Leinenkugels Big Eddy Russian Imperial Stout

Formerly brewed at Leinenkugel Brewing Company (MillerCoors)
Style: Imperial Stout
Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin USA

This beer pours a dark black colour with a huge brown head. Aroma is very strong of alcohol and spice, flavor is reminiscent of port- possibly brandy spirit. Strong and infused, this beer will get you crunked after just one.

Courtesy of Hopscotch. The aroma is incredibly fruity. Highlighted by cherry, but with other dark fruits as well there is also chocolate, perfumey alcohol and hints of molasses. The strength of the fruit tones are noteable and in my experience unparalleled in an Imperial Stout. I just wish I got a little more to go along with it. The body is a flat dark black and after a gloppy syrupy pour the beer settles mostly headless though you can tease up a quickly fading mocha head. On the first sip the first flavor revealed is rich chocolate and more of that massively concentrated cherry accented dark fruit from the aroma. Baker’s chocolate and chocolate liqueur follow along with espresso in the far aftertaste. That firs sip is delightful in its flavor and concentration, but on the whole this lacks the range of flavor many other Imperials offer. Still a great brew.

Rating #400. Bottle courtesy of hopdog. Pours a midnight black with a billowy 2 finger light brown head and fantastic lacing. Nose is dark fruits, salty soy, and cocoa. Taste is strong dark fruits, bitter chocolate, molasses, roasted coffee beans and salty soy with a sweet BW-like cloying finish. Full, creamy mouth feel. Very complex beer. Thanks Steve!

Courtesy of Gunhaver. Pitch black, aroma is of toffee, chocolat malt and a little herbal, maybe from the hops. Very thick and heavy. Pleasantly surprised to see Leinenkugels make such an impressive stout.

Lovely bottle from lovely Shyam. Pours dark brown with miniscule milk-chocolate head. Smells primarily of dates and chocolate, with more of the same (plus coffee and toffee, but no milk) in the body.

bottle courtesy of iowaherkeye. pitch black viscous pour with a thin espresso head. hints of licorice, vanilla, toffee and sweet thick malts. this beer has some of the greatest lacings i have ever seen. awesome thickness and a flavor that is so complex of dark fruits, licorice, roasted malts, chocolate and semi sweet coffee. best leinenkugel i’ve ever had.

Bottle courtesy Gillard. Pours black with a one finger tan head that leaves good lacing. Heavy aroma of roasted malt, smoke, coffee, and a touch of alcohol. Taste is the same as aroma with a good dose of caramel sweetness. Medium full mouthfeel with a moderate amount of bitterness and smooth alcohol. Very good.

I had to try this as it’s pretty high-rated for one of America’s worst beer makers. Pours black with a tan head. Lots of chocolate in the nose, molasses and dark fruit as well. I taste mostly dark fruits with some chocolate. Mouthfeel is thick but not really enjoyable, chewy and syrupy like drinking a bottle of maple syrup. The sweetness is a bit overwhelming and not balanced. I’m a big fan of Imperial stouts, but found this pretty hard to finish, even though I was sharing a 12oz bottle with my girlfriend. I felt sick after drinking it. Yeah, it’s Leine’s best brew, but is that saying much?