VERSUS: Castle Island ONE vs Castle Island TWO

The Stats
ONE
Style: Russian Imperial Stout
ABV: 11.5%
Current Ratings...
- Untappd: 4.21/5
- Beer Advocate: 4.23/5
- RateBeer: N/A
TWO
Style: Russian Imperial Stout
ABV: 11.5%
Current Ratings...
- Untappd: 4.07/5
- Beer Advocate: 4.08/5
- RateBeer: N/A

 BREWER'S DESCRIPTION

ONE

"When we set out to launch Castle Island, our goals were humble – great liquid, done right and without pretense. We quickly learned that you also had a thirst for this vision, and the passion you’ve shown us over the last year fills us with gratitude and joy. This year, we say “thank you” with ONE. A beastly, belly-warming Russian imperial stout, ONE is a toast to you, our loyal fans, for your unwavering enthusiasm for our efforts."

TWO

"We set out to launch Castle Island with a humble goal- great liquid offering relief from the hassle of everyday life. We quickly learned that you also had a thirst for this vision, and the passion you’ve shown us over the last two years fills us with gratitude and joy, as we did last year, this year we say “Thank You” with TWO. Our beastly, belly-warming Russian Imperial Stout, TWO is a toast to you, our loyal fans, for your unwavering enthusiasm for our efforts."

 

APPEARANCE

ONE

Pitch black in color with no light getting through. I got some ruby red on the edges when held up to the light. The pour produced a finger of off-white head.

TWO

Literally the same as ONE. Same dark abyss of a body devoid of color with an identical finger of matching head.

AROMA

ONE

A subtle aroma of light coffee and mellowed dark fruits on top of almost an oak character and a bit of pipe tobacco.

TWO

The fresher vintage has a bigger pop of the coffee, but also dark chocolate syrup and cherries. Digging deeper there is black licorice and some leather too.

TASTE

ONE

Up front there is more of the aforementioned oak (though, I don't think this was aged in oak). The second half starts to shine with a lot of dark fruits, especially cherries, which envelope the back of the tongue. Near the end, a distinct hop presence almost spikes the palate and leaves delicious lingering bitterness. Plums, figs, dates, and raisins really pop here on the taste after being a little too silent on the aroma.

TWO

Everything I said about ONE's taste can just be inserted here, but like the aroma, it has added elements of that dark chocolate and black licorice. That hop bitterness is the same, but the bitter bite is also being influenced by that dark chocolate. Again, to my knowledge, these weren't oak aged, but there is an undeniable wood, smoke, char, and tobacco profile to the taste. More chocolate notes emerge as it warms which give off a fudgy, brownie batter flavor.

MOUTHFEEL

ONE

The body is full and perfectly suitable for the style. It feels like a big beer, but I think it could have been thicker and more mouth-coating for an 11% RIS. Aside from some subtle warmth, there is no alcohol to be found.

TWO

This one on the other hand has a more distinct, inky, thicker body and a more luscious feel. TWO also has a slight warming sensation on each sip and no alcohol presence to be found.

OVERALL

ONE

This is a massive, double-digit RIS that you can sip on for an hour or two and keep picking out flavors over the course of the time of consumption. The nose was a bit muted, but the taste still yielded all the things you love in a big Russian Imperial. The body seemed too thin, but at the same time, it was in line for the style.

TWO

The fresher vintage has everything I liked about ONE, but all of the flavors are bigger and brighter. On TWO, the body was exactly what I want from an RIS, and this was really a selling point in this battle. I didn't see an advantage is letting ONE sit for over a year as aging it didn't bring anything to the table.

RATINGS

ONE
8.2/10

TWO
8.8/10

Oskar Blues Barrel Aged Ten Fidy

The Stats
Style: Russian Imperial Stout
ABV: 12.9%
Current Ratings...
- Untappd: 4.42/5
- Beer Advocate: 4.48/5 (Top 250: #141)
- RateBeer: 4.14/5

"Aged through four seasons and from a blend of the top Bourbons around, this Ten Fidy has morphed into a monster of cranked up flavor. Espresso, burnt sugar, rich chocolate, caramel notes are now driving alongside the vanilla, oak, bourbon from the barrel and been smoothed out during maturation. Even at 12.9% (75 IBUs) it is cool and drinkable, letting each sip add more and more complexity."

Pours out pitch black in color with not even brown on the edges; it is a true abyss of darkness. The pour produced a finger of mocha-colored head.

I don't know why I was concerned about the bourbon being too subtle, but hot damn it is MASSIVE on the aroma. When you whip your head back and out loud say "Woah!", then you know you have something special. Bourbon, chocolate, and tobacco are screaming out in droves and the barrel is imparting so much oak and char it is ridiculous. A lot of cherries also smack me in the face as do raisins, and figs. Bitter dark chocolate with some smoke and a touch of booze finish things off.

One sip in, and this is unquestionably a superb Bourbon Barrel Aged Stout. If you spike a glass of chocolate milk with top shelf bourbon, then you get Oskar Blues BA Ten Fidy.

Smooth, fluffy milk chocolate is up front, but it shares the stage with sweet, sticky bourbon. Like I said on the aroma, the bourbon is not being shy at all, and I love every second of it. The barrel character soon takes over as the char and tobacco really storm the palate in full force and really just leave destruction in its wake. There's plenty of oak and wood to be had with some hints of smoke from a BBQ pit. A lot of cherries and a cherry cordial taste come in after the barrel character has run its course and more dark fruit influence in the form of figs and dates push their way to the front of the line. There's a touch of booze on each sip, but the alcohol taste is welcome in this case as it helps break up some of the flavors and actually moves this big bastard of a beer along the palate.

Mouthfeel is thick, luscious, and smooth on my tongue. It feels like a 12% BA stout, but never at any point is it too intimidating to drink. This one you could sip on for an hour or two, or due to its vast array of flavors, you could plow through your stovepipe can quickly and then pay for it later. In any case, it's a calm feel with silky body and robust flavor profile.

Barrel Aged Ten Fidy did not simply add bourbon to an already superb base beer. No, no, no. The barrel aging not only enhanced the original blueprint, but added in too many flavors to count. What exactly did this do to distance itself from so many other bourbon barrel aged stouts? That's a good question, but in reality, when you drink one, there is just that "X-Factor" that hits you and you know the answer. In this case of BA Ten Fidy, you know it when you drink it, and what I do know is that this is superb in all aspects. Personally, I have seen this at all of my local stores and in decent amounts. Why people aren't snatching this up like Beanie Babies (terrible, out-of-date reference...might have been good in 1998) is a mystery to me. If this is still available next time I go to my store(s), then I am grabbing every can available.

Rating
9.7/10

Oskar Blues Ten Fidy

The Stats
Style: Russian Imperial Stout
ABV: 10.5%
Current Ratings...
- Untappd: 4.11/5
- Beer Advocate: 4.38/5
- RateBeer: 4.1/5

"This titanic, immensely viscous stout is loaded with inimitable flavors of chocolate-covered caramel and coffee and hide a hefty 65 IBUs underneath the smooth blanket of malt. Ten FIDY (10.5% ABV) is made with enormous amounts of two-row malt, chocolate malt, roasted barley, flaked oats and hops. Ten FIDY is the ultimate celebration of dark malts and boundary-stretching beer."

Pours black like motor oil and produced almost two fingers of light brown head.

The aroma is full of red grape, light coffee, tobacco, black licorice, roasted malts, dark fruits, and even some citrus and pine.

The taste is heavy on the dark fruits up front with raisins and black cherries taking the lead. I'm not surprised this clocks in at 65 IBUs since a distinct bitter character runs rampant throughout. A bitter dark chocolate adds in a dessert feel. Towards the back some subtle coffee from the aroma comes back and the beer leaves a bitter taste on each finish. What is surprising me most is how this transitions from heavy red grape and vinous notes to citrus to deeply roasted malts with every sip. Then it's all encased in that appetizing bitter character. Usually I don't experience this much complexity with every tiny sip, but Ten Fidy has it perfected.

Mouthfeel is rich, thick, smooth, and velvety. My tongue is coated on each swig and the mouthfeel is calm and gentle. The 10.5% is nowhere to be found as not even a warming sensation shows up with each sip.

Ten Fidy has long been an exemplary Russian Imperial Stout and I can easily see why. The complexity with each individual sip combined with that amazing mouthfeel shows us that a standard, non-barrel aged stout has the ability to knock your socks off. As a bonus, this is available almost everywhere and you can find it almost year-round on your local shelf.

Rating
9.4/10

Off Color Dino S'mores

The Stats
Style: Russian Imperial Stout
ABV: 10.5%
Current Ratings...
- Beer Advocate: 4.13/5
- Untappd: 4.07/5
- RateBeer: 3.81/5

"When we launched BorrachaBaker made us some s'mores shaped like dinosaurs for our launch event. Then, we made an imperial stout with graham flour, marshmallow fluff, vanilla, and cocoa nibs with Amager and West Lakeview Liquors. Then, we brought this beer to the Brewpub Shootout and paired the beer named after the food with a food the beer wasn't named after. People were confused and named it best beer (or was it food?) at the Shootout."

Pours out jet black, but I do get some ruby red hues when I hold it up to the light. It poured to about one finger of light brown head.

As promised, this has an uncanny amount of vanilla and marshmallow exploding out of the glass. Graham cracker crust and subdued chocolate add to the dessert sensation. A sticky, sweeter, vanilla extract and molasses are also noticeable as are some subtle dark fruits and cherries.

The taste produces an interesting allocation of flavors on my tongue. The outer edges of my tongue are coated in marshmallow fluff while the middle is filled up with dark chocolate, and roasted malts. As this warms up, the vanilla and marshmallow turn into the aforementioned vanilla extract taste which causes some momentary double takes. The transition produces almost a nutty or even peanut butter taste that I am really into and more of the cherries from the aroma make for a nice cordial when combined with that bitter dark chocolate.

Mouthfeel is fluffy, but as thick as it should be for such a robust RIS at 10.5% abv. There's not one shred of alcohol and the dessert-like nature of the beer makes it drinker friendly and dangerous.

Dino S'mores smelled like it was supposed to smell and tasted like it was supposed to taste. It promised a s'mores experience and by God that's what you get. Marshamllow and vanilla were the most noticeable, but the supporting cast of dark chocolate, and the base RIS contributed heavily to a great dessert beer.

Rating
8.8/10

Samuel Smith's Imperial Stout

The Stats
Style: Russian Imperial Stout
ABV: 7.0%
Current Ratings...
- Beer Advocate: 4.17/5
- RateBeer: 3.86/5
- Untappd: 3.8/5

"This distinctive type of beer was originally brewed to withstand the abuses of shipping in foul weather to Imperial Russia. It was a favourite of Russian nobility whose taste for the finest food and drink was world famous. A rich flavourful brew; deep chocolate in colour with a roasted barley nose and flavour that is a complexity of malt, hops, alcohol and yeast. Fermented in ‘stone Yorkshire squares"

Pours completely black. No ruby red or brown on the edges as this one is truly black at heart. I got a nice, two fingers of khaki-colored head.

I am surprisingly blown away by the aroma. I thought this was going to be a straight-up Imperial Stout, but an absurdly huge cherry flavor knocked me on my ass and made think this was a RIS (upon further Googling, my hunch was confirmed). It smells more like a flavored stout with cherries and berries rather than a standard RIS, but I don't care. Behind that I get coffee, roasted malts, and even some vanilla. Definitely more coffee as it warms and then a K.O. punch of black licorice hits me on the jaw and leaves me lying on the mat.

The taste remains faithful to the aroma with anise and black licorice leading the charge, but with a nice kick of raisins too. Those cherries are back and keep this in check as a classic RIS. The warmer this gets, the more coffee comes out, but so does bitter dark chocolate. Am I getting a hop presence on this? Because I swear I'm picking up just the smallest touch of pine. A distinct British yeast runs rampant throughout with the raisins and even some plumb making a return for the finish.

Mouthfeel is relatively calm, but a big enough body to be called a stout. With a name like "Imperial Stout", you'd expect a full-on, mouth-coating experience, but then again, it is only 7% abv, so maybe it shouldn't be anticipated. It does leave enough residual taste to stop me from calling it "watered down", so I am happy with the body as is.

Samuel Smith's Imperial Stout is a tame "Imperial Stout", but still a bottle full of flavor. The overload of cherries and licorice was surprising for an RIS under 8%, but it made the beer taste and feel bigger than it actually was, which is an accomplishment in itself. It may dance the line between standard and Imperial Stout, but I'm just enjoying it for what it is, and that's a tasty, complex brew which is probably available at your local store and is just sitting on the shelf.

Rating
8.8/10

Review #300: Stone Imperial Russian Stout (2009 Vintage)

The Stats
Style: Russian Imperial Stout
ABV: 10.5%
Current Ratings...
- Beer Advocate: 4.34/5
- RateBeer: 4.18/5 (Top 50: #49)

Time to drop the balloons, lock up your daughters, gather the troops, throw a load of clothing in the dryer, make room for dessert, tie a ribbon 'round the old oak tree, and prepare for takeoff because...

IT"S REVIEW #300!!!!!!!!!!!

Can you believe three centuries-worth of beer reviews have come and gone? Neither can I. I'll admit I've had a lot of fun passing off my alcohol dependency as a blog for the past 299 reviews and I always like to bust out something special for each centennial. Looking through my collection (more like a small gathering), this one caught my eye. It's not that Stone's Imperial Russian Stout is hard to get (far from it), but I recall picking this one up on a trip to Vermont years ago. It was a vintage bottle back that already had a few years on it, but I tucked it away for no good reason. So I figure, why not for #300? This could also be a nice little experience with aging a beer for a prolonged period of time. My most recent memories of Stone IRS is that it is a rich and velvety Imperial Stout, but I've never had one that is close to this eight-year vintage. It's been sitting in the bottle for eight years and it is just aching to get in my tummy. Cheers to all who have been here since review #1. Here's to 300 more!

"Stone Imperial Russian Stout is so thick, rich and, well, sinful, you might worry that you'll be doomed to the fiery pits just for thinking about a sip. Rest assured, however, that even though this seemingly pernicious brew is indeed as black as sin, we guarantee that no actual sin was committed in making it...you'll have to add that on your own. This massive and intensely aromatic beer abounds with notes of chocolate, coffee, black currants, anise and roastiness, and its heavy palate is nothing to be trifled with."

Have Mercy! It pours as black and thick as Jesse Katsopolis' hair. An inky black body is topped with less than half a finger of khaki-colored head.

The aroma has roasted malts and coffee with underlying chocolate syrup and some cherry and fluffy milk chocolate.

I gotta say, for having almost a full decade on it, my initial impression is that age did not produce a knee-buckling stout. That being said, it is still the great IRS we all know and love.

No, not that one!

More intense roasted notes are present on every inch of the palate with an almost smokey quality. More chocolate this time around, but now it's dark, rich, and bitter. The cherries are back which produce a sweet cordial flavor, but some dark fruits come to the party. I mean, they didn't bring any Chex Mix, but they're here to take up space. As it transitions, there's more coffee, but it's more like dark coffee grounds and there's even some tobacco and char. Near the end an unexpected pine or tree bark flavor comes into play, but it's not that big of a factor. Overall the roasted flavors dominate.

Mouthfeel is pretty on-point for a 10.5% Russian Imperial Stout. Despite the dominant roast, this is a smooth sipper and that abv is nowhere to be found.

So, does aging this for eight years being anything new to the table? I don't personally think so, but Stone's Imperial Russian Stout has been a staple in the market for so long and there's good reason. As a stout available at pretty much any store that sells craft beer, and is probably available any time you want it, this one packs in some robust roasted flavors with dessert-like chocolate and a kick of smoke and char. It isn't going out of style any time soon.

Rating
8.7/10

See you at #400!

Review #100
Review #200

Weyerbacher Heresy

The Stats
Style: Russian Imperial Stotut
ABV: 8%
Current Ratings...
- Beer Advocate: 3.94/5
- RateBeer: 3.81/5

"This is an incredibly intriguing ale is made by aging our Old Heathen Imperial Stout in oak barrels that were used for making fine Kentucky bourbon! The result is an extraordinary, dark, and mysterious stout whose very essence has been enhanced. The aroma is filled with vanilla, cocoa, and roasted coffee beans. This silky-smooth brew has notes of oak, whiskey, roasted barley and vanilla that meld together on the tongue to create an incredible sensation."

This was given to me years ago by a buddy of mine and has just been sitting in my fridge ever since. Well, you don't want to hear my life story, so let's get to the beer.

Pitch black appearance with no brown or ruby red. The pour gave off less than half a finger of khaki-colored head.

Aroma had a smooth, pleasant oak and bourbon smell. Behind that are cherries and dark fruits and even a dark fudge chocolate brownie presence.

I'd say the taste is on point with the aroma and no more/no less. The sweet, but not too sticky bourbon hits first followed by the dark chocolate ahead of the cherries and dark fruits. I thought it would be the other way around based on the aroma, but no big deal. The dark fruits give this stout that Russian Imperial Stout taste and feel which makes it seem bigger than 8%. I get a lot of oak in the middle of the mouth and near the back end, which just adds more barrel complexity to this beer. There's an overall coffee ground taste surrounding the whole experience, which makes this bitter at times, but it's not as enjoyable as I'd like it to be. The finish ends with some plum, raisins, and figs.

Mouthfeel comes up a little thin for an 8%, barrel-aged stout. It doesn't coat the mouth at all, but it isn't watery either. The body is like mine: simply ok. On the plus side there's no alcohol or burning/warming anywhere to be found. It drinks lighter than its abv would lead you to believe.

After so many years in the bottle and so many months in my fridge, Heresy is a perfectly acceptable barrel-aged stout. There's not too many shortcomings to point out, but at the same time nothing dazzles me either. The bourbon is nice and sweet while the base beer had plenty of those RIS characteristics. Not a mind-blower, but still solid.

Rating
8.2/10

Wormtown Spies Like Us

The Stats
Style: Russian Imperial Stout
ABV: 10.5%
Current Ratings...
- Beer Advocate: 4.16/5
- RateBeer: 3.81/5

"The cold war may be over, but our Russian Imperial Stout is just getting started. Rich, roasted malts, gentle British hopping with earthy Fuggles hops help create just the right balance and character that this style is famed for. Our label pays tribute to our three secret agents; Tom, David, and Ben, who when they are not saving the world from nuclear war, are helping bring Wormtown to everyone who loves great beer."

Pours pitch black with ruby red on the edges and less than a finger of khaki-colored head.

Lots of roasted coffee and roasted malts on the nose. Hidden in the back are cherries, dark fruits, and a black licorice/anise aroma. It also has the smell of leather (not a bad thing).

Those cherries, plums, and raisins strike first a the front of my tongue. While a coffee flavor was strong on the aroma, I actually don't get it at all here as the dominant force of the taste reminds me more of an Old Ale with a molasses and wood character and there's even a good smokey flavor here too. There's an overall herbal/minty hop influence with small hints of spice all throughout and I'm surprised at such a big hop presence in a massive RIS. If I concentrate hard enough I can detect a small bit of rich, dark chocolate and maybe even some caramel.

Mouthfeel is soft, thick, and coats the tongue (phrasing!). I'm impressed by the lack of alcohol presence although there is a slight warming sensation on each sip. It's a sipper for sure.

There are so many flavored or barrel-aged stouts out there these days that it makes people forget that a standalone stout is also great if done well. Spies Like Us is big, bold, and flavorful, but without the added bells and whistles. I enjoyed mine in Summer, but this is something you'll want to snuggle up next to on a cold Winter's night.

Rating
9.0/10

Backlash Death

The Stats
Style: Russian Imperial Stout
ABV: 9.00%
Current Ratings...
- Beer Advocate: 4.06/5
- RateBeer: 3.53/5

Part of the Backlash "Apocalypse Series", Death is a big Imperial Stout with not a whole lot of information available on it. Backlash is more known for its hoppy offerings and I believe this marked the first commercially available stout from them.

Dark as night on the pour with a some dark brown on the edges. It produced a finger of tan/khaki head.

The aroma is sweet and roasty with black coffee, vanilla, licorice, and a tiny amount of chocolate syrup, cherry, and dark fruits.

Initially on the first sip, the bitter, dark coffee smacks you in the face. The roasted malts are significantly bigger here and they have almost a smoky quality to them. Like the aroma, the roasty and sweet flavors share equal time on stage. The middle transitions to dark chocolate and dark cherry and a familiar iced coffee taste. The finish has a lingering black licorice for a nice change of pace, but there's also a malty aftertaste that refuses to go away and makes the finish good instead of great.

The mouthfeel is an interesting mixed bag of sorts. When it first hits your tongue, the immediate thought if soft and fluffy, but almost instantly it vanishes. As a 9.00% stout, I will say that it isn't as thick and viscous as others of the style and abv. It isn't quite as thin as a milk stout nor would I ever dare say it is watery, but it is noticeably not as mouth-coating as it should be. Speaking of the abv, the 9.00% is nowhere to be found and there isn't even warming in the chest on each sip. It's smooth throughout and easy to drink.

Backlash Death has a lot of great qualities that a standard, non-flavored, non barrel-aged stout should have. An even combination of roasty and sweet along with a smooth texture and easy drinkability put this ahead of a lot of other standard Imperial Stouts. Some points are deducted for minor transgressions, but they can easily be overlooked and the beer can be enjoyed for all the good it has to offer.

Rating
8.1/10

Hill Farmstead Damon (Bourbon Barrel Aged)

The Stats
Style: Russian Imperial Stotut
ABV: 10.50%
Current Ratings...
- Beer Advocate: 4.45/5 (Top 250: #177)
- RateBeer: 4.13/5

Happy One-Year Anniversary to ThrewRedButter!!!!! Thank you to those who have been since Dale's Pale Ale!

Plus, I needed a reason to open something awesome, so here we go. Damon is a Russian Imperial Stout with many variations. There is a Bourbon, Port, and Double Barrel version of this beer. I got this one in 2013 at the release (which was f***ing madness) and have just been sitting on it for no good reason. The time for waiting has officially come to an end.

As expected, it pours pitch black, no light getting through this, no ruby red or brown on the edges. Even pouring aggressively produced less than a finger of dark brown head.

Bourbon is still pretty damn big on this one after two years. It has some booziness on the aroma, but not hot. Nice oak/wood from the barrel and some subtle coffee.

The taste yields a lot more chocolate than the aroma would lead you to believe. It's similar to fudge or brownie batter, which yes, is delicious. The bourbon is front and center and at times it's overpowering. I can definitely pick out other flavors such as charred oak and some dark roast coffee, but the bourbon is finding a way of cutting to the front of the line each time I find something new. After two years, there's still a tinge of alcohol, but it's not a deterrent.

As far as mouthfeel goes, this is velvety and hits your tongue with a thud of fluffiness on the initial sip. It's very pleasant indeed. In terms of a double-digit abv barrel-aged stout, there's a slight warmth in the throat and chest on each swallow, but by no means major. Considering it's such a big beer, the alcohol is well-hidden and this is a smooth ride all throughout.

Damon succeeds as a big, barrel-aged stout with complex aromas and flavors. It falters with the unrelenting bourbon which takes center stage and leaves nothing else in a starring role. While the supporting cast is in the background, they are relevant enough to be noticeable and create layers of flavor. Again, a great offering, but the bourbon needs to be turned down a notch to let other flavors come through.

Rating
8.6/10

Tributary Mott The Lesser

The Stats
Style: Russian Imperial Stout
ABV: 10.50%
Current Ratings...
- Beer Advocate: 4.75/5 (38 total reviews/ratings)
- RateBeer: No Score

A little over two years ago, Brewmaster Tod Mott left Portsmouth Brewery to open what would become Tributary Brewing in Kittery, Maine. Mott and Portsmouth parted amicably, but in his departure, Mott took the recipe for the famed Kate The Great Imperial Stout, which was considered one of the best beers in the world. The beer world hoped Kate the Great would return, and finally last week, prayers were answered as Tributary held the release for the reincarnated Kate the Great in the form of Mott The Lesser. From what I have heard and read, MtL is the same recipe, but MtL was partially aged in Apple Brandy barrels and Port. As far as I know, Kate the Great wasn't aged at all, so it looks like what was regarded as an elite beer has become even better. There were only 1,400 bottles or so released, so I was lucky enough to snag one in a trade. Thanks, Mike!

Pours black as night with dark brown on the edges when I held it up to the light. Got a finger of a light brown/khaki head.

The aroma is super dark fudge brownie and wood with lots of roasted malts and even some cherry or plum.

A lot of roastiness on the first initial sip. I pick up a sticky molasses component too. There's a slight Port flavor and again a slight Apple Brandy, but they aren't huge contributing factors to this beer. If anything, the char and oak from the barrels lend more of a hand to the overall taste than anything else. That cherry plays in on the middle of the tongue and the finish brings back that fudge brownie and bitter dark chocolate. Maybe a little bit of alcohol, but nothing major.

Man, I can't recall a smoother RIS in recent memory. It's velvety, fluffy,and coats the whole mouth without being cloying. At 10.50% the alcohol is barely there and leaves a slight warming in the chest on each swallow.

Mott the Lesser had a lot of hype around it and as a standard RIS, it delivers with it's superb mouthfeel and mix of coffee roast, fudge, and hints of dark fruits. As a beer that did mention Apple Brandy and Port aging, I was hoping for more of a presence, but I can understand their absence as it was only partially aged. Then again, the charred oak from the barrels showed up to reassure the barrel character was legitimate and well done. If you have a bottle, crack it open and sip for hours to let the complexity come through.

Rating
9.2/10

Great Divide Barrel Aged Yeti (2011 Vintage)

The Stats
Style: Russian Imperial Stout
ABV: 10.70%
Current Ratings...
- Beer Advocate: 4.28/5
- RateBeer: 4.02/5

If you tuned in last time, you saw my review of Great Divide Yeti and how it is a superb example of what a standard Imperial Stout should be. What can make it better? Barrel aging it! In this case, we have the standard Yeti aged for nine months in Stranahan's Colorado Whiskey barrels.

I got the classic Shane Diesel pour with a pitch black body and managed two fingers of dark brown head.

The first thing I pick up on the aroma is a blast of roastiness. The whiskey is there, but it has mellowed out nicely over the years. A nice pop of coffee and chocolate with oak and a splash of vanilla deep in the back with some toasted coconut. I'm also getting either black licorice or some dark fruits too. It has a lot of flavors and they all work nicely.

My exact reaction on my initial sip was: "Woah, Holy Fu**in whiskey!". Yeah, while subtle on the nose, those nine months in whiskey barrels shine through loud and clear on the taste (even after almost four years). It's not a burning taste, but rather incredibly sweet, almost as sweet as rum. As it warms up, some nice oak and roasted coffee come out. Aside from the overpowering whiskey component, this beer is basically liquid black licorice. It's so powerful that I fear my potassium levels will drop at any moment and I will develop minor heart arrhythmias. All kidding aside, the licorice is balanced out by the barrel and the roastiness. Not as much chocolate or vanilla as I would have hoped, but the finish has a nice cherry kick. It actually carries an unexpected tartness that helps move the whiskey and licorice along.

Compared to the standard Yeti, this doesn't have the same viscous, motor oil-like mouth feel. Granted, it's still relatively thick and coating, but not nearly as good as the original. As I hold the beer in my mouth for a few seconds, the sensation of carbonation bubbles pleasantly dance on my tongue. It drinks like a 10.70% stout should, but it's not too difficult to put down and while there's a miniscule warming in my throat and chest, there's no actual alcohol presence.

If you want your Yeti Imperial Stout soaked head-to-toe in whiskey, then you obviously should check this beer out. That being said, BA Yeti is too overpowering with its whiskey which can be off-putting. I let the beer sit for a while, but was only able to pick out subtle chocolate, coffee, and oak. Other than that, the black licorice took over and never relinquished control for the remainder of the experience. It seems like an acquired taste, but if the licorice-whiskey bomb sound like your cup of tea, then you should go with BA Yeti. As for me, I will take the original any day of the week.

Rating
8.0/10

Great Divide Yeti

The Stats
Style: Russian Imperial Stout
ABV: 9.50%
Current Ratings...
- Beer Advocate: 4.21/5
- RateBeer: 4.09/5

I've been drinking a lot of barrel aged stouts lately and can't really recall the last time I sat down and had a standard, unflavored, non-barrel aged stout. So, why not go to an industry standard?

Pours jet black with not even a hint of dark brown or ruby red on the pour or the edges of the glass. I got less than a finger of head, but it is one of the darkest brown heads I've ever seen on a stout.

The aroma is very aggressive with the roasted malts. A strong black licorice and a subdued Hersey's syrup smell are on the back.

I know this is unflavored, but there is wave after wave of coffee and chocolate on this one. It starts with the coffee bitterness up front and at the middle the aforementioned Hershey's syrup comes in and gets you with some dark chocolate and even milk chocolate too. To my surprise, a decent hop bitterness is here as well.

At 9.50%, Yeti goes down too quick and too smooth. It has a velvety, mouth-coating feel, but it isn't sticky or tar-like considering it's abv and style. There's nothing off-putting on the final finish, but you do get some delicious coffee and chocolate.

As a non-flavored, non barrel aged stout, Yeti is among the best of the best. The malts really do an A+ job here of providing roasted coffee and chocolate. This is a big beer, but the drinkability is through the roof as I put my 12oz bottle away in minutes. I suggest grabbing a bomber and sipping on this for a few hours. You won't be disappointed.

Rating
9.1/10

Sierra Nevada Barrel-Aged Narwhal

The Stats
Style: Russian Imperial Stout
ABV: 12.90%
Current Ratings...
- Beer Advocate: 4.36/5
- RateBeer: 3.92/5

Sierra Nevada has taken their standard, seasonal Narwhal Imperial Stout and aged it in Kentucky Bourbon barrels. To the best of my knowledge, this marks the first year this beer has seen a wide (albeit limited) release to all of Sierra Nevada's markets.

Pours absolutely pitch black with less than a finger of a tan/light brown head.

Sweet bourbon greets you first on the aroma followed by vanilla and toasted marshmallow. In addition I get some black licorice, coffee, and wood from the barrel.

Once again the bourbon is first and foremost. It's very smooth and sweet with no alcohol taste. There's also lots of oak and wood and the barrel aging has really brought out some big vanilla notes. This is also incredibly roasty with big coffee flavor and maybe even a hint of dark fruits.

As I said before, this is incredibly smooth, but also very thick and viscous. It coats your entire mouth with a motor oil-like consistency with even a few carbonation bubbles to boot. At a whopping 12.90% I do get a warmth in my throat and chest on each swallow (oh, grow up!), but you'd have an easier time finding Bigfoot riding a unicorn than you would at finding any alcohol presence.

In regards to the standard Narwhal Imperial Stout, I remember that being heavy on the roastiness while being a bit too hot fresh off the line. Barrel-Aged Narwhal has smoothed out all of those imperfections while making other flavors pop. This version is significantly more complex with bigger, more robust flavors combined with a thick and luscious mouthfeel that remains highly drinkable and smooth.

Rating
9.1/10

Surly Darkness - 2010 Vintage

The Stats
Style: Russian Imperial Stout
ABV: 10.30%
Current Ratings...
- Beer Advocate: 4.5/10 (#57 on the Top 250)
- RateBeer: 4.21/5

Darkness Day 2014 has come and gone and with today being Halloween, and there's only so many pumpkin beers I can drink during October, I decided to bust out something special. Darkness is Surly Brewing's annual Russian Imperial Stout brewed with a shit-ton of dark, roasted malts and aromatic hops. Each release has a different Halloween/horror/macabre label and they all look sick. 2010 was the year of the vampire, so let's see if this one sucks!...I'll show myself out for that one.

Pours exactly as promised: DARKNESS! Yeah, pitch black with a pretty decent, light brown head.

There is some serious cherry on this stout. Lots of fluffy milk chocolate, coffee, and even some fruity hops.

The taste retains all of the flavors from the aroma. There's a big dark chocolate component and the cherry is there too to bring a tart, fruity accent. Dark roast coffee grounds, espresso, and some red grape/vinous flavors. Basically a chocolate-covered cherry dipped in red wine and chased with a cup of coffee. Not only that, there's a nice pop of bitterness from the hops. It's just complex as all hell and a delight to drink.

The mouthfeel is pretty much  perfect. It's thick, creamy, and coats your tongue (c'mon guys, get your minds out of the gutter!). At the same time, it is light and fluffy. The best of both worlds, basically.

Darkness is a deeply rich, complex, and tasty RIS. Combining the best of attributes of various imperial stouts, the flavor profile, hop bitterness, and luscious mouthfeel is what makes this beer standout from so many others of the style. It's big, it's bold, it's delicious...it's fucking DARKNESS!

Rating
9.5/10

Brooklyn Black Ops (2013 Vintage)

The Stats
Style: Russian Imperial Stout
ABV: 11.50%
Current Beer Advocate Rating: 4.13/5

Black Ops is Brooklyn's Black Chocolate Stout aged for four months in bourbon barrels and re-fermented in the bottle with champagne yeast. I am a big fan of the Black Chocolate Stout, so I hope the barrel-aging has brought this to a new level.

Pours as black as its name. I can't even get ruby red on the edges. How much more black could it get? The answer is: None. Got a decent amount of mocha head on the pour.

Believe it or not, the bourbon is not the dominant aroma as I had hoped. As I stuck my nose into the glass I get the faint hint of the champagne yeast, but the alcohol stings the nostrils. A slight roasted malt presence, but the bourbon is practically non-existent nor is the chocolate of the base beer.

I don't know what's going on with this beer. This is supposed to be barrel-aged Black Chocolate Stout, but there is no bourbon or chocolate to speak of. Instead I get a very slight roasted presence, but it is so watered down and thin that my taste buds are dying to grab hold on to anything, but it's just not there. For the style, it doesn't coat the mouth and it's not thick and fluffy.

I just..I just don't know. I was expecting the Black Chocolate Stout to be brought to an almost elite status with four months of barrel aging, but those dreams were stomped on. There is no bourbon or chocolate on the aroma or taste. If this was a blind taste test, I'd swear this was a generic American Stout. How can barrel aging an already delicious stout make the beer worse? Well, Brooklyn Brewery has done it. Not only is it disappointing, but this beer will run you $25+ dollars. It is absolutely not worth the price tag. That being said, I can drink and finish it, but is that really a compliment? As a generic stout, the alcohol is too present. As a barrel-aged offering, it is more than a letdown. If you're sitting on one in your cellar, just drink it now as it's not worthy of a special occasion.

Rating
5.6/10