Dogfish Head World Wide Stout 2001/2003-Present (18%)

2005, 17.8%. yes indeed, the strongest beer ive ever had. i can drink scotch on the rocks easier then this one. the alcohol of course is blaring in the nose and flavor, it twists and turns through your brain and mouth morphing into different things...it seems to come across as spearimint almost. it becomes slightly more tolerable as you go on, either because you are tanked or your mouth is dead as a doornail. there is some touch of roasted malts in there at first that soon are overwhelmed by the booze. calling this an imperial stout is a bit unfair to other imperial stouts i think, this is not for me but unlike some other things i dislike i can see that others can appreciate this more that i.

2003 bottle from Chevy Chase Wine, D.C. Shared with my friend Eric, which was a good thing since this one is a real skullfucker if you’re not ready for it. Black as night, but a slightly more thin pour than I was expecting, given both the style and previous reviews I’d read. Not much of a head either. Very big chocolately nose, though, lush and lasting. Some astringency in there too, either espresso or anise, maybe both. Something bitter and hateful, though. So that’s all to the good. The taste, however, was a bit overly sweet to me, with syrupy malts tending to undermine the roasty, richer flavors I enjoyed in this brew. Of course it’s good stuff, but I found it over the top and too unbalanced.

12oz bottle from Willow Bend Liquors (Tampa). 2008 Vintage. Pours an opaque dark chocolate brown with a one finger tan head that settles quickly but still provides lacing on the glass. Aroma is complex with strong notes of ripe dark fruit, strong phenol notes like a brandy or fine port. Alcohol notes really overwhelm the nose. Flavor is sweet and smoky with woody and nutty notes as well. Some hints of coffee, dark ripe fruit, and chocolate with a slightly burning phenol finish. Interestingly, the alcohol does not really come through in the taste until the very end. Definitely a full-bodied beer that reminds me of Raisin D’Extra.

2004 bottle. Pitch black, opaque pour with a bit of tan head around the rim of the glass. Aroma is chocolate, smoke, olives, and port wine. Tastes very similar to a port or a Cabernet paired with dark chocolate. Plum, tobacco, and raisin notes along with a deep alcohol burn. Lots of dark fruit as well, though I’m not getting the sweetness some ratebeerians lament in this review. Palate is thinner than I hoped. Perhaps the aging helped, but that credit goes to Discount Liquor in Milwaukee. The beer as itself is impressive: a slow drinker, unlike any imperial stout I’ve ever had.

Bottle (2007). Pours very deep ruby, close to black, with a tan head. Aroma is a bit boozy, with raisin, licorice, and dark chocolate. Snooth body, not as full as I expected. Flavor is sweet, with fruity notes of raisin and plum, molasses, chocolate, and a touch of coffee and roasted malt. Alcohol is much less noticeable in the mouth than it is in the nose. Very nice