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Stone Imperial Russian Stout

Stone Imperial Russian Stout

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 Percentile 
100
overall
An Imperial Stout brewed by
Stone Brewing Co.

Escondido, California USA

bottled
common

on tap
common

Broad Distribution
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 Ratings  Average  Score  Seasonal  ABV  Style Pctl  Serve in  Advanced 
14094.23/5.04.22/5.0Spring10.8%97.4Snifter P  Stats

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 RecentTop RatersHighest Ratings Who's Rated This?
 Ernest (4250), Boulder, Colorado, USA
2.5 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
4/104/55/103/59/20

Jun 9, 2002    Updated: Apr 8, 2008
2008 bottle. Head is initially small, frothy, brown, mostly diminishing. Body is virtually opaque black (flashlight tested, not completely but close enough). Aroma is lightly malty (roasted grain, cocoa, husks), trace hops (resin, grapefruit), with light notes of alcohol, acetone, and plastic. Flavor is heavily sweet, lightly acidic, lightly to moderately bitter. Finish is lightly to moderately sweet, lightly acidic, moderately to heavily bitter, unclean. Medium to full body, creamy/syrupy texture, soft/lively carbonation, moderately to heavily alcoholic. Wow, this is pretty bad. Sorry, but...this should never have been bottled. Virtually no aroma, and what’s there is not pleasant. Dirty aftertaste and a harsh, burning finish. This beer isn’t even a shadow of it’s former self (yes, it used to be very nice, no argument there)...the 2007 was very disappointing, but this one has diminished to the point of being undrinkable. Hope they can turn their brewery back around...beers like this and Double Bastard used to be great brews, but both are now only the same in name, not in content.

 KnutAlbert (2322), Oslo, Norway
3.8 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/105/57/104/515/20
Oct 8, 2008  
On tap at the Ginger Man, NYC. Black, coca-cola tinge. Rather soft and smooth. Cocoa, alcohol warming. Some spiciness in the finish. Pleasnt beer for sipping, deceivingly easy to drink..


apshah99 (92), Portland, Oregon, USA
4.3 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/105/59/105/517/20
Oct 6, 2008  
Pitch black pour with tan head. Aroma of roasted malt and coffee. Delicious taste with initial sweetness, with roasted malt, bitter chocolate, anise, and some floral bitter hops on the finish. Wonderfully thick lon the palate. Great beer.


 Svesse (1811), Hässelby, Sweden
4.3 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/59/105/517/20
Oct 3, 2008  
(Bottle, Stockholm Beer Festival, 20 Sep 2008) Pitch black colour with brief, brown head. Roasted, malty nose with notes of black coffee, dark chocolate and hints of citrussy hops. Roasted, malty taste with strong black coffee, liquorice, cocoa and hints of tar. Citrussy hops in a fairly bitter finish. Balanced sweetness. Brilliantly balanced with alcohol well hidden. Absolutely stunning beer! Beautiful!


 taalhiker (111), Dayton, Ohio, USA
4.5 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/105/59/105/518/20
Oct 3, 2008  
From bottle. Pours dark black with very little head. Huge chocolaty malt aroma. Not as heavy inthe mouth as expected but full of coffee, chocolate and smoke. Don’t serve this too cold or you may be disappointed. Classic Stone brew.


 Mette (149), Frederiksberg, Denmark
3.5 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
6/103/57/104/515/20
Oct 2, 2008  
Den har godt nok ligget længe og ventet. Men det var også meningen. Fik den af Kenneth i foråret 2006. Farven er sort, skummet er brunt og forsvinder hurtigt. Duften er sherry/portvin, blommer, svedsker, rosiner, alkohol, lidt sød og mælkeagtig. Smagen er let støvet, gløgg, sprittet, mørke tørrede frugter, lidt bitter choko og igen lidt "mælket". Varmer lidt i halsen, let karboneret ikke så olieret som jeg egentlig havde forventet. Ikke rigtig noget bitterhed tilbage, den har mistet noget med tiden. Smagte en "frisk" af slagsen for ca. 1 ½ år siden som betydelig bedre kunne lide, men ikke ratede.



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