Stone Bourbon Barrel Russian Imperial Stout

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

On tap at Pizza Port Strong Ale Festival. Shared with too many ratebeerians to list (see event attendies)Wow. Incredible aroma. I loved smelling this. I shared the smell with everyone who hadn’t got to it yet. My favorite of the festival (and of all time). I think I should change my rating to 5.0. Hmmmm. Some hints of oxidation in a most pleasant way. Los of chocolate in the aroma, but no unpleasant roastiness. Creamy thick microbubble awesome dark tan head. Pitch black liquid is thick. Sweet and incredible rich malty dark fruit complex flavor. I love Stone RIS. I really love aged Stone RIS, and I really, really love Barrel Aged Stone RIS. Nothing’s perfect, but this deserved a 5. Tried again on tap today at Stone. Picked up a growler as well. Awesome! Same rating.

Thanks to all my friends at Stone! 2007 IRS aged three months in Heaven Hill Bourbon Barrel. Black with quickly dissipating tan head. Aroma: chocolate, coffee, alcohol, bourbon. Thick, syrupy full body palate with a silky smoothness as swallowed. Initial taste of sweet caramel, chocolate, and vanilla transitioning to a remarkable bourbon taste with very subtle oak notes and finishing with an enjoyable bitterness and a lingering alcoholic warmth. An extraordianry beer!

Tasted on tap at the 2007 Bistro West Coast Barrel Aged Beer Festival. This Imperial Stout pours a eclipse black color. Small sized tan head with great retention and amazing long lasting lacing. Aroma is bourbon, chocolate, brown sugar and oak. WOW. Full bodied Russian Imperial Stout. The malts are chocolate and coffee. Hints of vanilla and oak and dark fruit blend well in this beer. The hops are earthy. The bourbon flavor is pronounced but not overbearing. Extremely well balanced. Very smooth tasting. The 10% alcohol is not that noticeable. Complex yet very drinkable. As good as Stones regular Russian Imperial Stout is this one is way better. Incredible beer. Mouthfeel is full and round. Finish is clean and smooth. Aftertaste is slightly bitter.

(sampled @ bistros barrel aged fest)black body with no head.light oak in the aroma followed byall the complexity you get out of the regular stone impy.although everything is more balanced and melts together.the flavor is much of the same.again everything melts together almost perfectly.i love the regular stone impy and this is even better.

This poured black in color with a think brown head that faded rather quickly. The nose is filled with crème, hazelnuts, coconut, milk chocloate, vanilla and some woodiness at the end. In the mouth it was full-bodied and quite rich with a sweetness that is wonderfully balanced by just enough grip. The finish lingers on and on with flavors of chocolate dipped hazelnuts. In fact, especially in the finish, this reminds me of a wonderful mignardises to end a great meal...and this can be treated the same!

On tap at the bistro a little while back. Poured an obsidian black with a two finger brown head. Aroma of oak, bourbon, chocolate. Flavor had vanilla notes along with the aromas from above. Full bodied with soft carbonation and a creamy mouthfeel.

Thanks very much for sharing this 1 liter swing-top. The beer pours to a pitch black body with a dense body and a really creamy beige/brown head. Nice lacing. The aroma is awesome. The barrel is a welcome addition and imparts oaken marshmallows on top of creamy chocolate bars and vanilla. The flavor is perfectly balanced. Vanilla, graham crackers, chocolate, marshmallows, oak, and slight coffee. The palate is creamy, full bodied, and the barrel aging is very nicely balanced.

Draft… RBSG ‘08… This beer rocks!… Pitch black ale with a very small, creamy, khaki-colored head. Chocolaty, vinous aroma with notes of vanilla and controlled bourbon. Full-bodied and ultra silky with restrained carbonation. The finish is charred and chocolaty with discreet, elegant bourbon. About as good as it gets!