Aubie Stout
Well-Known Member
I have never had this style. What are some good representatives to try to see if I like it?
Old Rasputin if you can locate it... it is my favorite beer on this planet:
Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout - North Coast Brewing Co. - BeerAdvocate
Just had Old Rasputin for the first time earlier this week. It's quite intense.
Rasputin for sure! Old Rasputin is currently my favorite beer.
Another +1 for Old Rasputin. My Trader Joe's carries it.
Old Rasputin is by far my favorite. Storm King from Victory is another good one if you can find it.
Old Rasputin's is very good, however I can go to the grocery store here in pick up Stone, Old Rasputin's I have to leave town for.
Sam Smith carries one of the old style RIS. It's not as big and out of control as some of the other beers mentioned. It's EXTREMELY well balanced considering that it has the same ABV as most of the other beers mentioned in this thread.
That being said. I love Old Rasputian, BORIS the crusher from Hoppin' Frog, Yeti from Great Divide, Stone has a great RIS, Expedition Stout by Bells, World Wide Stout by Dogfishhead, there are hundreads of great examples of this style. For the old school english version of the style go with Sam Smith.
Three Floyd's Dark Lord... though it is a bit tough to get.
"a bit tough" is kind of the funniest understatement ever.
Yeah, and it really isn't a great representation of the style. I really do recommend Old Rasputin for a good idea of what a good RIS is. Dark Lord is great after it gets a year on it or so. I'm trying to clone it.
I think Avery's Mephistopheles is really damn good too. (another huge understatement)
This is a great style of beer. For reasons I don't think I have mentioned before, I cannot endorse North Coast (even though that is a good beer), I would have to steer you to Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout, but it is only out around the holidays I think.
This is a great style of beer. For reasons I don't think I have mentioned before, I cannot endorse North Coast (even though that is a good beer), I would have to steer you to Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout, but it is only out around the holidays I think.
Brooklyn Chocolate is great, but not an RIS!
Not nearly the bitterness of the RIS style.
Then again, I may be full of ****e... (doubtful).
13F. Russian Imperial Stout
Commercial Examples: Three Floyds Dark Lord, Bells Expedition Stout, North Coast Old Rasputin Imperial Stout, Stone Imperial Stout, Samuel Smith Imperial Stout, Scotch Irish Tsarina Katarina Imperial Stout, Thirsty Dog Siberian Night, Deschutes The Abyss, Great Divide Yeti, Southampton Russian Imperial Stout, Rogue Imperial Stout, Bear Republic Big Bear Black Stout, Great Lakes Blackout Stout, Avery The Czar, Founders Imperial Stout, Victory Storm King, Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout
I just finished off a 22oz Stone RIS and I am completely ****ing blotto. Maybe I should have eaten more today. It's a good beer, the malt flavor is good and the contribution of the roast malt lends a flavor that wavers between chocolatey and ashey in character.
You should contact the BJCP people, apparently you can teach them the style guidelines:
Sorry, didn't mean to irritate you.
Jeez...
If you can find it towards Christmas, try to track down Goose Island's Bourbon County Stout. Its not just a beer, its an experience.
Bell's Expedition Stout is very tasty too.
My $0.02 (an I am so far from BJCP)...
Brooklyn is categorized as an RIS, Deschutes Obsidian is qualified as an American stout... less IBU's. Obsidian seems way more bitter than Brooklyn. Both are excellent stouts.
As I said... I do not claim to be a qualified judge, just giving my opinion. Ignore if you would like, no harm done.
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