Best RIS that isn't barrel aged, has no coffee/spices/chocolate?

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by Groenebeor, Feb 18, 2016.

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  1. SeanBond

    SeanBond Meyvn (1,131) Jul 30, 2013 Illinois
    Trader

    I would argue the answer is ALWAYS Darkness.


    My choice for something you can actually get a hold of is probably Founders Imperial Stout (Ten Fidy is pretty solid as well).
     
    #41 SeanBond, Feb 18, 2016
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  2. Rlhinson2104

    Rlhinson2104 Initiate (0) Apr 28, 2014 Florida

    EXPEDITION and STONE IRS!!!! Can't be beat!!!
     
    #42 Rlhinson2104, Feb 18, 2016
  3. SABERG

    SABERG Poo-Bah (3,123) Sep 16, 2007 Massachusetts
    Society

    Consider
    Wells and Young Courage-England
    Smuttynose Imperial Stout
    Amager Imperial Stout-Denmark

    Cheers
     
    #43 SABERG, Feb 18, 2016
  4. dennis3951

    dennis3951 Initiate (0) Mar 6, 2008 New Jersey

    I'm with you on that. I've been drinking BBCS for 20 years and it is still amazing.
     
    #44 dennis3951, Feb 18, 2016
  5. Zaxilla2

    Zaxilla2 Initiate (0) Jul 30, 2014 Illinois

    Old Rasputin, Ten Fiddy, Bell's, and Founders.
     
    #45 Zaxilla2, Feb 18, 2016
  6. PSU_Mike

    PSU_Mike Initiate (0) Sep 6, 2013 Pennsylvania

    Ten Fidy
    Bell's 30th
    Big Black Voodoo Daddy
     
    #46 PSU_Mike, Feb 18, 2016
  7. WCKDVBZ

    WCKDVBZ Meyvn (1,455) May 9, 2014 South Carolina

    Especially the price drop. Went from $15 to $7.99-8.99 a 4-pack. Oskar Blues needs to do the same with Ten Fidy.
     
    #47 WCKDVBZ, Feb 18, 2016
  8. akolb

    akolb Initiate (0) Aug 8, 2015 Colorado
    Deactivated

    Yeti. If you're into coffee and chocolate, that's the beer to get.
     
    #48 akolb, Feb 18, 2016
  9. Ricelikesbeer

    Ricelikesbeer Devotee (497) Nov 29, 2006 Colorado
    Trader

    I really love Serpent stout as well but I can remember at least two bottles I bought where the flavors/alcohol didn't meld very well, almost as if the beer needed more time to round out, or the fermentation just didn't hit its proper mark. That being said, I still really enjoy it when it tastes more normal.
     
    #49 Ricelikesbeer, Feb 18, 2016
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  10. singlespeed

    singlespeed Disciple (328) Sep 17, 2005 Delaware
    Trader

    Those cans are returning tomorrow (2/19)!
     
    #50 singlespeed, Feb 18, 2016
  11. Hoppedelic

    Hoppedelic Initiate (191) Dec 6, 2010 California
    Trader

    Courage IRS
     
    #51 Hoppedelic, Feb 18, 2016
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  12. Ricelikesbeer

    Ricelikesbeer Devotee (497) Nov 29, 2006 Colorado
    Trader

     
    #52 Ricelikesbeer, Feb 18, 2016
  13. MuFugga

    MuFugga Initiate (0) Apr 3, 2015 Wisconsin

    FIS>Pt5>TenFidy>Old Raspy>Expedition in my opinion.
     
    #53 MuFugga, Feb 18, 2016
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  14. NateDyk47

    NateDyk47 Initiate (0) Sep 10, 2015 Michigan

    Founders Imperial Stout for sure. I'd say it's even up there with KBS/CBS.
     
    #54 NateDyk47, Feb 18, 2016
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  15. SoCal_Matt

    SoCal_Matt Disciple (339) Jul 13, 2014 California
    Trader

    I would actually agree with you a bit here. The last bottle I had (about 5 weeks ago) tasted a bit off to me as well. Not in a terrible way, but just not as great as I remember. However, once I let it warm up a bit it started tasting more like I was used to.

    As a side note this beer is phenomenal on tap at Lost Abbey. I typically prefer bottles/cans over draft on all beers because it tastes better to me for whatever reason, but I would say that any beer from Lost Abbey/Port Brewing is better on tap than bottled. I had a fresh growler of Board Meeting for the Super Bowl and it was much better than bottled.
     
    #55 SoCal_Matt, Feb 18, 2016
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  16. singlespeed

    singlespeed Disciple (328) Sep 17, 2005 Delaware
    Trader

    Another one worth trading for is Stoneface RIS. However, sometimes it pays to revisit a classic...Courage Imperial Russian Stout. I hadn't had one in about 15 years and was pleasantly surprised. It's a classic for a reason.
     
    #56 singlespeed, Feb 18, 2016
  17. drink1121

    drink1121 Initiate (0) Mar 23, 2009 California

    Southampton RIS or Marshal Zhukov for me
     
    #57 drink1121, Feb 18, 2016
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  18. Ricelikesbeer

    Ricelikesbeer Devotee (497) Nov 29, 2006 Colorado
    Trader

    I saw a poster of Darkness once. That's probably the closest I'll ever come to tasting it. haha
     
    #58 Ricelikesbeer, Feb 18, 2016
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  19. TravisMason

    TravisMason Initiate (0) Jun 12, 2014 Indiana

    Tin Fidy
    Speedway
    Expedition
     
    #59 TravisMason, Feb 18, 2016
  20. sjjn

    sjjn Aspirant (282) Jun 4, 2004 California

    Founder's makes probably the best plain old Russian Imperial Stout out there.
     
    #60 sjjn, Feb 18, 2016
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  21. amano_h

    amano_h Initiate (0) Mar 18, 2014 Oregon

    I guess no one's a fan of Black Albert...
     
    #61 amano_h, Feb 18, 2016
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  22. drone

    drone Disciple (386) Jun 17, 2013 Oregon
    Trader

    Ten Fidy hands down. Expedition is a close second for sure.
     
    #62 drone, Feb 18, 2016
  23. kerry4porters

    kerry4porters Initiate (0) Dec 31, 2012 Arizona

    I've only personally had it at the Brewery on tap so cant comment on consistency but it definitely was perfect there :wink:
     
    #63 kerry4porters, Feb 18, 2016
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  24. tylerstravis

    tylerstravis Initiate (0) Feb 14, 2014 Colorado

    You can share one of my bottles if you're in the Denver area :slight_smile:
     
    #64 tylerstravis, Feb 18, 2016
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  25. beergoot

    beergoot Poo-Bah (8,527) Oct 11, 2010 Colorado
    Society Trader

    Old Raspy never disappoints...

    Ten FIDY also is an awesome choice...
     
    #65 beergoot, Feb 18, 2016
  26. Domingo

    Domingo Poo-Bah (2,791) Apr 23, 2005 Colorado
    Society

    Avery Czar still does it for me. Stone RIS is obviously up there.
    Normal 'ol Yeti is fantastic if you need a hop fix, too.
    Aged Ten Fidy actually tastes remarkable with a couple years on it. Pretty similar to the Czar, actually.
     
    #66 Domingo, Feb 18, 2016
  27. Vitacca

    Vitacca Champion (829) Sep 15, 2010 Montana
    Society Trader

    Yes and yes. Came here to say both of these.
     
    #67 Vitacca, Feb 18, 2016
  28. kalosjakar

    kalosjakar Initiate (0) May 5, 2014 Rhode Island

    Old Rasputin gets my vote. Founders runner up.

    Someone said Ten Fidy, to me thats very chocolatey.
     
    #68 kalosjakar, Feb 18, 2016
  29. luwak

    luwak Initiate (0) Mar 2, 2010 Arizona

    that's a very solid beer.
     
    #69 luwak, Feb 18, 2016
  30. PatrickCT

    PatrickCT Poo-Bah (2,319) Feb 18, 2015 Connecticut
    Society

    Old Rasputin gets my vote.
     
    #70 PatrickCT, Feb 18, 2016
  31. Doomcifer

    Doomcifer Champion (877) Nov 10, 2005 Rhode Island

    The best = Pretty Things Barbapapa (RIP)

    Runners up = Ten Fidy, Stone IRS, Smuttynose RIS, Expedition Stout
     
    #71 Doomcifer, Feb 18, 2016
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  32. Ricelikesbeer

    Ricelikesbeer Devotee (497) Nov 29, 2006 Colorado
    Trader

    Sounds like a few have posted about how great it is on tap. I'd love to visit sometime.
     
    #72 Ricelikesbeer, Feb 18, 2016
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  33. CJNAPS

    CJNAPS Initiate (0) Nov 3, 2013 California

    Ten Fidy , Old Rasputin
     
    #73 CJNAPS, Feb 18, 2016
  34. evilcatfish

    evilcatfish Defender (619) May 11, 2012 Missouri
    Trader

    Oh crap I didn't even think of that one, its definitely a fine stout. If it was just a tad cheaper I'd buy it much more often
     
    #74 evilcatfish, Feb 18, 2016
  35. FieldGrade

    FieldGrade Initiate (0) Feb 6, 2016 Idaho

    I don't know why I even open these threads.....I'm lucky to find Guinness around here......nothing personal but you guys suck....
     
    #75 FieldGrade, Feb 18, 2016
  36. westcoastbeergeek

    westcoastbeergeek Initiate (0) Sep 16, 2015 Canada (BC)

    Ten Fidy / Stone IRS / North Coast Old Rasputin are all in the same realm of awesomeness, SN Narwhal with a year on it too.
     
    #76 westcoastbeergeek, Feb 18, 2016
  37. EMH73

    EMH73 Poo-Bah (2,437) Sep 16, 2015 New York
    Society Trader

    I agree.
     
    #77 EMH73, Feb 18, 2016
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  38. Ext

    Ext Initiate (0) Aug 17, 2012 District of Columbia

    All the right answers have already been given (Old Raspy, Ten Fidy, Serpent's Stout, Brooklyn Chocolate Stout), but one stout that is often overlooked and totally underrated is Schlafly's Irish-Style Extra Stout. That beer is just great in every way.
     
    #78 Ext, Feb 18, 2016
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  39. Comparison_Ford

    Comparison_Ford Disciple (383) Apr 4, 2014 New York

    Not easily accessible: Grimm Double Negative, VooDoo Big Black VooDoo Daddy

    Easily accessible: Founders Imperial Stout, Ten Fidy, Old Rasputin, Expedition Stout
     
    #79 Comparison_Ford, Feb 18, 2016
  40. XIII

    XIII Initiate (0) Oct 10, 2015 Washington

    10 Fidy takes the cake for me, with Old Raspy coming in as a close second (almost first due to affordability).
     
    #80 XIII, Feb 18, 2016
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