Leinenkugels Big Eddy Russian Imperial Stout

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

I think I got this one from xnoxhatex. Been in the cellar for six months. Gorgeous beer. Nose is coffee, chocolate, and roasted malt. The huge head subsides to incredible lacing. Flavor is all that the nose is, with roasted malts leading the way, followed closely by chocolate, and finished off with a nice, clean dry coffee bitterness, but there is definitely a hint of a sweetness, somewhat fruit like. Very interesting. I think I like it. Creamy mouthfeel, too.

Bottle: Black color, tan head and light lacing. Vanilla, sharp roast and alcohol, lots of coffee. Huge alcohol, lots of hopped-over sweetness. Very thick, lots of body. THICK! Brash and no subtleties. I don’t want to say it’s bad or even unquaffable, there’s just so many good imperial stouts out there, I hate it when someone throws their hat in the ring just to do so.

I can honestly say this was one imperial stout I didn’t like. It was too fruity, almost sour tasting. I actually didn’t want to finish it. All I can remember is tartness. Hopefully it was a bad bottle, but I doubt it.

Thanks to valpoaj for the bottle - viscous black beer, with some light getting in around the edges, giving it a ruby ring around the sides - pretty much no head, but there is a faint ring of foam - smells like vanilla, bourbon, blueberries, chocolate, some alcohol, smoke, wood - slick, oily mouthfeel, with low carbonation - actually quite dry up front, with some quite strong tannic character - a bit of chocolate sweetness develops, and some roasted malts and a smoky quality come into play - espresso bitterness purges the momentary sweetness, and the tannic/red wine character returns - sweetness and smokiness become more apparent as it warms, as does the alcohol - a bit of tobacco and hops in the finish - this is quite good - I’ve gained a new respect for this brewery.

Opaque black with light brown foamy head. A bit of that soggy cereal/oatmeal in the nose. Lots of flavor up front-- Hops, a bit of grapefruit. Obvious coffee, dark chocolate, dark fruit-- dates, plums, raisins. A bit of astringency, low carbonation. Syrupy, oily mouthfeel. Excellent beer.

LEINENKUGEL? OK. Dark Dark black beer, beautiful brown head only around the edges. Obviously not that carbonated. Sweet chocolate malt smell, espresso, dried dark fruit. unpleasant tinny taste immediately but very nice and smooth. Tastes like dark sweetened coffee, not too bitter (a little in the finish) but very dark. Sourness in the roof of my mouth. Overall very nice and surprising from a Miller company. The alcohol is understated in the flavor. Not apparent at all. Smoky finish.

Bottle... a most excellent bonus from Pailhead. Pours absolutely black with a dark brown head and decent lacing. Aromas of coffee and chocolate. Taste is very intense! Similar notes as in the aroma with a nice bitterness to balance it out. Creamy mouthfeel. This is a damned good stout.

I am pleased that Prince Murray Swine recommended and sent this. A classic RIS and they nailed the style. Big bold bitter black and a full coffee. Full mouthfeel. Coffee in, chocolate coating but not over on the chocolate as per the new wave.