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Stone Imperial Russian Stout

Percentile
100
overall

bottled
common

on tap
common

Broad Distribution
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RatingsAverageScoreSeasonalABVStyle PctlServe in
18244.22/5.04.21/5.0Spring10.8%98.1Snifter
Commercial Description:
"There's no question that Stone Imperial Stout is revered among enthusiasts," states Stone CEO Greg Koch. "I know, because I'm one of 'em and I can hardly wait for it to come out each year!" Some may think that a late Spring release for a special brew of this sort is an odd time for it to come out onto the market. Koch justifies this with the rationalization "What better than a warm time of year to come out with a brew that tastes great as it warms up!" That's because "ice cold" is certainly not the appropriate way to serve the beer. Nearly without exception, the darker, richer and more alcoholic a brew is, the warmer the serving temperature should be. The Stone Imperial Stout label describes the brew as being "intensely aromatic (notes of anise, black currants, coffee, roastiness and alcohol) and heavy on the palate...expect this mysterious brew to pour like used motor oil and taste even heavier! Serve at 55 degrees."
 Most Recent Top Raters Highest Ratings Who's Rated This?  
 CUJO (346), Brooklyn, New York, USA
4.2 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/105/58/104/518/20
Apr 19, 2009  
Label kicks @ss! Easy pour, low carbonation, very light head. Initial smells yields coffee, dark chocolate... which the first taste confirms. Further tasting reveals more pleasant "burnt" tones, some dried fruits.


 Coltrane (108), South Carolina, USA
4.2 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/105/517/20
Apr 18, 2009    Updated: Apr 24, 2009
For the style, this is dangerously drinkable. Maybe the best of its class. Roasted, chocolate, blackness, all of the important characteristics. And nearly perfectly done. Hints of EVERYTHING but perfectly balanced. A tremendous accomplishment. Vintage: FRESH 2009 UPDATE: Had a year old 2008. DAMN smooth. All the same flavors, just perfectly connected. Maybe too smooth, as I like to punched in the face with hops. But fantastic nonetheless.


Merrill (74), Chicago, Illinois, USA
4.6 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/105/59/105/518/20
Apr 18, 2009  
Pours black with just a thin ring of light coming through the edge. Medium brown head goes away quickly; spotty, oily lace that hangs there like brown stars on the side of your glass. The aroma is burnt malt and lemon peel, perhaps some burnt fig with just a little wet grass. The Flavor is straight dark malts with hints of charcoal, bourbon, very little bitter chocolate or licorice. A stout lovers stout. The finish is the flavor simply diminishing in a long tongue numbing blaze.


 BroSpud (598), , Massachusetts, USA
4.6 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/104/59/105/519/20
Apr 18, 2009  
22oz bottle. Spring 2009 release. This was my first taste of Stone Imperial Stout and it definitely lives up to the hype.This is among the best of anything I have tasted yet. My first thought is that I need to get back to the store and stock up. Deep dark pour, velvety feel, complex coffee and chocolate flavors everything is just right with this one.


 DiabolikDUB (143), Portland, Oregon, USA
4.2 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/104/518/20
Apr 17, 2009  
2009 Vintage from Bottle Pours thick black with a thin cocoa head that dissipates rather quickly in a fine ring around the glass. Deep black in appearance with a bit of mahogany around the edges of the glass. Smell is rich in roasted malts with some slight aromas of dried fruits and smoke. The flavor is full of bitter chocolate, roasted malts and a bit of coffee. There is definitely an alcohol presence in the aftertaste but it is very nice. This beer is extremely drinkable, very well done. Happy I bought a few to keep around for a couple years.


 boFNjackson (1273), Portland, Oregon, USA
4.3 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/59/104/518/20
Apr 16, 2009  
Bottle... Poured deep brownish-almost black-with a light brown head. Dark chocolate and roasted aroma. Smooth palate with rich chocolate flavors and a great malt-grain balance. A little alcohol in the finish with a nice smoked presence.


roborb (60), Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
4.5 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/105/59/104/518/20
Apr 16, 2009  
07 version on tap at the Saucer. Poured into a snifter this beer was solid black withe a 2 finger mocha head. It smells of currants, coffee and strong roasted malts. The taste is more of the same. It is incredibly drinkable and has a nice creamy chocolate finish. This is a fantastic beer and easily one of my favorites.


 jeff789 (394), Pennsylvania, USA
4.3 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/105/58/105/517/20
Apr 16, 2009  
pours an opaque black with nice head retention very creamy head... Dark tart fruit amoma, alcohol, roast, a bit coffee and chocolate, touch of licorice... mildly milky, bitter, chocolatey, complex, a touch of bitter coffee.... full bodied and mouthfeel, but not overly full in any way...



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