Leinenkugels Big Eddy Russian Imperial Stout

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

12oz bottle thanks to CaptainCougar. Very nice and appropriate pour and head for imperial stout. Bit of that green apple smell that others have written about, along with a more pleasent soy and black char note in the nose. Flavorwise it’s fresh, perhaps young and green, with a bit of twang throughout. Body is medium, not what I’d call thick at all but not lacking too much. Finishes with a dark chocolate syrup note and more of the green apple acetylhyde note. Not bad, but I think it’s a bit of a stretch to say this is one of the top imperial stouts.
7/4/7/3/14 = 3.5

Sampled in a blind 25 imperial stout tasting, Feb 2008
Smoke, soy, some lactic milk notes, with a heavy astringency, a pasty texture, and some charred dark chocolate flavors. The green apple notes in the nose gave this one away.
7/4/6/4/14 = 3.5

Bottle from Ryan. Thanks buddy. An imperial stout from Leinenkugel? Uhm....Certainly not something I expected to see. Pours out a pitch black color with a fat brown head on it. Smells like coffee, chocolate, roasted malts, and something sweet, almost like a milk stout smell, but not displeasing. Taste is thick and rich and full of coffee. Reminds me of a slightly thiner Rasputin. Still, this is a really good beer. How did these guys churn this stuff out? Thick enough that you only want one, but it could easily become a session imperial stout - if there is such a thing. Thanks alot man.

thanks cmubeerman. sampled over thanksgiving 07. immaculate appearance. aroma mushroom chalk. i actually really dislike the aroma. flavorful and balanced front. chalky cutoff. not harsh though. dense. alcohol very obvious. a subsequent tasting seemed a little chalkier and harsh to me. not nearly what it was originally get scores for.

Pours a thick dark brown/blackish color with a thick, dark tan head. Aromas of roasted malts,dark fruits,alcohol and a hint of chocolate coming through. Wowo, upon first sip I got this tounge coating of wonderful complexity. Tastes of roasted malts,coffee and alcohol are the mainstay of the flavors,but blended inside are also dark fruits and nice hops. Smooth long lasting slow bitter finish. Nice and warming. Wionderful stuff!

Bottle with a huge thanks to Skyview for opening this at the Cellars when joet was in town. Rich, sweet aroma balanced nicely by a good amount of hop bitterness and tarry malt. Dark chocolate, toffee and a hint of alcohol. Pours rich, oily dark brown leaving oily yellow legs on my glass. Flavor matches the aroma. Bittersweet chocolate with lots of tar-like malt with a pleasant alcoholic kick. Creamy and fairly silky on the palate. Finishes with a lingering bitterness.

bottle courtesy of hopscotch and in his words this beer rocks: pours an oily black with crimson edges nothing more than a thin tan line for a head. aroma of dark chocolate, esspresso and some sweet malts inter mix. also a tropical like fruitness that lingers thru out the nose. flavour is a rich coffee, not esspresso, dark bitter chocolate, (yea no cocoa powder) finishes a smooth silky chocolate. very nice.

Finally got my hands on this stuff. Poured jet black and fairly thick. Smelled nice, slight chocolate, roast, a bit of alcohol. Taste started with huge roast and a hop kick, dropped off quick and left the taste to linger on my palate. Faded off into some residual sweetness, caramel hints of chocolate. This is a very good beer. But was still a little alcoholic. Might need some time. I think this might be slightly overhyped.

Went in with high expectations and was not dissapointed. Close, but it was still a good beer. Dark dark black pour with almost no head, just a beige brim. Nose of coffee, chocolate, dark, malts, cherries, dark fruits, licorice, slight hoppage. Got a bit better as it warmed. Not as good as expected, but still a rock solid brew.