Best English-style RIS ?

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by BedetheVenerable, Jul 10, 2012.

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  1. BedetheVenerable

    BedetheVenerable Initiate (0) Sep 5, 2008 Missouri

    I am far from a Sam Adams hater; I remember where I came from, and the bottom line is that, a few exceptions aside (I HATE their Summer Ale and Cherry Wheat) they brew solid, reliable, well-priced everday brews. Recently, I've had a couple that have really impressed me though. One was Cinder Bock, a one-off, but then I had their Imperial Stout (4-pk). We'd sat on this bottle for probably a year or year and a half, and it was DAMN good. It struck me as very 'English' (i.e. a lot like Samuel Smith's, but actually a bit better), with tons of dark fruit, a bit of earthy character, and nothing but English hops. I'd forgotten that there were these types of RIS brews out there. Any other favorites in this general vein?
     
    #1 BedetheVenerable, Jul 10, 2012
  2. ShogoKawada

    ShogoKawada Initiate (0) May 31, 2009 Pennsylvania

    courage RIS is pretty good, eh?
     
    #2 ShogoKawada, Jul 10, 2012
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  3. BedetheVenerable

    BedetheVenerable Initiate (0) Sep 5, 2008 Missouri

    Sadly I haven't seen that one out yet...is it actually about? I'm in Mid-Mo, so we'll probably be some of the last to see it, though we get some pretty good stuff...I haven't heard of it hitting STL yet
     
    #3 BedetheVenerable, Jul 10, 2012
  4. PapaGoose03

    PapaGoose03 Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,057) May 30, 2005 Michigan
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    On the link below click on the drop-down list to the style that you want to see and you'll get a list of the top-rated beers in each category. Many of the highest scorers are difficult to find but look down the list and you'll see many that are generally available. http://beeradvocate.com/lists/popular
     
    #4 PapaGoose03, Jul 10, 2012
  5. BedetheVenerable

    BedetheVenerable Initiate (0) Sep 5, 2008 Missouri

    Thanks MG, I know about the 'best beers' lists, but I was looking not so much necessarily for the favorite RIS's on here, but rather ones that are good that people think have a particularly 'English' character. I found the SA to be much more traditional than a lot, which is what I liked about it.
     
    #5 BedetheVenerable, Jul 10, 2012
  6. patto1ro

    patto1ro Pooh-Bah (2,084) Apr 26, 2004 Netherlands
    Pooh-Bah

    Harvey's Imperial Stout. Best one around, in my opinion.
     
    #6 patto1ro, Jul 10, 2012
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  7. UCLABrewN84

    UCLABrewN84 Initiate (0) Mar 18, 2010 California

    My vote goes to Courage.
     
    #7 UCLABrewN84, Jul 11, 2012
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  8. Keffa

    Keffa Initiate (0) Jan 8, 2009 Ohio

    Weasel Boy Anastasia, 2010 GABF bronze winning in the category, and one of my favorite beers. Wouldn't be able to tell I support them or anything.

    And before you ask, Anastasia is released the week of Thanksgiving. :slight_smile:
     
    #8 Keffa, Jul 12, 2012
  9. Zimbo

    Zimbo Pooh-Bah (2,305) Aug 7, 2010 Scotland
    Pooh-Bah

    And its phenomenally complex as well.
     
    #9 Zimbo, Jul 12, 2012
  10. Dennoman

    Dennoman Initiate (0) Aug 20, 2011 Belgium

    Heard great things about the Harvey's, it made one of my favourite beer reviewers ramble for more than 25 minutes :grinning:



    Apparently, you can order 24-packs of it straight off their website. Hoping to get my hands on a few bottles of it soon.
     
    #10 Dennoman, Jul 12, 2012
  11. Zimbo

    Zimbo Pooh-Bah (2,305) Aug 7, 2010 Scotland
    Pooh-Bah

    Absolutely superb. God, do I feel vindicated with how much I've banged on about this beer.
    Thanks for posting this Denno.
     
    #11 Zimbo, Jul 12, 2012
  12. Dennoman

    Dennoman Initiate (0) Aug 20, 2011 Belgium

    Don't worry about it. Now get me some!
     
    #12 Dennoman, Jul 12, 2012
  13. patto1ro

    patto1ro Pooh-Bah (2,084) Apr 26, 2004 Netherlands
    Pooh-Bah

    I recently drank a 1970's Courage Russian Sout and it tasted remarkably like Harveys. Admittedly Harveys gets to that stage a few decades quicker. But it had a much stronger brettanomyces character than the bottles I have from the early 1990's.
     
    #13 patto1ro, Jul 12, 2012
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