Big Sky Ivan the Terrible Imperial Stout

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

2009 750ml bottle (419 of 3000) from Binny’s Beverage Depot in Orland Park, Illinois: This poured the requisite RIS thick dark brown, looking nearly black in the glass, and capped by a modest light brown head. It has an aroma of burnt malt, bittersweet chocolate, molasses, soft nuts, oak, and a surprizingly light touch of Bourbon. Smooth. The flavor has the addition of aniseed, charred wood, and more Bourbon. Pretty easy drinking for a big beer.

Served from a 750 mL bottle of the 2009 edition. Bottle 1293 or 3000. The appearance is a rich espresso brown with a tight forming roasted brown head. The nose if full with rich bourbon, toasted oak, dried fruit mainly prune and cherry, and a baker’s chocolate accent. The flavors started with a warm smooth prune cherry and raisin flavor ridding on a clean bourbon wave. A wonderful vanilla and slight anise are there too. The mouth is very smooth and not that hot considering this if fairly fresh and 10% but definitely warms the stomach and throat. . This is a fine IRS that far exceeded my expectations.

Tap. Thick oily lack pour, nice tan head. Aroma of bourbon, coffee, and chocolate. Taste of vanilla, chocolate, fruit, and plenty of bourbon. Really good stuff. Great thick mouthfeel. Awesome Impy Stout.

Bottle 1315 of 3000 from Daprickly1.
Pours a perfect motor oil black with a thick, creamy, frothy head of medium beige, reminiscent of the head on a Guinness. Aroma is a restrained chocolate pudding with a dash of bourbon and cocoa. A subtle hint of cappuccino lingers in the background, along with melted dark chocolate and caramel-coated almond. Flavor is a thin but asasertive ribbon of chocolate coffee pudding and cocoa, with chunks of raspberry, black cherry, and bourbon vanilla in the finish. Mouthfeel is a bit light but the flavors linger. I need another of these; would like to cellar one.

Courtesy Beerlando. Big black pour. Big roasted grain, chocolate, bourbon aroma. Taste is thick chewy chocolate roasted grains and hints of bourbon and oaky vanilla. Really good.

Thanks to TODD for this one, bottle #902/1152. Poured deep brown with an easily-resuscitated cap of tan head. The aroma picked up sweet, toasty bourbon (almost brandy) over black patent and chocolate maltage.. rather soft and toasty overall complexion.. vanilla showed with warmth. The flavor found mostly black patent sweetness at the core along with some molasses.. vanilla, tangy oak, and bourbon surrounded.. charred black malts, bourbon, oak, and splashes of milk chocolate-covered cherries on the finish.. YUM! Medium-bodied on the palate (wish it had a slightly thicker feel) with a fine impression from the barrel treatment.. excellent stuff!!

Beautifully balanced aroma and flavor of bourbon, baker’s chocolate, real vanilla, cherry wine, amaretto, cashew/macadamia/hazelnut, and toasted coconut. Bourbon is at the perfect level, and the mouthfeel is firm and creamy without being too heavy on the palate. The aftertaste is perfect...long but not overdone. Reminds me of Black Gold, but more complex, and firmer in flavor. A definite winner!

2009 bottle, 288/3000. Black pour with tan head. Aroma of jim beam, chocolate, ash. Flavor is smokey, chocolate, and bourbon, bourbon really dominates this beer and makes it kind of one dimensional, even for a bourbon beer. Chalky mouthfeel. This is pretty close to amazing, but not quite there.