Portsmouth Kate The Great Russian Imperial Stout
The granddaddy of stouts. Intended for export to the Imperial Court of Russia’s Catherine the Great. Jet black. Full-bodied. Very strong.
4.1
391 reviews
Portsmouth, United States
Community reviews
Bottle: Served in a Chouffe glass:
Pitch black beer with a small brown foamy head.
Aromas of coffee, mocha, dark chocolate, roast, dried leaves, raisin, prunes, soya, some sweet tones, hints of light vinous and sticky darker tones.
Flavours of coffee, roast, espresso, liquorice, toffee, soya, brown sugars, espresso, prunes, sticky, bitters, light citrussy wild yeasty tone and some light berries tones. Quite delicious!
Aftertaste is a mix of bitters, prunes, roast, light sticky, some roast and some coffee/liquorice tones.
Low carbo, creamy close to silky mouthfeel, full bodied and a sticky spicy texture.
Another incredible brew!
Bottle shared with SJ. Ann oddly amazing imperial stout. It had it’s typical, moleasses, roasted malt, burt / chocolate flavors, but then it added some odd tart/ berry taste to it that really made it shine.
A really nice thick full body. I really liked it.
Pours pitch black with small bubbly head. Aroma is intense roasted malty dark fruits coffee chocolate. Flavor is velvety smooth as aroma pleasantly bitter and a bit fruity.
22 oz. bottle multiple times. Pours black in color with a small off white head. The aroma has roasted malt, dark fruits, some smoke and perhaps some char. The flavor has roasted malt, smoked malt with some char, some dark chocolate, dark fruits with some earthy hops, light to medium body with a smooth finish. This is good, but I think there are quite a few that are better.
Old rating, 0,65l bottle sampled @ BBGTC tasting:
Lett fyldig og sødmerik lukt med preg av mørk malt, humle, kaffi, karamell, sjokolade, mørke bær, søt lakris. Fruktig lett syrlig og sødmerik smak med preg av mørk malt, humle, syrlig mørk frukt, salt lakris, syrlig kaffi, mørk bitter sjokolade, soya, gras. Middels bitterhet og lengde. Veldig god.
2010
Pours black, light tan head
Smell smooth caramel, vanilla
Taste smooth vanilla, leather, lots of barleywine qualities, red fruit
Medium body
Ok
2011 Bottle. Pour is black with a small beige head. Aroma is of dark fruits, chocolate, burnt caramel, and molasses. Flavor is a bit heavy on the sweetness with notes of licorice, dark fruits, grape vine, and roast.
Dark brown almost black pour. Aroma is the darkest stout you have ever tried. Taste doesnt quite live up to the aroma but still really good. My first thought this is along the lines of expedition. But after cracking one for comparison, this is better, very similar, but better, darker and more flavor. For a standard imperial stout, that isnt a sugar bomb like darklord this is about as good as it gets. But as it is so close to expedition or founders impy, not worth what it takes to haul in.
2011 bottle. Pours dark black with no head. The aroma is of licorice, sweet carmel malts, mild booze scent, very weak roasted chocolate malts, and I pick up on some dark fruits. As for flavor it is complex. I picked up on strong sweet carmel malts, dates, weak roasty chocolate notes, and diverse minor flavors that is hard to distinguish. The finish is great. There was a minimal dryness from the alcohol, very little bitterness, and a sugary sweetness. Overall this was a treat, truly great.
Rated in 2010 (Backlog) - Black in color with a decent sized tan head. Aroma is of roasted malts, licorice, molasses and chocolate. Taste is of molasses with rich chocolate and roasted malts.
Bottle vinage ’09, courtesy of Kermis, @ Rampkrot tasting. Pours a headless, pitch black beer. Aroma is madeira, vineous, licorice and some booyness. Flavour has some light acidity in it with vineous notes and grapes. Also molasses and very dark chocolate in there.. Great beer.
many thnx to kermis !
first real whale of the rampkrot whale tasting. 09 edition !
pours black, small grey/brown foam that fades to a ring . smell is sweet, bitter in a pure form. perfect carbo . sweet VS sour VS grapes ( red grapes, other heavy red fruits )
i now understant the kabert beer way better !
Thx to kermis @ Rampkrot Whale tasting – 2009 Vintage. 65 cl. Bottle sampled. Pours black with a small beige head. Thick vinous molasses nose, thick sugar, malts, prunes, liquorish, wine vines, thick sweetness chocolate,… Taste is quite vinous, sour candy, dark red grapes, vinous, liquorish, wine vines, chocolate, molasses, malty, sweet spices, light bitterness in the back, very thick cake, lightly sour in the finish, bitter grapes,…. Almost touch light body for a stout,… Very unusual for a RIS esp. with the sour, red grapes, etc. notice, very unexpected. Still confused if this is supposed to be like this but it seems like this is the case. Unusual to say the least.
Bottle shared at Rampkrot Whale Tasting. Pours black with a medium beige head. Aroma of dark fruits, chocolate, roasted malt, dark grapes, caramel, molasses, fudge, licorice and dried fruits. Flavour is fairly heavy sweet, moderate bitter and light acidic. Full bodied with soft carbonation. Excellent!
Bottle (2009) from kermis@ Rampkrot whale tasting. Pours black with a tan head. Strong malty, burnt caramel aroma. Thick oily mouthfeel. Surprisingly fruity (vinious), with a citrus sour finish
Bottle shared with timfoolery. Really good Imperial Stout with nice licorice flavor in it. I was looking for a tad more sweetness but really good.
2010 bottle from trade. Aroma and flavor of espresso and lots of licorice. Really not a sweet thing AT ALL. Nice palate and low carb. Pretty choice beer, but I'd prefer some sweetness.
Quick notes. 2011 vintage, 22 oz bottle into a tulip glass. Huge thanks to Doug for sharing a pour with me! A really big want of mine which I’ve heard far too many grumblings of it being "overrated".
Pours a dark black body with a quickly fading mocha head. The aroma and taste on this beer is really unique as the port does leave quite an impression. Lots of chocolate, roasted malt, molasses and an almost dark fruit/black grape acridity. Rich and creamy mouth feel. Its rich and decadent and the dark fruit element that the port brings to the table really works. This exceeds all hype for me as I found it to be one of the best non barrel aged stouts I have had. I really hope this recipe carries on with Mott’s new brewery as I would love to try it fresh.
Bottle 660ml. [2011 vintage]
Pours black with low beige head. Aroma is of roasted malt, chocolate. Taste is of roasted malt, chocolate, sweetness. Palate: Very nice mouthfeel. Velvet. Overall: Outstanding.
Bottle (22 oz). Vintage 2011. Shared by Pier-Luc, Julien & Benoît, thanks! Pitch black with a small brown head and some lacing. Aroma of berries, vanilla, roasted malt, cacao, wood and slight caramel. Taste is moderately sweet and intensely fruity (almost port-like) with vanilla, cacao, roasted malt, wood and slight caramel. Full body. Velvety mouthfeel. Really complex Imperial Stout, probably the most fruity that I’ve tasted so far. Interesting beer.
Bottle from Pier-luc and Julien, thanks! 2011 vintage. Pours pitch black with brown head and very little lacing. Aroma of roasted malts, cocoa, dired berries, vanilla. Taste is very rich, again lots of cocoa, vanilla, dried fruits. Oak, light acidity wich well balance the sweetness. Very velevety, full body and low carbonation. This one was a treat.
Big thanks to the Phredrik for sharing this bad boy.
Pour black, with a small tan head. Aroma of slight chocolate, slight coffee upfront, followed by some berry notes. Jupiler, strawberries, then followed by some yogurt. Sounds rather weird, and wasn’t what I was expecting, but is actually rather tasty. The taste is slightly bitter, with a whole lot of fruity sweetness to it. Medium bodied, with a slightly oily texture and a semi-fizzy carbonation.
2008 Bottle @ The Stouts Tasting Pt II. Cheers to Ken for the pour! Deep brown in appearance with only the slightest of tan heads. Red berry, raspberry chocolate on the nose. Some coffee ice cream. A bit of wood. The taste is very nicely balanced. Red fruit compote flavors with a spicy finish. Rich port. Ashy roast. Full body. Still slightly hot on the finish. Not an in-your-face imperial stout. Overall, pretty good stuff.
2008 bottle consumed at THE stouts tasting part 2, thanks to Ken. It pours opaque, near black with a small tan head. The nose is roasted malt, coffee, toffee, vanilla, toasted coconut, light earth and a touch of oxidation. The taste is roasted malt, decent bitterness, coffee, bitter chocolate, cocoa powder, alcohol warmth, dark fruit, mild acidity, toast, spice and ash with a bitter finish. Full body and fine carbonation. Good depth of flavour, yet remains smooth and mellow. Tasty.
Bottle shared at Bruce’s, London during The Stouts Tasting, Pt. II - big thanks to Ken. Vintage 2008. Pours clearish, dark brown with a small, beige foam head. Lots of burnt, then wet wood, hints of oxidation, some dried fruits, leather. Tastes much nicer than the nose, some sugary chocolate, burnt wood, some raisins, other leathery dark fruits. Medium bodied with fine carbonation. Lightly warming finish, some baking cocoa, burnt bread, light earthy bitterness, hints of chocolate cake. Certainly showing some signs of age but still very nice.
bottle provided by Aaron .. . pours a very dark black .. deep cooking chocolate, burnt molasses, black liquor, and chewy black tar .. . very deep stuff, but has a wonderful smoothness .. . abv seems about right, a very enjoyable beer to drink .. . . hey man save me a poke!
Small bottle. Black pour, with a half moon of brown head. Aroma of dark chocolate, nuts, light plums, dates, port, light spice, not roasty at all, nice sweet malt assemblage. Taste is sweet, fruity, lots of dates (old ale kinda) port, sweet but not cloying. Perfect palate, good balance of mouth coating creaminess but dry enough not to be "sticky". Great stout.
Bottle to oversized snifter (2012 vintage). Looks good; pitch black with beige lacing. Smells and tastes good too; sweet and malty with notes of chocolate and molasses. Nice and creamy on the palate. An excellent example of the style; I would love to see this in a bourbon barrel.
2010 bottle. Pours with no head. Aroma has a strong raspberry aroma, chocolate, strawberries, newly baked brownies, a hint of liquorice note. Although there is an unusual amount of berries in this beer. Crazy enough. Taste also plays on the berry notes, then burnt caramel, chocolate, liquorice, cookies, a roasty tartness. Wow - I really appreciate this for how unusual and exciting this is. Fruity, chocolaty, tart - amazing.
Pours almost black with a dark beige head. The aroma is slightly roasty with a surprising berry impression afterwords. Some spice, cardamom, white pepper, strawberry yoghurt and plum. Sounds a little strange but it kinda works. Mouthfeel is great - ballance is good too. Good brew. Thanks a lot Phredrik!