Stone Imperial Russian Stout - Belgo Anise

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 9

Has this thick look to it as it’s pouring into the glass. Somewhat rocky head the color of light brown sugar. Dark body. While not overpowering, there’s definitely an aroma of black licorice (from the anise) there. Flavors of roasted malts and anise. The anise definitely gives it a unique flavor. Thick syrupy thickness in the mouthfeel. Roastiness in the aftertaste. Definitely like this one!

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 9 | Mouthfeel: 9 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 8

Pours a luscious and very tempting opaque sable with a thick, frothy tan head that leaves a fair amount of lacing. Strong, smoky aroma has tones of unsweet chocolate, fine coffee, licorice and fresh-cut wood, with a firm overtone of anise. Flavor has chocolate, roast coffee, licorice and nutty tones, but anise dominates everything a little too much. It’s almost like drinking absinthe. This would be a near-perfect - or possibly perfect - if the anise aroma and flavor were a mite or three less fierce. Full-bodied texture is fairly fizzy and sharp - you can sure feel it going down the pipes. Recommended to those who are adventurous when it comes to beer!

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 9 | Mouthfeel: 9 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 7

Rated Sept. 2011. Bomber pours black with nice looking full mocha head. The aroma offers up smooth spicy anise along with a mild sense of dark roasted to chocolate malts in the background. The taste is pretty creamy on the tongue. It goes from a brief dark roasty malt pulse and then rolling into smooth and spicy anise and black licorice. To midway a pleasing dark chocolate note rises above the spiciness. Into the finish spicy anise, chocolate and dark roasted malts slide into the after taste. The Belgian yeast influence on the flavor is faint at best. A little less anise would be cool.