Big Eddy Russian Imperial Stout | Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company

3.27/5  rDev -14.2%
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.

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4.54/5  rDev +19.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 12 oz bottle,into a Funky Buddha snifter.

Creamy khaki colored head that stands 1 finger tall,with small to large bubbles.Good retention,and sticky lacing on the glass.Jet black in color with no light showing through the glass.Very light carbonation.

On the nose I get heavy dark fruit notes,prunes,cherries,and dates.I also get dark roasted malts,toffee,licorice,and roasted caramel.It has a very toasty,charred aroma to it.Very nice smell.As the beer starts to warm the nose starts to take on some nutty notes.

On the palate I get dark fruits and licorice up front.Caramel and toffee in the middle,and dark roasted malt,dark fruits,and smokey charred alcohol on the back end.The alcohol is not stong at all,actually very pleasant.The dark fruits and smokey charred liquor is pretty consistent throughout the sip.Just like the nose,the palate starts to take on some nutty characteristics as the beer warms.

The body is thick,bordering on medium and heavy,with a sticky mouth feel.Very light alcohol warming feel after the sip,but not overbearing at all.

I have to admit that I am a bit of a Russian Imperial Stout sycophant,so this rating may be a little by biased.I think this is a very nice RIS,not my favorite but also not my least favorite.I put this one right on par with Old Rasputin,maybe a little bit better.I would drink this again,and would recommend to fans of big beers,Imperial Stouts,and especially lovers of the RIS style.

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3.87/5  rDev +1.6%
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.

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4/5  rDev +5%

4/5  rDev +5%

4.25/5  rDev +11.5%

4/5  rDev +5%

4.35/5  rDev +14.2%
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.

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3.75/5  rDev -1.6%

4.25/5  rDev +11.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

3.9/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

4.22/5  rDev +10.8%
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.

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2.82/5  rDev -26%
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.

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3.8/5  rDev -0.3%
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.

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4.5/5  rDev +18.1%

4/5  rDev +5%

4.3/5  rDev +12.9%
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.

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4.58/5  rDev +20.2%
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!

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3.58/5  rDev -6%
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.

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3.42/5  rDev -10.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

4.25/5  rDev +11.5%

3.5/5  rDev -8.1%

3.58/5  rDev -6%
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.

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3.5/5  rDev -8.1%

4/5  rDev +5%