Dogfish Head World Wide Stout 2002 (23%)

Formerly brewed at Dogfish Head Brewery
Style: Imperial Stout
Milton, Delaware USA

Ah, World Wide Stout. Glorious. Beautiful. Luscious. I had made myself a personal bet for the Super Bowl—if Tampa wins, I drink the WWS. If they lose, I drink Milwaukee’s Best Ice. Blessedly, I sample the WWS. Deeper color than the 18%. No head. Nose is sweet and strong, the 23% very noticeable. Stunningly rich. Viscous and vinous. Major impression is a powerful sweetness. Sugars remind me of a good Belgian brown, taste like it’s loaded with Belgian candy sugars. Slightly smoky tinge, lots of maple syrup. Some toffee, maybe some caramel, a mild chewiness. Has a very subtle spiciness, a bit Christmas-ish. Notice some cinnamon, perhaps a bit of allspice. I tend to find barleywines remind me of port or sherry, but this is more fine cognac or brandy. As it warms, the sweetness withdraws a bit, and the strength of the brew asserts itself a bit more. Gets thicker as it warms, taking on more of a plum and molasses character. I’ll assume there’s hops in here somewhere, but there’s a truckfull of malts crushing anything even vaguely bitter. Alcohol is as well masked as Monte Kiffin’s defensive schemes. Has a final kick like Derrick Brooks de-cleating a receiver on a crossing pattern. Brewed with the same precision as Brad Johnson’s passing. As aggressive as Warren Sapp and Simeon Rice pursuing the quarterback. As perfect as finally witnessing a championship after years and years of futile hope. Whoohoo.

Black but not completely opaque with no head. The aroma is burnt wood, chocolate, coffee (hints) and fruit in the first stages of rot all riding an alcoholic wave. The flavor is less rotten, surprisingly smooth despite the aroma, but too sweet. Comes across really cloying. I tasted this with gthank and he described it as a chocolate port and I can see that. The mouthfeel is thick and oily with a mild burn going down. Have a bottle of this is all I can handle, which is good because the full bottle would have me a little too buzzed.

Deep black color. No head at all. Aroma is sweet, port wine-ish. Very sweet with a noticeable alcohol presence, oily and port like. It also very sake like, if that makes any sense at all. Lots of complex flavors, chocolate, cherry, fruits and a whole lotta alcohol stuff. Really too much alcohol to be anything but a high alcohol beer. Guess I’m saying it unbalanced towards the alcohol? Definitely worth trying, and I would love to taste this stuff after its been cellared for about 3 years. Mouthfeel is full and round. Finish is clean and surprisingly smooth. Aftertaste is all alcohol. Thanks for sharing user_experience.

Deep brown color. Big alcohol aroma. Only the slightest head. Some fruitiness. Sweet flavor. Very port-like. Alcohol warming. Tingles the tongue. Medium body. Impressive to get this sort of strength solely from fermentation. I'm not floored, but it's interesting as a novelty. I can't imagine drinking a whole bottle. Far, far better than Sam Adams Triple Bock. Thanks user_ex!

Pours opaque black, very dark brown edges. No head whatsoever. Smells like port wine, but detectable hops with sweet malt and yeast. Very detectable alcohol aroma. Flavor is very sweet, warming when it goes down similar to wine. Alcohol is very present in every aspect. Every drink reminds you of how strong it is. This seems like a novelty drink, not something that would be bought more than a few times. Very zesty on the palate, lots and lots of alcohol. If served cold, the alcohol is not as strong, but the beer flavors in this (coffee, chocolate, all the main stout qualities) are very subtle. Better when warmed to around 55ºF, but the alcohol bites harder. This doesn't taste like an Imperial Stout, more like a Barleywine. Not for the faint of heart! I didn't care for it.

Opaque dark brown color with a thin soda like head and little lace. Sweet malty aroma with a strong alcohol presence similar to a good whiskey. Very sweet malt flavor at first turning less sweet and fulll of alcohol with a slightly nutty coffeeish finish. Full bodied, very warming and tingling on the tongue.

*&^*%&$#@&*!!! Opaque with a touch of garnet on the edges. Minimal head as expected. Brandy, port, Dark fruit sear the nose. High octane with flavor. Alcohol is everywhere from aroma to finish. I do prefer the 18% a touch better, but this one bring high gravity to a different level.

Pardon my French, but Jesus H. Christ on a broomstick. If you like alcohol, go to town with this thing. It'll knock your socks off. The alcohol flavor is overpowering, making the beer more one dimensional than the 18% version. This isn't a bad thing, but it does put you under. Having water close at hand when drinking this may not be a bad call.