Stone Bourbon Barrel Russian Imperial Stout

Brewed by Stone Brewing Co.
Style: Imperial Stout
Escondido, California USA

Growler. Thanks, SuzyGreenberg! What a spectacularly awesome treat this was.
Pours black with a dense and creamy burnt tan head. Not a whole lot of lace. Nose is boozey but not in altogether unpleasant way; there’s vanilla, bourbon, and wood there as well to keep it company, along with plenty of roast. The body’s thick and creamy, and vanilla probably makes it through to your taste buds first. There’s a lot of it. The bourbon, wood, and roast all dance around as well, but this beer is so harmonious that it actually takes a fair effort to dissect the component parts of the flavor profile. Creamy and dense and decadent in a huge way.

On tap at Stone. Nose is led by lots of vanilla with wood, wet leather, toast, coffee, roast, caramel, cocoa - very complex but in balance. Flavor is typical of their RIS but came across as much softer from the barrel aging - warming alcohol on the finish. Finish is balanced - not overly sweet or chewy like so many overdone RIS examples. Very nice and a real step up from an already great beer. Wish they would bottle this one to put away for a while.

Poured from a 2006 growler courtesy of throwitallaway. Big, big thanks Dustin! Pours like used motor oil with a dense one-inch brown head. Huge nose on this one with a big bourbon aroma to complement vanilla, chocolate, brown sugar and roasted malts. Bourbon hits even harder in the taste then eases into the roasted malts and smeet molasses and vanilla before finishing with a slight coffee bitterness and, of course, the bourbon. Mouthfeel is super smooth with the bourbon really making its presence felt on the tongue. This is one big mother of a beer and I am glad I was given the opportunity to try it. Definitely a sipper, but a damn fine one.

Vintage 2006. On-tap at Stone 5/12 and 5/13/08. Pours dark brown with a thin, creamy light brown head. Smells awesome. Lots of vanilla, wood, bourbon, and a little bit of toasty malt. Tastes sweet, vanilla, chocolate and wood up front with a biting bourbon, alcohol and roasty malt finish. Medium to full body, not overly thick, nice carbonation. Definitely a top 3 barrel aged beer. 10-4-9-4-19=4.6

Vintage 2007. On-tap at Stone 8/4 and 8/5/08. Pours very dark brown/black with a thin, offwhite head. Smells dark and roasty malty with a hint of vanilla and bourbon/alcohol. Tastes roasty malty with a huge, sweet, vanilla, wood and bourbon through the middle to the finish. A little warming alcohol on the finish as well. Full body, good carbonation. 7-3-7-3-16=3.6

Poured from a 2006 vintage growler, with a HUGE THANK YOU to Kyle (doubleo) for the hookup on this rare treat! Pours an oily black with a creamy two finger tan head that drifts down to a whispy but persistent covering, no lacing. Aroma is milk chocolate, vanilla, molasses, espresso, and subtle but perfectly integrated bourbon and oak notes. Flavor brings out more of the bourbon and oak, but it is very well balanced against more chocolate, espresso and vanilla. Wow, this one lives up to the hype for me, thanks again Kyle!

On tap at Bistro Barrell aged fest while on vacation and it was awesome.I saved this for #400 because it was worthy of it.I love the Stone RIS and to have it barrell aged was great with hints of vanilla and chocolate and as it warmed more flavors came out as did the abv,it poured a dark thick black as night beer and very malty.CHEERS!

Pour from a growler gave us a pitch black brew with a very minimal tan head. The aroma was decadent with vanilla, and chocolate. The mouthfeel was rich, thick, and very smooth. The flavors are complex with coffee, bourbon, molasses, and alcohol. The taste lasts a long time. Insanely good brew.

on tap at the strong ale fest super vanillia aroma from the barrels....super nice malt flavor......great great stuff......wish they bottled the stuff