Dogfish Head World Wide Stout 2002 (23%)

Rated this in May, so it’s aged six months since bottling at this point Finally cracked open a bottle to share with my parish priest. Saw a fizzy head that, of course, disappeared quickly, almost like a Coca-Cola. Come to think of it, there could be a touch of cola in the taste. Brownish-black body with distict tastes of roasted coffee, sherry, molasses, maybe even some maple. Beautifully sweet, but not cloying. It’s a good thing we split one bottle between us, as the alcohol just sneaks up and warms you slowly… can you believe Binny’s carries this with none of those little “Staff choice” signs? Oh, well, that’s why it’s not sold out yet; more for me to buy… More? Why certainly…

…And now we rushed into the embraces of the cataract, where a chasm threw itself open to receive us. But there arose in our pathway a shrouded human figure, very far larger in its proportions than any dweller among men. And the hue of the skin of the figure was of the perfect whiteness of the snow.
E.A. Poe

Begins with the sweetness of a port, but instead of the sharp port tang there is a flat, long lasting taste of intense chocolate. Followed of course by an alcohol burn from the back of the throat and into the chest. I poured one bottle into 4 wine glasses and shared with friends during dessert. A perfect end to a nice dinner.

I popped the top on this one expecting something special. It certainly is. It comes out almost black, with absolutely no head at all. I tried to make it foam up wwhen I poured it, but to no avail. The aroma is sweet: maybe similar to a port wine, but with the addition of a tinge of coffeeand definitely alcohol, with others in there too. There are too many to even try and pick them out. Flavor says WOW! The sweetness and body almost defy description. I really have a hard time calling this a beer, but I'm not sure what else to call it. This has real character, but is something that you can only do once in awhile, and best at home as it will sit you down! The alcohol really isn't too strong in the taste. Another fine and unique "Brew" from these guys.

Black. Really black. Faint, fizzy, loud head dies quickly and we're left with still and oily-looking. Heady port-wine aroma, sweet, alcoholic, medicinal, cherry-licorice. Powerful and interesting, but maybe a bit much. Flavor, well, again the port and alcohol are dominant at the front; I really hesitate to describe this as "beer". Chemically, perhaps, but flavorwise? Vanilla is prominent later on, finishes very warming and deliciously smooth. I've had a fair amount of port and sherry, and I like this more than most examples of those wines; alcohol doesn't seem as strong as in a fortified wine either. Sweetness is really powerful at the end, nearly cloying, and that brings this down a bit from the 18%, but it is still damn fine stuff. I'm just glad I have a few more bottles of each for future occasions.

Pitch black colour with no head at all. Some carbonation noticable on the top, but definately not a 'head'. The smell is huge. Very alcoholic smelling (but at 23%, it better be). Licorice, Malt, Malt and more Malt in the aroma. Somewhat of a sweet smell, but definately overidden by the alcoholic smell. The taste? What a beer. A BIG beer, but still a tasty beer. This beer is very sweet, very powerful and very complex. Definate vanilla, chocolate and caramel flavours with a huge malt presence and the kick of the alcohol. The mouth feels completely coated after a sip, unlike any other beer i've ever tried. The aftertaste leaves you waiting to get another sip and differentiate some more flavours. This is odd, I like this beer a bunch (and I have a bottle of the 18% at home waiting to be sampled), but I didn't like the Stone Ruination. I thought that beer was 'too much', but this beer is 'just right'...at least in my opinion. A hell of a beer, and hopefully the 18% will only be better! Worth the $10 to sample this beer!

Strongly sweet, malty, alcoholic aroma, some licorice, plum and roasted coffee. Solid ebony in color with a thin head that eventually subsides altogether. Syrupy sweet, thick, very dark maltiness in the flavor, along with some apparent alcohol, vanilla, nut, and bitter dark chocolate. Certainly fiery and alcoholic but with a still, smooth, and slightly oily palate. While I did find this beer an interesting experience, I honestly felt it was a bit much. One could cellar this stuff for at least a decade.

Dogfish head's world wide stout is a strange drink. Although I found it thoroughly pleasant, I am not sure if it I would have suspected this concoction to be a beer. It is black as night with no head or carbonation. It smells of alcohol and black currants. It's got a huge black-currant like flavour intertwined with roast and a massive amount of sweetness. It lingers for a long time on the palate and is very viscous and heat from the alcohol BIG! Overall it reminds me more of a liqueur than a beer.

Black but you can see some light thru it. Aroma of alcohol. Flavor is sweet, raisony, nutty. Very smooth and warming. A truly awesome beer. Thanks to Dogbrick for the trade.