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4 - Good (buy), Beer Reviews, Belgium, De Struise Brouwers, Stout - Russian Imperial

De Struise Black Albert

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Brewery: De Struise Brouwers
Country: Belgium
ABV: 13%
Style: Russian Imperial Stout
Other Notes: 2020 vintage. 72 IBUs. A Belgian Royal Stout from Flanders

Brewer Description: (from website) Black Albert, referring to our smiling King Albert, is one of our biggest flagship beers at De Struise Brouwers. Is a Belgian Royal Stout with untold complex flavours. Saw the light of day for the first time in 2007 and has been in the Top 100 of the best beers in the world ever since. Initially brewed in homage to Christopher & Jennifer Lively’s best American bar “Ebenezer’s Pub“.

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.4
My ratebeer.com rating: 4.3

Intro: A 330ml bottle, 2020 vintage, bottled on 18th March 2021, with a best before date of bottled date +5 years. Poured into a De Struise tulip glass.
Appearance: Black in colour with a nice big three finger brown head that had decent retention while leaving some lacing.
Aroma: Roasted malts, coffee, chocolate, cola, with notes of licorice, berries, and caramel.
Taste: Lightly bitter, roasty coffee, dark chocolate, candi sugar sweetness, dark stone fruit, plum, prunes, with notes of berries and maybe licorice.
Mouthfeel: Smooth, creamy, full bodied, with soft carbonation.
Overall: An excellent sipper with alcohol well hidden. Good bitter and sweet balance.

3 - Indifferent (might buy, probably drink), Beer Reviews, Belgium, De Struise Brouwers, Stout - Russian Imperial

De Struise Black Albert Costa Rica Espresso

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Brewery: De Struise Brouwers
Country: Belgium
ABV: 13%
Style: Russian Imperial Stout
Other Notes: Belgian Espresso stout. Vintage 2015

Brewer Description: (from bottle) Experience de Tarrazu coffee in our Black Albert. Grown in the rich volcanic soils of Costa Rica’s famed Tarrazu region, these first choice Arabica coffee cherries are ripened evenly at 1,400 to 1,600 meters, hand-picked, sun dried and then dark roasted on Struise premises for a unique taste. It will surprise you with a flavor that hints of cacao and grapefruit and an aroma of aged wood and dark chocolate. Its intensity fills the palate, then fades cheerfully. Discover why we now roast our own coffee beans.

My rating: 3
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.9
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.7

Intro: A 750ml bottle, bottled on 17th November 2016. Poured into a snifter glass.
Appearance: Black in colour with no head and no lacing.
Aroma: Roasty, coffee, chocolate, caramel, plum, dark fruit, licorice, boozy, and light smoky notes.
Taste: Roasted malts, chocolate, caramel, coffee, moderately sweet, dark fruit, plum, raisins, licorice, candi sugar, and a strong boozy finish.
Mouthfeel: Medium to full bodied with soft carbonation.
Overall: The booziness comes through quite strong in the aroma and taste, and maybe a bit too much. I was also hoping for more or stronger coffee notes. It’s interesting, but I easily prefer the original version of Black Albert more.

4 - Good (buy), Beer Reviews, Brouwerij De Molen, Netherlands, Stout - Russian Imperial

De Molen Hel & Verdoemenis Bruichladdich (peated) BA

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Brewery: Brouwerij De Molen
Country: Netherlands
ABV: 11%
Style: Russian Imperial Stout
Other Notes: Smoked Imperial Stout-ish

Brewer Description: (from bottle) Bruichladdich (peated) BA.

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.43
My ratebeer.com rating: 4.3

Intro: A 330ml black waxed bottle, bottled on 19th August 2015, with a best before date of 19th August 2040. Poured into a snifter glass.
Appearance: Black in colour with no head and no lacing.
Aroma: Sweet dark malt, chocolate, coffee, light peat, leather, smoke, whisky.
Taste: Sweet dark malt, whisky, light peat, smoke, coffee, chocolate, caramel, with hints of vanilla.
Mouthfeel: Medium to full bodied with soft carbonation.
Overall: An enjoyable RIS with good balance of peat, that doesn’t overwhelm the nice chocolate and coffee flavours. I tried the brett version of this just before opening this bottle, and did not understand the brett. This was just so much better without the brett.

2 - Maybe (likely wouldn't buy, might drink), Beer Reviews, Brouwerij De Molen, Netherlands, Stout - Russian Imperial

De Molen Hel & Verdoemenis Bruichladdich BA Brett

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Brewery: Brouwerij De Molen
Country: Netherlands
ABV: 11%
Style: Russian Imperial Stout
Other Notes: Imperial Stout-ish

Brewer Description: (from bottle) Bruichladdich BA, brett yeast (give it some time please).

My rating: 2
My beeradvocate.com rating: 2.79
My ratebeer.com rating: 2.7

Intro: A 330ml black waxed bottle, bottled on 28th January 2016, with a best before date of 28th January 2041. Poured into a snifter glass.
Appearance: Black in colour with no head and no lacing.
Aroma: Aroma is quite complex, whisky, dark fruit, brett, dark malt, light roast, chocolate, oak, boozy.
Taste: Light roast, earthy, dark malt, chocolate, whisky, herbal, slightly sour, medicinal.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with soft carbonation.
Overall: I don’t know. The aroma was quite complex but it was on and off. Every time I took a whiff, it changed a bit. But the taste really didn’t work for me. It didn’t really come together. I tried the Bruichladdich (peated) BA after this, and that was enjoyable. The brett just didn’t do anything for me here.

4 - Good (buy), Beer Reviews, Brouwerij De Molen, Netherlands, Stout - Russian Imperial

De Molen Hel & Verdoemenis Cuvee

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Brewery: Brouweij De Molen
Country: Netherlands
ABV: 10.5%
Style: Russian Imperial Stout
Other Notes: Imperial Stout-ish

Brewer Description: (from BA and RB notes) H&V aged on Bordeaux wine barrels, bourbon barrels and virgin oak barrels.

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.26
My ratebeer.com rating: 4.1

Intro: A 330ml black waxed bottle, bottled on 19th November 2013. Enjoy within 25 years. Poured into a snifter glass.
Appearance: Black in colour with a thin tanned head that dissipated quickly and left only some sparse spotty lacing.
Aroma: Roasted malts, coffee, chocolate, oak, vanilla, bourbon, dark fruits, and notes of red wine.
Taste: Roasted malts, chocolate, coffee, red wine, oak, bourbon, with vanilla and licorice notes.
Mouthfeel: Medium to full bodied with soft carbonation.
Overall: An enjoyable sipper, better than its base, with the Bordeaux wine barrel really coming through nicely.