Sprecher Russian Imperial Stout

Brewed by Sprecher Brewing Company
Style: Imperial Stout
Glendale, Wisconsin USA

Bottle courtesy of mgumby10 -- thanks!

Pours thick and inky, tan head with long-lived microbubbles. In addition to expected chocolate and coffee on the aroma, I get quite a bit of burgundy wine and toasted marshmallow. Gently sweet and coffee-roasty, like thai iced coffee, a hint of berry.

Unfortunately, the mouthfeel is somewhat watery with warming alcohol late. It’s plenty drinkable, even enjoyable, but just not in top 50% of imperial stouts that I’ve had.

Had this at the brewery. When heard the alcohol content on this and then I tried it. I was blown away that you cannot taste the alcohol in it. Lots of flavor.

On tap at the brewery. Holdenn shared a bottle of this with me a while back and the beer seems to be tasting a lot better now (change of recipe or maybe more fresh, I’m not sure). Opaque black with large tan head. Aroma is a lot of roasted malt, smoke, some hops, dark fruit, very strong. Flavor is medium sweet roasted malt, some anise, hops, a hint of alc, coffee, very nice and well rounded. Full creamy body. Very nice, I hope to have the same beer in the bottled version next time.

Poured dark with a thick creamy, but short lasting, tan head. There is a lot of lacing on the glass. Aroma is not so strong but has a bit of a burnt character to it. Taste has the same burnt/roasted flavor with a strong taste of smoke and a slight taste of dark fruit. Finishes pretty smooth and has an aftertaste of licorice. Might buy this one again because it was pretty tasty but I wouldn’t say anything too special.

Thanks Immy. Pours pitch black in color with brown head. Aroma of chocolate and coffee. Taste of dark chocolate and coffee with bitter finish.

(Bottle, tanks to Ughsmash I think..?) Pours black with red hints. Medium brown head. The aroma is of medium to heavy roasted malt, coffee beans, dark syrup/burned caramel and dark liquorice. The nose is quite sweet but also a bit meaty with some alcohol warmth. Hints of European hops. Dark fruits/berries are present both in the aroma and in the taste. The flavour is of medium to full roasted malt, dark chocolate in the beginning, coffee and some salt liquorice hints. The mouthfeel is quite soft and velvety. Medium sweet and medium bitter. Medium bodied. Nice.

22 oz. bottle sealed w/ gold wax via trade with AlexDeLarge - Pours a clear dark brown color with a one finger thick tan head. Light spotty lacing. Aroma is sweet toasted malt, light chocolate, and big dark esters. Vary similiar to Bells Expedition. Flavor is sweet roasted malt, light coffee and chocolate, faint licorice, and dark esters. Medium body. Soft mouthfeel. Needs a little more body and kick to be up there with some of the other big boys. Overall, a very good beer. Thanks Jason.

Pours midnight black with a minimal tan head that does not really stick around long. Nose is thick with molasses and malts. Flavor is thick as well. Loads of malt. High amount of molasses. Mild roasted aftertaste. Feel is a bit thin on the liquid, but the carbonation is decent. Overall very easy to drink, at first. Afte the first half it gets harder to drink as it seems to get unbalanced in it’s roasted edge. First half good, second half...not so good.