Big Sky Ivan the Terrible Imperial Stout

Brewed by Big Sky Brewing Company
Style: Imperial Stout
Missoula, Montana USA

Name: Ivan the Terrible
Date: March 28, 2009
Mode: Bottle
Source: Tasting, Cellar Party
Appearance: black, wispy tan head, bits of lace
Aroma: sweet dark chocolate aroma, touch of dark caramel sweetness, sweet bourbon and vanilla
Body: rich creamy body
Flavor: rich chocolate flavor, touch of roasted, rich bourbon, lots of sweet dark caramel and vanilla enrichens the chocolate, balancing earthyness
Aroma: 8/10; Appearance: 7/10; Flavor: 8/10; Palate: 7/10; Overall: 18/20
Rating: 4.2/5.0
Drinkability: 8/10
Score: ***+/4

(PPSG09, 750ml bottle, thanks beerbill) Large creamy tan head atop brown-black body. Aroma is moderately sweet, Bourbon, smoke/roast, coffee, some raisin, alcohol. Taste is moderately sweet, caramel, vinous, Bourbon, some chocolate, smoke. Medium-full body, smooth.

Cask Stillage from the Jug at the GABF, Colorado Convention Center 26/09/2009 Big bourbon aroma. Small beige head. Black smooth on the palate and very strong in alcohol with a little dryness and bitterness in a chocolate and vanilla flavoured finish.

750ml bottle. Bottle # 242 of 1152. Aromas of vanilla, bourbon, woody, roasty, and some chocolate. Tastes of vanilla, bourbon, brown sugar, dark fruits, chocolate, and ligher wood. Definitely bourbon in both aromas and tastes (for me that’s not necessarily bad).

(750ml bottle) Pours a black body with a small tan head. Aroma of vanilla, toasted marshmallow, dates, and chocolate. Flavor of roasted malt, vanilla, light bourbon, and some oak.

Bottle 125/1152 thanks to ditmier: Pours an oily opaque black with a thin ring of light tan head. Aroma of sweet dark caramel and chocolate with nice bourbon oaky complexity. Starts with good fullness and rich sweet dark caramel malt with some molten dark chocolate and black cherry notes along with smooth bourbon balance before a bittersweet finish with a touch of roasted malt and chocolate. A very nice barrel-aged imperial stout.

Bottle at PPRBSG09. Deep black beer with a thin tan head. The aroma is a bit sweet with a light soft vineous character. Light plummy/chewy character through the middle. A kiss of anise/licorice and some light hot booziness. There is a bit of cocoa and coffee with a lingering sweetness. Rich, fruity and fairly roasty on the back end. I like it.

Near black color with a tall lasting mocha colored head. Sweet fruitcake aromas. Dates prunes and figs mix with toasted almonds, graham crackers, dark cocoa and bourbon vanilla. After a very long day this is most relaxing and comforting. I wish for a bit more thickness in feel as this seems a touch thin. After a couple sips my main thought is that this is a melange of bourbon and butter pecan ice cream. Quite tasty. Malt and bourbon vanilla carry through from start to finish. Some milk chocolate, pecans, pralines and cream dance in and out. The bourbon does seem to pick up strength throughout as well. It is a good thing I enjoy whisky.