Russian Imperial Stout (RIS) Virgin

Steer clear of Stone's Russian Imperial Stout. Or is it Imperial Russian Stout according to them? Leave it to Stone to get even the name wrong. Give Mikkeller's offerings a go. They're fantastic.

 

It comes out (usually...) at tax time, hence I.R.S.

 

I would think you'd want to give a reason for telling someone to steer clear of what many consider to be a top-notch example of this style.

In some order, I'd recommend the following (all are non-BA stouts):
Stone IRS
Founders Imperial Stout
Founders Breakfast Stout
Ten Fidy
Yeti (including chocolate, oak, and espresso)
Abyss
Bell's Expedition
Dark Horse Plead the 5th
Many, many more that I haven't had or am forgetting to mention

Personally, I've found that I enjoy a nice RIS after I've had a couple of nice IPA's. It's sort of my beer dessert. Whatever you choose, take your time with it and think of it as more of a sipper.

Cheers

 

+1 on Old Raspy, an affordable, but very good RIS. Victory Storm King is another less costly option. The ones with more hype, that cost more $ can be great too. But if you are newer to the style, no need to break the bank right away IMHO.

 

They named it Imperial Russian Stout because the Alcohol tax and trade bureau thought the public would think it was a beer from Russia... So after a few years and getting some insider help, they let it pass.

http://blog.stonebrew.com/?p=3135#more-3135

And on another note: Stones IRS kicks the crap out of any stout that Mikkeller makes, and I love Mikkeller.

 

Being relatively new to the style myself, it helped me to appreciate the style a little more by sticking to the non-barrel aged version first. Just a suggestion.

 

Stone IRS is a fine brew. Definitely don't rule that one out. All the greats have been mentioned, Ten Fidy being my favorite. Have a barrel aged one, had my first Monday (Avery Uncle Jacobs) and oh man love at first sight!

I do suggest the same as above tho, BA stouts definitely are another complexity that's nice to have a background of how the base stuff tastes first, I agree

 

I let mine sit out of the fridge for 30 minutes. I want it cool. And if you're working through a bomber, you'll go from cool to something approaching room temp over the course of working through it. Ratebeer's serving guide says 57-61F for whatever it's worth (don't know if we have an equivalent temp guide here).

 

Oh, interesting, I never knew that. Whoops, guess I was wrong!

 

Another vote for Bell's Expedition Stout

 

yea the TTB can be a bit weird, just ask any Texan

 

Anyone got a darkness they can spare?

 

I've got Stone IRS sitting next to Mikkeller Beer Geek Brunch Weasel and they're going head to head tomorrow night! I'll let you know how it turns out for me.

 

…um, have you had George! Bourbonfadlagret?

 

OP, you are a good man.

 

beer geek weasel tasted like shit... wonder if they didn't clean the beans?

 

Love Stone IRS. Yardhouse now has it on tap.....FYI Yardhouse is making a large Craft beer effort. In the last month have had Double Jack, Sculpin, Tongue Buckler, and Stone IRS. Big changes coming...... BTW cannot believe Speedway has not been mentioned......

 

Victory Storm King is another I'd recommend outside of the ones mentioned.

 

Speedway is a definite recommendation. Good call on that.

I doubt I'll see the day when any stout from Stone tastes better to me than a good stout from Mikkeller. I hope to, but I doubt I will.