Big Eddy
Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company

Big EddyBig Eddy
Beer Geek Stats | Print Shelf Talker
From:
Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company
 
Wisconsin, United States
Style:
Russian Imperial Stout
ABV:
9.5%
Score:
86
Avg:
3.81 | pDev: 12.86%
Reviews:
492
Ratings:
1,297
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Jan 10, 2022
Added:
Oct 27, 2007
Wants:
  55
Gots:
  178
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Photo of wisrarebeer
Reviewed by wisrarebeer from Wisconsin

3.68/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
No date on bottle. More than likely one of the first bottlings due to my obsession of large breweries venturing into some amazing territory.
Opened with some hiss but poured with an every-so-thin veil. Jet black. Very mild nose with heavy burnt coffee and some oxidation. Taste is strong deep roasted/burnt malt with good bitter finish. Mouthfeel is lacquerish. Decent but not great. Glad to see Leinies doing something crazy.
Jan 10, 2022
 
Rated: 3.79 by psweendogg from Connecticut

Apr 05, 2020
 
Rated: 3.93 by dafla67 from Pennsylvania

May 01, 2019
Photo of MercInc
Rated by MercInc from Wisconsin

3.7/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Too bad this one is retired. A nice stout. Well balanced, Good flavor.
Jan 09, 2019
 
Rated: 3.96 by DVMin98 from North Carolina

Nov 04, 2018
Photo of Bouleboubier
Reviewed by Bouleboubier from New Jersey

4.08/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
(2016 bottle, recently purchased... poured into a snifter)

L: dark brown liquid, nearly black; crumbling dark tan foam, thins out to a collar rapidly... down to last drop out of the bottle, seems relatively clear, no sediment... doesn't lace, but the thin collar does hold throughout

S: baking cocoa, dark caramel, subtle dark fruit (raisin), molasses cookie, hints of medium-roast coffee... soft booze... malt constitution seems dense... very inviting overall

T: dark chocolate cordial; arguable black licorice undertone with a big pop of it in the finish; aftertaste has lingering bitter roast char, notes of dark caramel clinging to the sides of the palate... soft coffee gradually builds coupled with a mildly spicy alcohol hum, and a background leathery tone ... dense soup of roasty, toasty (American) malts, relatively balanced with restrained sweetness in check...

F: medium, edging toward full bodied with a lumbering, mildly milky malt texture, lacking roundness of definition to its viscosity... warm booze presence is felt just up front in palate, does not travel down into the thorax; rather comforting heat

O: bought a single out of a full 4-pack, off slightly cooler than room temp shelf - held up pretty well... I'll have to recheck the price, because if cheap enough, I could see buying more - satisfied my malt madness rather well
Jun 16, 2018
 
Rated: 4 by Tripel_Threat from Michigan

Mar 11, 2018
 
Rated: 4 by 1971bernat from Virginia

Jan 01, 2018
 
Rated: 4.28 by Buck_Jones from Michigan

Jan 01, 2018
Photo of Msp004
Reviewed by Msp004 from New York

4.49/5  rDev +17.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
3.5 years old from purchase date. Dark black color. Three finger head that disappears rather quickly. Sweet chocolate and coffee nose. Sweet dark chocolate, coffee and caramel mouth. Very decadent stout. A treat for sure. Great job now bring it back!!!!
Dec 25, 2017
 
Rated: 4.25 by tvenne from Minnesota

Dec 10, 2017
Photo of Larodz
Rated by Larodz from Texas

4.88/5  rDev +28.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 5
BRING IT BACK!!!!!
Nov 25, 2017
Photo of Libeertarian
Reviewed by Libeertarian from Montana

4.47/5  rDev +17.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
From notes taken 05/13/17:

Brewed in 2015, so probably almost exactly two years worth of aging.

Opaque pitch black, no light coming through anywhere. Darkest brown head I have ever seen or close to it, but still has some orange, “muddy” hues. Tall, retains well, dense, extra fine-bubbled, three layers: thin and lighter-colored, then an inch of darker, then thin and light again. Frosty lacing. Roastiness and dark chocolate aromas, slightest suggestion of dark fruit. Palate is extremely roasty and smoky for the style, and like the aged Doppelschwarz from the same series that I just had (albeit a year older in the aging process), tastes more like a Grätzer or Rauchbier than the style intended, but that is far from a complaint. There’s a dark chocolate to dark fruit suggestion in the background but the balance favors burnt and blackened organic material, with soily, leathery, and spicy hops and a walloping amount of booze closer to the finish. Extremely bitter aftertaste, as much smoke as hops. Full-bodied, smooth, tingly velvety carbonation, with heat, an unexpected acidity, and some astringency.
Oct 25, 2017
 
Rated: 3.84 by MacStinson from Michigan

Oct 18, 2017
 
Rated: 3.75 by BEER88 from North Carolina

Aug 27, 2017
 
Rated: 3.83 by cyber_phoenix from Pennsylvania

Aug 21, 2017
 
Rated: 3.32 by mltobin from Connecticut

Jul 01, 2017
Photo of Blackop555
Reviewed by Blackop555 from Michigan

3.9/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours black. Thick, short, brown head fades fast.

Smells roast malt, dark fruit, light chocolate and hints of alcohol.

Tastes roast malt, light chocolate, light dark fruit. Followed by earthy bitterness and light alcohol. Finish is dry with a roasty linger. Full body and creamy medium carbonation.
Jun 18, 2017
 
Rated: 4.07 by Gemini6 from Michigan

May 12, 2017
Photo of DraconusDesanctus666
Reviewed by DraconusDesanctus666 from Florida

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.
Feb 15, 2017
Big Eddy from Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company
Beer rating: 86 out of 100 with 1297 ratings