Imperial Stout Tasting

[MAS_Puros]

Well I am having a few friends over for a BBQ tomorrow and what a better way to celebrate good company then to have a horizontal imperial stout tasting. These past few days the tempurature has dropped to the mid 60's low 70's, so stout seemed appropriate. Here is the line-up for the day:

• AleSmith Speedway Stout
• Le Coq Imperial Extra Double Stout
• The Abyss
• Stone Imperial Russian Stout
• Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout

If I am still standing I will try and post a follow up tomorrow evening.

 

[Phlicker]

mmmmmmmm.....Abyss.....let us know how it goes!

 

[smellysell]

Sounds like a great time Mike. Have fun.

 

[MAS_Puros]

mmmmmmmm.....Abyss.....let us know how it goes!

I know I can't wait! it will be my first.

Ok well there was one more added to the line up:
Yeti Imperial Stout


So here is a pic of what we will be drinking.

 

[Smoking Mex]

Heavy Duty, Heavy Duty Mang... Mike I hear you about Stout weather this weekend. I am about to gear up for the Laker game and will likely partake in some Stout's as well. Had the weather been more favorable I would have opted for some Franziskaner, and Nugget Nectar. I have yet to find a better Hefe than Franziskaner except maybe Weihenstephaner Hefewiessbier. Beer brothers any other Hefe's I should seek out?

 

[Aventinus]

I have yet to find a better Hefe than Franziskaner except maybe Weihenstephaner Hefewiessbier. Beer brothers any other Hefe's I should seek out?

Those are two of my favorites as well. Ayinger's Brau-Weisse and Ur-Weisse (dunkel) are both top notch as well. You can't go wrong with anything Ayinger IMO.

 

[Smoking Mex]

I have yet to find a better Hefe than Franziskaner except maybe Weihenstephaner Hefewiessbier. Beer brothers any other Hefe's I should seek out?

Those are two of my favorites as well. Ayinger's Brau-Weisse and Ur-Weisse (dunkel) are both top notch as well. You can't go wrong with anything Ayinger IMO.

Thanks Peter, I will give those a try. I agree that Ayinger never disappoints... :thumbs:

 

[smellysell]

I have yet to find a better Hefe than Franziskaner except maybe Weihenstephaner Hefewiessbier. Beer brothers any other Hefe's I should seek out?

Those are two of my favorites as well. Ayinger's Brau-Weisse and Ur-Weisse (dunkel) are both top notch as well. You can't go wrong with anything Ayinger IMO.

The Schneider and Paulaner ones are both good too. Neither of those breweries ever disappoint either. I really want to try the Andechser one.

 

[MAS_Puros]

Heavy Duty, Heavy Duty Mang... Mike I hear you about Stout weather this weekend. I am about to gear up for the Laker game and will likely partake in some Stout's as well. ...

Well ran into a little snag Sunday, 2 of the guys that were suppose to come over yesterday for the tasting flaked on me.
So a good friend of mine, Jaime, who was at my place decide 'screw it, we will do it ourselves'.

So my fellow CP brothers we did our best but fell one short. :blush:

We stated off around 5PM with Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout. This was an exceptional stout, not too heavy and the flavors were great. Poured a rich dark brown with hardly any head. Smelled of coffee and toffee, mouth-feel flavors that stuck out were black coffee and dark chocolate. I really enjoyed this not too heavy taste. Also ABV was hardly noticable...excellent start to our Journey.

Next we opened up a bottle of Stone Imperial Russian Stout, this was not as robust. Poured a black and oily with no head. Couldn't get a strong smell from it at all, flavors seemed a bit dull. Mouth-feel was the same, flavors were dull and the alcohol was very noticeable. Not too impressed with this stout, I expected a bit more, not bad but not great.

Up next what I had, I have been anticipating, the Abyss. Wow this was a full flavor stout. Smell of molasses, coffee, chocolate. Mouth was creamy and sweet, that of molasses ... I love the flavor of this stout but my only draw back was the excessive alcohol after taste. The 11% is very noticeable, wondering if aging will help balance this out a bit more.

The beer was finally getting to me ... Yeti Imperial Stout, poured pitch black with a tan brown head. Aroma of rich roasted malts, burnt wood, strong dark sweet coffee and some fresh vanilla notes. Roasted malt bitterness initially followed by a strong molasses sweetness, and rich dark chocolate. Rich and creamy alcohol almost completely hidden. Very enjoyable.

For the second to last we opened up AleSmith Speedway Stout pour oil black and smelled caramel and coffee, toffee. Taste was that of chocolate and alcohol. It was almost like drinking a cream stout ... sweet with minimal bitterness. This bad boy has been aging for 9 months. It was a well balance stout with tons of flavor.

It was 10PM by now and standing was getting harder and harder so we called it quites ... never got to the Le Coq Imperial Extra Double Stout.

Well after all said and done I have to say my favorites were as follows, from best to worst: (I have a tie for first place but I think with a little age the Abyss would only get better.)
1. Speedway Stout
1. the Abyss
3. Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout
4. Yeti Imperial Stout
5. Stone Imperial Russian Stout

 

[smellysell]

That's a lot of syrupy goodness for two guys! :laugh:

Sounds like it was a good time Mike.

 

[MAS_Puros]

That's a lot of syrupy goodness for two guys! :laugh:

Sounds like it was a good time Mike.

Man Justin it was a great time! Let's just say my head was pounding in the morning. :blush:

 

[denverdog]

1. Speedway Stout
1. the Abyss
3. Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout
4. Yeti Imperial Stout
5. Stone Imperial Russian Stout

Some tasty brews Mike, sounds like a helluva time! I definitively agree with your ratings, if the Yeti were the oak aged I would throw it up to number 3.

 

[nicktressler]

1. Speedway Stout
1. the Abyss
3. Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout
4. Yeti Imperial Stout
5. Stone Imperial Russian Stout

Some tasty brews Mike, sounds like a helluva time! I definitively agree with your ratings, if the Yeti were the oak aged I would throw it up to number 3.

None of these damn beers stand up to Miller Chill. Now THAT is a stout.

 

[denverdog]

1. Speedway Stout
1. the Abyss
3. Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout
4. Yeti Imperial Stout
5. Stone Imperial Russian Stout

Some tasty brews Mike, sounds like a helluva time! I definitively agree with your ratings, if the Yeti were the oak aged I would throw it up to number 3.

None of these damn beers stand up to Miller Chill. Now THAT is a stout.

Rod, please ban this mudda fugga!!!!!!!!

 

[MAS_Puros]

1. Speedway Stout
1. the Abyss
3. Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout
4. Yeti Imperial Stout
5. Stone Imperial Russian Stout

Some tasty brews Mike, sounds like a helluva time! I definitively agree with your ratings, if the Yeti were the oak aged I would throw it up to number 3.

I have a bottle of the Oak Aged Yeti and might have to save for a round 2 of Stout tastings! :thumbs:

None of these damn beers stand up to Miller Chill. Now THAT is a stout.

LMAO, I have to agree and I believe that 'D' is for 'DANG THAT GOOD!'

:laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

 

[Fia]

Heavy Duty, Heavy Duty Mang... Mike I hear you about Stout weather this weekend. I am about to gear up for the Laker game and will likely partake in some Stout's as well. Had the weather been more favorable I would have opted for some Franziskaner, and Nugget Nectar. I have yet to find a better Hefe than Franziskaner except maybe Weihenstephaner Hefewiessbier. Beer brothers any other Hefe's I should seek out?

I like Hoegaarden (sp?) White. If you have a Gordon Biersch near you, their Hefe on tap is awesome. I didnt know this before but you can also get growlers at GB to take home.

Good Luck.