Try?
OK folks, we have a winner. Leinenkugel's Big Eddy Russian Imperial Stout is officially the best beer I've ever tasted from this Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin brewer. For years, Leinenkugel's (owned by the huge conglomerate Miller-Coors Brewing) has been sneaking into the craft beer market with an ever-broadening range of tasty beers. While these brews are generally well made, flavorful, and highly drinkable, few have ever truly "wowed" me.
Until now. That's because Leinenkugel's Big Eddy Russian Imperial Stout is big and flavorful enough to compete with most examples of the style produced by any craft brewer out there. Big Eddy was first brewed in 2007 and named for the Big Eddy Spring in Chippewa Falls (the brewery was first established by the spring), but this is the first time this beer lover has seen it.
For 2010, Big Eddy Imperial Stout is being distributed in a limited number of states. Fortunately, that list included parts of Georgia, and I was able to snag a four-pack at the local Total Wine. Now that I've tasted it, I'll likely be going back for more.
Leiniekugel's website boasts Big Eddy Imperial Stout is made with 11 malts (including Caramel, Chocolate, Munich, Pale, and Pale Ale) and three hop varieties (Warrior, Summit, Glacier). The beer also has an alcohol content of 9.5% by volume and 50 IBUs of bitterness.
Leinenkugel's Big
Eddy Russian Imperial Stout pours to a midnight black color with a thick,
densely packed head of tan foam and an intense licorice and powdered cocoa nose.
Taking a taste, I can't help but be wowed by this big, bold black beauty. It's
definitely a case of love at first sip. The body is full and silky smooth, rich
and roasty with powerful notes of licorice, roasty espresso, bittersweet dark
chocolate, and a hint of fruit. The beer finishes bitter, both from roasted
barley and hops. The latter provide a slightly minty-grassy punctuation as well.
And let's not leave out the alcohol: it warms the beer nicely, and well it
should at 9.5% alcohol by volume.
I'm very impressed by the magnitude of all the components here: the dark, roasty bitterness is a pure delight to Imperial stout fans, and just the thing to take the edge off a cold winter's night like we're having here in Canton. The one downside is the price: at $11.99 for just four bottles, Big Eddy is way overpriced, especially when I can get the equally deep, dark, and delicious Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout for half the price. A half star demerit for that.
Still, this beer rocks, and I'll be looking for the draft version as well. Bottled or draft, though, don't miss this one.
And remember, try a new beer today, and drink outside the box.
*Pricing data accurate at time of review or latest update. For reference only, based on actual price paid by reviewer.
(B)=Bottled
(D)=Draft
