Best Russian Imperial Stout?

Pretty big fan of a vintaged dark lord.

 

I haven't gotten the chance to try most of the RISes being listed here... because I live in Alaska... but of what I've tried besides Espresso IRS, I have to mention...





Midnight Sun's Moscow RIS, which I think is up there too. Before I tried Espresso IRS, Moscow had no competitors with me. And I still regard it with reverence.

 

They brought it back then. I saw it on the shelves in California.

 

Funny, I was just thinking of you a couple of days ago when I came across beer descriptions stating just that (coffee/chocolate stouts originally not brewed with coffee/cocoa) but did not save the links. Apparently a lot of brewers--including those that do use adjuncts--believe that the original categories were based on flavor profiles. OTOH it is much easier to define categories based on use of adjuncts, e.g., any use of adjunct flavoring defines a category (e.g., AIS), or the use of a particular adjunct defines a category. It's more difficult to offer style "rules" along flavor profiles, but that's how a lot of traditional styles are defined. Hell, we're still having a hard time nailing down the difference between stouts and porters!

 

No they aren't. There is no universally-recognised authority on beer styles. There are official style guidelines for certain competitions. That doesn't make them official in the wider world.

 

Pretty close tie between Dark Lord and Expedition Stout. Although I do prefer Expo with five or six years on it. I haven't had the opportunity to try Dark Lord with any considerable age on it.

 

Old Rasputin

 

Double Mountains Ferocious Five
Abyss
Speedway

 

Zhukov, end of discussion.

 

Does it even count if they throw chocolate and coffee in there and barrel age it? And wouldn't that be an AMERICAN DOUBLE STOUT anyway?

Let's stick with the program people...

 

Imperial Biscotti Break is a better specimen in the Big Coffee Imperial Stout genre IMHO. Speedway as well, although I cannot speak to what aging will do to your favorite...time will tell.

 

Ivan the Terrible

 

Non BA:
FIS
Marshal Z
Smutty IS
Stone IRS (have an Espresso in the cellar, but haven't had it yet).

 

Non-BA:
Stone IRS (08 Vintage at GABF last year) <---hands down best ever
Marshal Z
Old Rasputin
Narwhal
Expedition

BA (that I've tried)
AB Huna
Black Note
CB Huna
KBS
Black Ops

Odd in the first couple pages i didnt see much Dark Lord love

 

Massachusetts is a big small state. Not sure where you are, but out here in the western sticks Founders and Narwhal were both easy to find last year the whole time they were in season. I think OB is in season now but due to the perceived high price is basically year round anyway if you're willing to look. You're right that Bell's doesn't come to Mass, usually a fair amount of Stone around but to me it's overpriced in MA - I'd rather drink Ten Fidy since ounce for ounce it costs about the same. And I'd rather drink Plead the Fifth than all of them.

 

My vote is for Stone IRS. Although, I prefer the Espresso version. This stuff is even more amazing when cellared for 12 months. I heard it will peak at the 3 - 5 year range. I have not had the patience to wait that long, but I heard it is mind blowing at/after 3 years.

 

Durham temptation or the. Kernel imperial brown

 

I guess we have the exact same palate. If I were to make a top 10 list of my favorite beers ever, it would start with Abraxas and Hunahpu.

 

Favorite EVER.....and you die hard Founders fans will agree with me. Founder Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout. Draft only at the brewery. I am hoping they do the back stage at some point.

Pappy BA Fifty Fifty, BA Speedway, Vanilla Bean Dark Lord, and GI RARE all come in very closely in my top 5.

 

ol' raspy was my first RIS and still my favorite. So much complexity in it. It was the one beer that opened my eyes to all the different flavors in one beer.