Leinenkugels Big Eddy Russian Imperial Stout

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

Black color and thick body. Some sweetness, but mostly toasted malt. Modest hop bitterness.

12 oz bottle thanks to andrew for crossing the border to pick me up some of these. Pours a dark black with a tall tan head. Fruity sweet aroma. Dark fruit, ripe fruit, and dark chocolate. Roasted malt/fruity flavors. Molasses, dark fruit, cherries, and roasted malts with a sweet but bitter roast finish. Thick sticky palate. Good beer.

12 oz bottle thanks to Santa. What a beer. Darkest pour with huge tan head. Lots of dark fruit, coffee, chocolate aromas. Flavors were roasted coffee, Mocha Java, Touches of alcohol on the finish. Raisins and Molasses. Good Good Stuff.

Thanks to KingpinIPA and NFLMVP for bottles. Pour is pitch black with a big, foamy brown head. Aroma of caramel, toasted malt and chocolate. Flavor of roasted malt, chocolate and alcohol. There is a bit of metallic aftertaste. Full, creamy body. Nice mouthfeel.

Black from afar, close inspection reveals very dark chocolate browns. The body is totally opaque and appears oily. A thin, dark tan head mostly dissipates rapidly and lightly laces the glass. Chocolate icing covering cooled brownies is the first thing I sense as I raise the glass to my nose. Caramel and sugarplum notes follow, then a procession of glamourous roasted grains of varying degrees of char. Alcohol seems fairly well-disguised, what little emitted takes on the form of dark fruits and mingles cohesively with prickly earthiness from robust hoppiness and toffee scents. Caramel and nougat, with a slight nuttiness all glimmer in the backdrop of pleasant maltiness. Raisin and plum notes are more formidable with warmth. Milder molasses brings up the rear. A conspicuous lack of discernible coffee is noted. Very nice, easy to partake in and so far flawless. This seems to be a nod to the Russian imperial style but is still a distinctly modern version of the style. The nose is full and luxurious, traits I’m glad to see a usually unimpressive brewery pull out of their respective hats. The technology and prowess was there; I suppose someone just needed to give the green light - hopefully we’ll see more freedom along these lines with other profit-driven breweries that have what it takes to get it done. The flavor is fantastic, as was anticipated (but not guaranteed) by the lovely aroma. Roasted malt leads the rambunctious charge and is closely tailed by the now bold coffee, which is neither an exciting nor bland addition. Sweetness is medium-high and fits well with so many dark fruit eccentricities that spring from the crest of each sip. Caramel, raisin and tobacco now noted are of moderate strength and equally grainy composition. Bitterness and perceptible hoppiness are mild and cumulative. Astringency is low. Alcohol is moderately warming in a finish that leaves syrupy semi-bitter chocolate behind, lightly bitter and very lengthy. The mouthfeel is erratically carbonated, prickly bubbles causing a slight distraction from the mellower fine points. The body is heavy on the plate but not exceptionally so, therefore this is very easy to drink and quite satisfying. Very well done.

Bottle shared at Madness. Pours a good looking solid black with a small head. I found the aroma to be slightly off, then again I was way off at this point and seriously smashed. Full bodied yet smooth and creamy. Roasty flavor of tobacco and chocolate. Pretty good stuff but either the aroma needs some work or I need to sober up some, probably the second.

12 oz bottle in trade with lb4lb. Everything I wanted and expected from an imperial stout. Alcohol was well hidden and the flavors were enjoyable leaving me to want more of this.

Bottle @ cbus 10 shared by Ogglethorp, thanks again Brian! Black pour with a tan head. Aroma of dry roast, chocolate, and liquorice. Flavors of dark chocolate, liquorice, roasty malt and light earthy hops.Thick body roasty and pretty sweet with a sweet/roasty finish. Not bad, a bit too sweet for my taste.