavors are not balanced, they conflict. To quote the guy at the beer store where I bought it "It tastes like someone poured about 1/3 of a bottle of sunset wheat into a decent imperial stout."
M- Pretty good. maybe a bit thin and too carbonated for me but I basically like drinking motor oil mixed with cement.
D- I've had beers higher than 9.5% ABV that were more drinkable. alcohol flavor is too pronounced and there is too much carbonation. Also if I want soy sauce I'll drink a bottle of soy sauce, not a beer.
★ 965 characters
3.8/5 rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured from bottle into Duvel tulip.
40 deg.
Appearance is standard RIS with slightly less carb and head.
Smells of rich malt caramel chocolate. Nice implications
"Taste" delivers initially, helped significantly by good mouthfeel. The carb lingers a bit long and pollutes the aftertaste, bringing out some slight booze and astringents.
★ 337 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured from bottle into Duvel tulip.
40 deg.
Appearance is standard RIS with slightly less carb and head.
Smells of rich malt caramel chocolate. Nice implications
"Taste" delivers initially, helped significantly by good mouthfeel. The carb lingers a bit long and pollutes the aftertaste, bringing out some slight booze and astringents.
★ 337 characters
4.3/5 rDev +12%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Appearance: black in color, minimal head, opaque, minimal carbonation
Smell: roasted malt, dark chocolate, and nut
Taste: dark chocolate, roasted malt, wood--maybe cedar, light caramel, and vanilla at the end
Mouthfeel: heavy bodied, low carbonation,chewy, sweet with roasty bitterness
Overall: Very complex. Sweeter than most and way too drinkable for the abv. Almost drinks like a good Valentine's day cordial. If you typically like Leinie's you will like this. If you do not, I suspect you will not enjoy this as much.
★ 525 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Appearance: black in color, minimal head, opaque, minimal carbonation
Smell: roasted malt, dark chocolate, and nut
Taste: dark chocolate, roasted malt, wood--maybe cedar, light caramel, and vanilla at the end
Mouthfeel: heavy bodied, low carbonation,chewy, sweet with roasty bitterness
Overall: Very complex. Sweeter than most and way too drinkable for the abv. Almost drinks like a good Valentine's day cordial. If you typically like Leinie's you will like this. If you do not, I suspect you will not enjoy this as much.
★ 525 characters
4.58/5 rDev +19.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
Pours pure black with probably the darkest colored head I've seen, brownish red almost. Head retention is amazing and has incredible lacing. Aroma has molasses, licorice, cherries, chocolate, and a little roastiness. Sweet malt and molasses greet my tongue first, yielding a cornucopia of sweet delicious flavors. Many of the things noted in the nose are also present in the taste, but just even more condensed and with some roastiness in the finish; it's so good! Mouthfeel is super thick, very full bodied with low carbonation; perfect for an imperial stout. Incredible beer, I really hope they continue to make this; Dark Lord, watch out!
★ 641 characters
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
Pours pure black with probably the darkest colored head I've seen, brownish red almost. Head retention is amazing and has incredible lacing. Aroma has molasses, licorice, cherries, chocolate, and a little roastiness. Sweet malt and molasses greet my tongue first, yielding a cornucopia of sweet delicious flavors. Many of the things noted in the nose are also present in the taste, but just even more condensed and with some roastiness in the finish; it's so good! Mouthfeel is super thick, very full bodied with low carbonation; perfect for an imperial stout. Incredible beer, I really hope they continue to make this; Dark Lord, watch out!
★ 641 characters
3.58/5 rDev -6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Thanks to djrn2 for sending me this bottle.
The beer pours a black color with a tan head. The aroma has a lot of dark fruit and heavily roasted malt notes, as well as a hint of soy sauce. The flavor is similar. I get a ton of heavily roasted malt and chocolate, as well as some dark fruit, raisins and soy. Medium to thick mouthfeel and low to medium carbonation.
★ 364 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Thanks to djrn2 for sending me this bottle.
The beer pours a black color with a tan head. The aroma has a lot of dark fruit and heavily roasted malt notes, as well as a hint of soy sauce. The flavor is similar. I get a ton of heavily roasted malt and chocolate, as well as some dark fruit, raisins and soy. Medium to thick mouthfeel and low to medium carbonation.
★ 364 characters
3.42/5 rDev -10.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.58/5 rDev -6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Thanks to tayner for this brew as part of SS 2008. Cheers.
Pours as black as my heart. Thin head. Smells very sweet for a RIS. I taste mostly sweet fruit without as much malt as I would expect from a RIS. Mouthfeel is good but this is too sweet for my preference. Interesting beer nonetheless.
★ 294 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Thanks to tayner for this brew as part of SS 2008. Cheers.
Pours as black as my heart. Thin head. Smells very sweet for a RIS. I taste mostly sweet fruit without as much malt as I would expect from a RIS. Mouthfeel is good but this is too sweet for my preference. Interesting beer nonetheless.
★ 294 characters
4.25/5 rDev +10.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
A: Pours bright coffee black under a 2” finely bubbled brown foam collar that grips the side of the glass.
S: Light roast, fruit, prune, dried fruit.
T: A creamy emulsion fills the palate with fruit, prune, dark dried fruit, and grain culminating in a bitter espresso finish.
F: Super creamy, chewy, medium carbonation.
O: A fruity sweetness throughout tempers the roast flavors.
★ 385 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
A: Pours bright coffee black under a 2” finely bubbled brown foam collar that grips the side of the glass.
S: Light roast, fruit, prune, dried fruit.
T: A creamy emulsion fills the palate with fruit, prune, dark dried fruit, and grain culminating in a bitter espresso finish.
F: Super creamy, chewy, medium carbonation.
O: A fruity sweetness throughout tempers the roast flavors.
★ 385 characters
Big Eddy Russian Imperial Stout from Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company
3.84
out of 5
based on 1,274 ratings.
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Beer review from BA Mag Dec 2007.
Even large regional brewers have been swayed to brew limited-edition big beers as they see the popularity grow and the consumers calling for more flavor. This offering is brewed with 11 malts and grains and three different hops.
The pitch-black liquid pours out a little thick and viscous as the modest carbonation struggles to break from the solution. Decent head retention as the tan lace does stick to the glass here and there. Sweet aroma of dark berries, chocolate and molasses with a hint of acrid burnt malt in the back. Syrupy full body with a slick creamy mouthfeel, light carbonation. Starts off with a bite of burnt malt that makes way for the sweetness, which is substantial but not cloying. Suggestions of dark chocolate, blackberries--blackstrap molasses comes to mind. Hops are hard to find with the massive malt backbone though a quick kiss of herbal flavor hits in the middle. Sweet in the end with a long linger of charred malt flavor.
A good stab at the Russian Imperial Stout style, it's worth a try to compare against the many craft brewers that are coming close to mastering this style. A good 6 months to a year of cellaring may do this beer some good as it seemed a bit green around the edges with all of the sweetness.
★ 1,280 characters