Cold Nikita
Whole Hog Beer

Cold NikitaCold Nikita
Beer Geek Stats | Print Shelf Talker
From:
Whole Hog Beer
 
Wisconsin, United States
Style:
Russian Imperial Stout
ABV:
8.7%
Score:
79
Avg:
3.47 | pDev: 14.12%
Reviews:
79
Ratings:
173
Status:
Active
Rated:
Mar 01, 2020
Added:
Feb 19, 2010
Wants:
  1
Gots:
  22
No description / notes.
View: More Beers
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Photo of defunksta
Reviewed by defunksta from Wisconsin

3.69/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 2.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.25
Appearance: Pours a nearly jet black color with nearly no head. So small, can barely tell that it's medium-tan head, but it's nonexistent. (2.75)

Aroma: Rich authentic chocolate flavors. Chocolate and cream. Can tell the chocolate flavor is form overseas (not in The States). Airy. A strong sweet dark fruit aroma too. (3.75)

Flavor: Strong, robust flavors of rich, toasted cocoa, toasted and charred syrup. More charred syrup and overcooked waffle. Very toasty, but not roasty. Definite chocolate presence at first that turns into the charred syrup and cooked waffle. No milk from the nose. It does have a slight roast, which is why it's a RIS, but no bitterness to follow. Finishes sweet chocolate chip waffle charred in the pan a bit too long and then drizzled in syrup. (4.00)

Feel: Heavy-bodied. Low carbonation, yet full and smooth. Nice and creamy smooth actually. Surprisingly so. Also, hides the alcohol well. (3.75)

Compared to Great Lakes Satin Solitude 2/26/21: Pours a similar color with a slightly darker head. More bittersweet chocolate, charred syrup, and licorice aromas/flavors. Less milk chocolate, chocolate milk, and cream. A darker, and less airy roast.

Overall: I have to agree and disagree with other reviewers of this beer. I agree that it is nowhere even close to the level of Old Rapsutin. Doesn't even touch the front door. Completely different beer. It's roasty sweet, but not bitter. You could even say it completely misses the style. However, it has a very pleasant malty flavors of authentic, EXPORT BITTERSWEET CHOCOLATE with CHARRED SYRUP covered WAFFLE. Not to style, but the syrupy, charred, chocolate chip waffle flavor is pretty good. The rating takes a hit due to missing the style, but the beer drinks quite good. (Final Rating: 3.69+)
*Would compare next to Dirty Bastard*
Mar 01, 2020
Photo of hoptheology
Reviewed by hoptheology from California

3.81/5  rDev +9.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
12 oz bottle purchased in Huntsville AL.

Pours a brownish tint and forms to a dark brown-near black in the snowman chalice. Head is fleeting, starts at 1/2 finger but dissipates to a very thin moss on the top.

I smell sweet chocolate cherry cordials, some chocolate-covered dark berries, and slight tobacco. At first I didn't care for the aroma but I dug deep and found these descriptors. Not bad.

Flavor is roasty to start, and then it develops a nice sugary pie sweetness featuring dark berries and dark cherries. Some caramel is featured as well. The finish is of warm vanilla and very very slight suggestions of espresso bean a la Cuppa. Some lingering roasted bitterness remains as well. You have to search for the music in this one, but it's there.

Feel is where it falls short, it has a wonderful slickness but it is nothing like Old Rasputin or Expedition or the like. It drinks more like a slightly heavier coffee stout. The carbonation is dialed in correctly here, and the slickness helps it along. It's not abysmal, but I can see it missing markers here.

Overall, if you're expecting a heavy Russian punch to the throat, you'll be left wanting. It's not a thick heavy stout, not like you'd expect. It is enjoyable however. That berry vanilla sweetness draws me in after each sip. Not sure I'd pick it up again, but this was a nice beer for today.
Feb 13, 2020
Photo of Act25
Reviewed by Act25 from New Jersey

3.29/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
2d disappointing beer from Whole Hog.
a) Fine color but short lived head, thin pour, few dots of lace.
s) I look forward to RIS aromas, but they're too faint here.
t) Mostly chocolate, and lots of licorice, but not much roast, char, wood, or hop. Mono dimensional
f) Thin for RIS.
o) There are so many outstanding RIS this pales.
Dec 22, 2019
Photo of hof_1991
Rated by hof_1991 from Wisconsin

4.43/5  rDev +27.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Not alcohol forward for 8.7%. Malty smooth with a little bite.
Jun 29, 2019
Photo of HoppingMadMonk
Reviewed by HoppingMadMonk from New Jersey

3.58/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Medium light carbonation, slightly thick body with a bit of a creamy feel
Aroma is roasted malt,licorice, earthy,coffee,roasted coffee beans
Taste follows the aroma, licorice earthy taste dominates. Overall it's not bad and worth a try.
Apr 02, 2019
 
Rated: 3.24 by cd34 from Illinois

May 17, 2018
 
Rated: 3.4 by Phoodcritic from Michigan

Dec 02, 2017
Photo of HopsAreDaMan
Reviewed by HopsAreDaMan from Missouri

3.93/5  rDev +13.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
As one review posted, I remember getting some "licorice in the aftertaste".

This beer is is clearly NOT an imperial stout. Yet, having said that, if I think of it more as a heavy-bodied milk stout, then it is very enjoyable while I am drinking it.
Sep 06, 2017
Photo of Bouleboubier
Reviewed by Bouleboubier from New Jersey

3.56/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
(12 oz bottle, poured into a Chouffe tulip)

L: very dark brown liquid with only a short, loose, brief pad of tan foam forming atop... the collar ends up being almost transparently thin - no lacing

S: smells more like a porter(?!) or at least portrays character of a UK/Eire import - dark-colored malts, nutty, woody, touch of coffee - no overt chocolaty or roasted barley tones, no potent boozy notes... perhaps a faint hint of black licorice

T: very very malty, layered crystal malts sporting med-dark caramel and hints of raisin/prune and licorice in the aftertaste... lovely dark malty flavors, but it seems to beg slightly for more of an alcohol presence - the malt is dense and tightly-wound, but the taste overall shows a deficit in counterpoint from this lack of bite in booze and in bitterness

F: goddamn twist off... this is seriously lacking some bubbles - thickly dull and lazily oily across the palate, owing to the low carbonation and the absence of ethanol sting and/or biting bitterness... betrays moreishness

O: actually a rather tasty brew, that is if you envision this as an imperial stout (mistakenly) brewed like a Scotch ale... but as a stout (and imperial one as it were), it feels like an unfinished realization of the intended end product
Aug 02, 2017
 
Rated: 3.5 by Sweffin from Wisconsin

Jul 15, 2017
Photo of vette2006c5r
Reviewed by vette2006c5r from Minnesota

3.78/5  rDev +8.9%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Russian Imperial Stout pours a black color with a small, barley lacing tan head. Nice rich and sharp black licorice aroma. Taste has a nice sharp flavor, smokey malts, with good hints of black licorice. Good body and feel. Overall, a little more licorice flavors, but a nice beer.
Jun 30, 2017
 
Rated: 3.5 by SSGCujo from Wisconsin

Apr 24, 2017
 
Rated: 3.38 by Soneast from Wisconsin

Mar 18, 2017
Photo of zeff80
Reviewed by zeff80 from Missouri

3.53/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Looks good. Jet-black with a small, tan head of foam. It smelled faintly of chocolate, roasted malt and toffee. It tasted a little too sweet for the style. Milk chocolate instead of dark chocolate.
Mar 06, 2017
 
Rated: 3.29 by kylehay2004 from Illinois

Jul 31, 2016
 
Rated: 4.25 by Furley80 from Pennsylvania

Jun 19, 2016
 
Rated: 3.06 by bigpoppa67 from Wisconsin

May 30, 2016
 
Rated: 3.75 by CaptDavyJones from New York

Apr 24, 2016
 
Rated: 3.62 by Gkruszewski from New York

Jan 06, 2016
Photo of garymuchow
Reviewed by garymuchow from Minnesota

3.44/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3.5
This isn't a great beer, but it also isn't a terrible one either. Looks good, except upon pouring it is clear that this isn't rich heavy beer. Pours as thin as it then feels - all 8.6% of it.
The aroma is thin too and resembles style with a mild hoppy character with a mild roast, some sweetness with a fruit quality.
The taste resembles what is should be with a decent roast character, some mild dark fruit and a blended hop taste. Seems like some licorice in there too.
The thinness and size take away. This if more of a RIS light, which maybe there is a time and place. Who knows.
Thanks John.
Oct 16, 2015
Cold Nikita from Whole Hog Beer
Beer rating: 79 out of 100 with 173 ratings