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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?  
mcbeyond (13), Newport Beach, California, USA
4.6 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/105/59/105/518/20
Nov 2, 2009  
The nose is surprisingly complex with some earthy, musty tones to go along with the coffee and chocolate. Barely any head, thick and viscous. Perfect amount of fizz for this kind of beer and an explosion of flavor that doesn’t leave the palate. It’s hard to believe that this one will get better. I expect it to be ethereal in time.


fistfull (27), Halethorpe, Maryland, USA
4.6 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/105/59/104/519/20
Nov 2, 2009  
The bomb of russian imperials - I’m speechless and won’t decribe everything great everyone else has already iterated! Dy-no-mite!


dekeq (35), New Jersey, USA
4.1 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/105/58/104/516/20
Nov 2, 2009  
Looks? Just as black as the heart of the devil that’s on the bottle. It had a very, very full caramel-colored head and tint around the sides of the glass but it was still very opaque - much like most imperial stouts. It had some nice scents of chocolate and caramel and a very apparent barley scent as well - a little overwhelming though, I think. It tasted quite bitter with a nice spice from the roasted barley. There was also a slight hint of caramel at the end. This was a pretty smooth beer - but I thought it was a little watery. The body seemed to be lacking something. It was also pretty warming - probably due to the high alcohol content.


Oddefellowe (35), Tampa, Florida, USA
4.6 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/105/59/104/519/20
Nov 1, 2009  
Black as the darkest night. Spotty lacing, light brown head that fizzles down with time. Malty base with chocolate notes. Hops shine through nicely. ABV isn’t too taxing. Solid.


gerome (18), France
3.6 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
4/104/56/104/518/20
Nov 1, 2009  
This beer pours a dark black with brown tones and has a thick tan head that lingers with the entire pour. The smell is of dark chocolate, plums, raisins, black cherries and no alcohal to be smelt. As I tasted this beer the bitterness from the hops kicks to the fore-front as well the malty chocolate essence and finishes sweet caramel and nutty. This beer is so smooth I could drink it all day


 dimenhetfield (182), , Florida, USA
4.3 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/105/58/104/518/20
Oct 31, 2009  
Pours jet black with a little off white foam head. Aroma is very roasty with hints of chocolate and malts. One great beer.


 alagnak (340), Littleton, Colorado, USA
3.6 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/103/57/103/516/20
Oct 30, 2009  
Bottle - "Limited Spring 2009 Release" printed on bottom. Nose is nice - a lot of chocolate and less bitterness than expected. Flavor is a little molasses, then a quick run into black licorice and a really nice hoppy bitterness to close. Not a hint of 10.5% abv - and - maybe I’m totally nuts, but it was actually a little watery/thin until it warmed. I was kind of mixed here. I wasn’t really impressed, but nearly drank the whole bomber by myself.


 mjs (1483), Helsinki, Finland
4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/105/58/104/515/20
Oct 30, 2009  
(Draught) Poured pitch black with small and tan coloured head. Aroma of roastedness and liquorice. Palate was full bodied, warming and oily with medium carbonation. Tasted roasty, liquorice, hops, chocolate and bitterness. Roasty or even burnt aftertaste.



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