NON-barrel-aged RIS's

+1 for BORIS and Siberian Night

 

So, here's the deal with that. I run two lists of stouts--standard RISs and American Imperials. Storm King falls under the latter for me, so I excluded it from this particular list. My reason for doing that has more to do with the fact that Storm King, being as hopped as it is, isn't quite a conventional RIS in my book. Ditto for Sweetwater Happy Ending. The same rationale applies to beers such as Boulevard Dark Truth, whose yeast profile also makes it a bit different, too.

BA lists two types of "big" stouts: Russian Imperial Stouts and American Imperial Stouts. And while it is true that it is hard to know where one style ends and another begins, I tend to define the latter as stouts that differ from the norm by virtue of a strong hop profile (Storm King, Happy Ending), unconventional yeast (Dark Truth), or some other treatment such as smoking the malts (Clown Shoes Vampire Slayer). And that's before we get into the subject of adjuncts, which deserve a category all their own, IMO.

So, I agree. But I do think some distinctions are useful, and these will differ from person to person.

 

I think you'll really like Speedway, when you try it. It's pricey, but top-notch, in the non-barrel-aged category. I also second (or third or fourth) all those who have said Old Rasputin, Narwhal, and Storm King. Also, Dark Truth I liked very much. Some of these will be a little easier to get than others, based on your market, and the time of year. Being in the Northwest, I don't have ready access to some of the standard-bearers from the Midwest and the East, but you should be able to get these (or most of them) without too much difficulty. Like you, I love the Stone IRS (maybe it's been my favorite), and WWS was nice (though so pricey and alcoholic I'd hardly get it often).

Also like you, I tend to prefer my Imperial Stouts (whether Russian or American) non-barrel aged, though I have sampled some exceptional offerings that were partly the product of barrels. If you can ever get your hands on an Abyss, I'd strongly recommend that. It's aged in a few different barrels, but only a small percentage of the overall beer. Thus, the barrel flavors/characteristics are complimentary, rather than overbearing. In terms of a more fully barrel-aged offering, Parabola has been my favorite. Yes, the bourbon notes are strong, but it still also tastes like a stout (and a delicious one), too.

Good luck. :-)

 

Nope!!! I'm no Founder's hater, but their RIS just doesn't do it for me. OP's list is a GREAT starting point.

 

Black Albert is as good as they come.

 

Old Rasputin, Narwhal, Ballast Point Sea Monster, The Czar, Samuel Smith's Russian Imperial Stout, Yeti, Speedway Stout

 

Guess I'm wrong then....

It is a great starting point. He/she asked for other suggestions, so I provided one.

 

Unless you're talking about the Vietnamese coffee or Kopi Luwak coffee version, the "coffee" version of Speedway Stout is the main version. The main version is made with Ryan Brothers coffee.

 

Dark apparition by Jackie o's is unreal! A must try.

 

Hey OP, some great comments there.

I've never had a Speedway. But, yes, now is probably a great time to open one up. My experience has been that coffee stouts are always best experienced as fresh as possible--if the coffee flavor is what you're after. As far as adjuncts go, few things drop off faster than coffee. So, open one of those things up and enjoy!

You're totally on point regarding Stone RIS. Most Stone beers are difficult for me to take because they tend to be so hoppy, but not RIS, which makes it something of an pleasant aberration in their line up. Very well balanced, even when fresh.

This thread (and a couple others) have inspired me to begin cellaring my stouts longer. I also want to take an Expedition further out to see what happens.

You mean a regular ol' Pt5th, right? Wow. That's saying something. That said, I tried Black Note for the first time a couple months ago (it was one beer that eluded me for years), and I was blown away. That "fudgy brownie" note people always refer to? Yeah, it was definitely there with Black Note--not a cliché.

In a somewhat similar vein, I actually cracked open my Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Biscotti Break this past weekend. And while I certainly enjoyed it, I just appreciated good ol' Imperial Biscotti Break more. It's the coffee notes that keep me coming back to that beer, and those were diminished in barrel aged version. Don't get me wrong, that version is great--a textbook example of how to barrel age a beer, but it was lacking that coffee-forward flavor that made me fall in love with the base beer. Glad I got to try it, though.

Oh, by the way, pale ales are better than hop syrup--uh, I mean DIPAs. Especially nicely done English pale ales.

 

If you can get your hands on Pretty Things Barbapapa, you won't regret the effort you put in. I think it was a seasonal release during winter but if they happen to do brew it again next year give it a try. Smooth, creamy, rich, and just effing delicious.

 

I'll list some lesser known examples that I don't think get as much credit as they deserve despite being quite excellent:

1.) Arcadia's Imperial Stout (Arcadia Brewing)- Quite easy to find most of the year, thick and tasty.
2.) Your Black Heart (O'Dempsey Brewing) - Somewhat lighter and thinner than alot, but packs a ton of flavor. Get it if it's not insanely overpriced like it is by my house.
3.) Lagunita's Imperial Stout - This stout gets a bad rep, but I find it to actually be an excellent beer in the style. It's quite thick, very roasty and chocolatey, with a nice abv kick of like 9.9% to satisfy a buzz. My favorite part is the easily digestible price of $3.99 a bomber, and it's year round availability, meaning I can get it in low price increments throughout the year. Plus, since it's a shelf turd, alot of stores do my aging for me so I don't have to waste shelf space =D
4.) Bear Republic Big Bear Black Stout - Technically an american double, but those styles are similar anyway. Just like Lagunita's, extremely cost efficient and usually very available (though it's become incredibly hard to find any Bear Republic beer in Michigan as of late. A little hoppier than the others I listed, but so good.
5.) Victory Storm King Stout - Get this one if you're in the mood for the best take on a fusion of a black IPA and RIS you'll find.

That should cover your needs in addition to what everyone else listed!

 

Your Black Heart is a fine beer. No, it does not sit in the first tier of RISs, but it fits solidly within that second tier. Probably the best RIS brewed in Georgia (err--something like that. I think the brewing takes place at Thomas Creek). (Sweetwater Happy Ending and Terrapin WnB do not count.) Don't know what it costs in Michigan, but at $9-10 for a four pack, it's say it's fairly priced.

 

Only a few stores actually carry it around us, and it's typically $14-16 a 4 pack. It just begs the question of why bother when I can get Founder's IS and Plead the 5th for $10-12, and those are top tier. Definitely agree though, it was a beer I randomly stumbled upon before I was a craft hunter, and it helped solidify my love for the darkness.

 

I know it's labeled as a porter but it is hard to be Evil Twin LiL B , I absolutely love it

 

Wow, that's crazy high. And I totally understand your rationale. At that price, it'd probably be a novelty for me, too.

Lil B is frequently cited as the base for a number of Evil Twin Beers branded as Stouts, including Imperial Biscotti Break--which I have alternately seen listed as a stout and porter. Imperial Doughnut Break is called a porter. So, I think you're right that Lil B probably could pass as either. (I'm not going to get into the porter vs. stout discussion. No way.)

 

if only all that magic could be culled from water, grain, yeast and hops.

that beer is partially barrel-fermented and is fantastic.

 

I believe he lists one to the next as porter and stout to kind of make fun of the debate , natale is listed as a porter while biscotti is listed as a stout , or maybe I have that backwards , not going to dig them out to see , same base beers , different listings , I feel the same way , only difference in one or the other is the brewery that is making it.

 

I second The Czar, Sea Monster, and Yeti.