Best Russian Imperial Stout?

Sam Smiths makes a damn good RIS for a decent price. Ten Fidy and Imperial Stout Trooper are also winners in my book. BBC's RIS is respectable too.

 

I've had some of the high-ranking stouts like KBS, BCBS, Expedition, Speedway and lots of Mikkeller stuff. All very great. The best stout I've had this far is Struise Mocha Bomb (Black Damnation II). I've never tasted something like it. Sadly, it's a one time brew only and I've only got 2 bottles remaining. A local pub used to sell it for 5 euro's, along with Black Mes (BD III) and Coffee Club (BD IV). Now only the last one remains. As an IRS lover, Europe is a cruel place to live. I'm spending hard cash on Mikkellers, Evil Twins, Amager Bryghus etc., the only pretty ones who are available here.

 

Last week, I had a pour of Stone's 2007 Bourbon Barrel-Aged Imperial Russian Stout. Man, that was good! I had this side-by-side with Green Flash's Silva Stout. I liked the aged Stone IRS more.

 

After all these years I keep coming back to some 'smaller' examples, around 7-8% abv; I find they let the yeast signature and malt backbone shine through. Tops among them are-
Samuel Smith's
Sinebrychoff Porter

I kind of wish there was a facsimile of Grant's available these days, I bet it would fit right in.

 

Yeti or ten fidy.

 

Just saying that a beer like Breakfast Stout is probably not going to be appreciated by a newbie - as I think the OP was implying. Yeah I was kidding, but it would have been a waste on me for a few years. Intensity of flavor has to be worked up to - beer, food, whatever. Baby steps is all I'm saying.

 

Stone Espresso RIS was amazing. I didn't know it was as exclusive as it seems to be; I'm surprised I found it. Living in the middle of nowhere, it's impossible to find the big ones like Pt5, Abraxas, Darkness, Abyss, etc., let alone the limited stuff like Parabola...
...but out of what I have managed to find, my favorites pretty much line up with the usuals:

Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout
Great Divide Yeti (and variants)
Hoppin' Frog B.O.R.I.S.
Hoppin' Frog D.O.R.I.S. (HUGE beer)
Stone IRS (and espresso version)
Victory Storm King
Founder's Imperial Stout

Reading others' lists, I guess I really need to try Ten Fidy...I see it all the time but it's hard to break the habit of automatically ignoring anything in a can.

 

This! And one other that is now long gone is Imperial Stout Trooper.

The best constantly available and best price point has to be Old Rasputin.

My favorite that currently sees the light of day sometimes is Bell's Black Note.

 

Brooklyn's Black Chocolate Stout is great, especially after a year in the cellar. Not gimmicky-chocolaty like others.

Samuel Smith's Imperial Stout is simple, inexpensive, and good to get your friends hooked. Great daily driver.
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I loved Victory's Storm King but haven't had it in several months. Hoppy for a RIS, yes? Unique.

I love Sierra Nevada's Narwhal. I bought a case, cellared it, and have them throughout the year.

Old Rasputin is probably the definition of the style, for me. Haven't had the BA, but the Raspy on Tap is mind blowingly awesome.

 

Parabola, BBA Old Rasputin, and Abyss are my top three

 

CCB Marshal Zhukov. Plain & Simple!

 

Well for me, it's a tossup between Old Rasputin and Stone's various iterations. The Yetis would follow on the list, and then Victory Storm King for the American take on the RIS.

 

I'm still having flashbacks of Tweak and Mephistopheles from April. Not likely to get anywhere near one of those any time soon, but Uncle Jacob's no slouch either and have one bottle of that stashed away.

In the realistic category, I much prefer little ol' Raspy over Stone RIS--but I might be influenced by the fact that Old Rasputin costs the same for a 4-pack as Stone for a bomber. Haven't had any major whales, so can't compare those (nor can I afford them, realistically). And most of the other interesting ones are not distributed here. I am sitting on one bottle of Espresso RIS, but want to give it a couple more months before popping it, and have some Clown Shoes in the wings.

 

Founders IS
Ten Fidy
Stone Espresso

 

Founders Imperial Stout is there any outher good stouts that even compare to perfection !!!!!!!!!
I think all of the outhers are just trring to copy the best one out there :>)

 

Boy oh boy, so many good ones in this thread... I love the following, though I certainly won't attempt to rank them:

Founders RIS
Stone IRS / Espresso IRS
Bells Expedition
Oskar Blues Ten Fidy
SN Narwhal

 

Have to go with Chocolate Oak Aged Yeti for those....special occasions.
But for normal everyday drinking, Old Rasputin is always waiting for me.

 

Of the ones that I've had (non BA), I'd have to go with:

Plead the Fifth
Stone Espresso
Founders

I've got a Zhukov and Speedway in the fridge though so that may change.

 

Dont think these are Russian, but Speedway Stout and Imperial Biscotti Break are at the top of my list. As are the variations of Yeti.

Stone Espresso is damn good too.

Havent had any of the Bourbon County, Founders, or Hunahpu. So I still have some work to do