Dogfish Head World Wide Stout 2002 (23%)

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

Rating #300. Thanks to Buck_Dich for sending this notorious brew my way. Very dark burgundy with an initially soapy tan head that quickly faded away. Aroma of raisins, cherries, and dark rum. Intense ruby port-like flavor with elements of cola, raisins, molasses, dark cherry and licorice. An interesting stout that completely lacks the hackneyed properties of coffee and chocolate. Very low carbonation and somewhat oily palate but very smooth and pleasing as a long, slow sipper. When savored patiently the alcohol, while prominent, is not nearly as overwhelming as others have indicated. A fun and interesting beer.

This is not really a stout. Grapes, sweet dark malts, and alcohol dominate the aroma. Pours an opaque dark brown, with tan-bubbled carbonation on the pour which quickly dissipates. Flavor is extremely sweet and molasses-like, with a touch of coffee. Not very complex, as the sweetness overwhelms any subtleties. Alcohol is surprisingly subdued, especially considering its harshness in other similar ABV beers I've tried (think Sam Adams). An interesting offering, indeed, but World Wide Stout has none of the roastiness I expect from a stout, and does not fit the stout bill IMO.

At first the aroma only offers choclate and some maltiness, but as I continue to inhale a deluge of alcohol comes and backs me off. This has some ass to it no doubt. Pours pitch black and this beer truly has NO head. Not even a few bubbles of carbonation holding hands to impersonate a head. Choclate cough syrup. Straight up. There is some rum soaked date and fig toward the finish, but mostly malty/choclate and alcohol flavors predominate. I used to think this beer was too expensive, but considering 2-4 oz is what I believe to be the proper serving you get 3-6 servings a bottle. This is the second beer I have had after battling a cold and this has perked me right the heck up. Crazy beer, but as a feat of brewing it merits good marks.

[bottle] Pours as dark as the night sky. It actually seemed to absorb the light when I held it up to a lamp to see the color. Not much head on it though. Rich and flavorful aroma, very sweet and malty. At the start, a very sweet roasted taste, giving way to a smooth molasses-y finish. Has a thick, sticky mouth feel and lots of flavor. Warms on the way down and hides the high ABV well. Absolutely impressive.

Bottled. Pours pitch black with almost no head. Yum! Roasted and very vinous with notes of plums, dark berries, dark dried fruit, coffe and chocolate. Some caramel and spices as well. Wild but great. Doesnt feel as 23%. Nice hoppy finish.

Great flavor. High in alcohol content but you really can't notice it. Very smooth beer and flavorful. It has a great color.

Draft: Steeped black cherry aroma. Lots of underlying character of tawny port, raisin, prune, vanilla, maple, lightly charred dark honey, and fig. Very soft palate. Flavorful, yet overly cloying and astringent. Port flavors accompanied by assertive notes of prune and vanilla. Long sharp finish of maple and apple. Uncannily similar to some quality ports. Severely lacks drinkability and is one-dimensional. Note: I'm in a smoky taproom with an internet, lots of noise, and little time. I wish I could concentrate better.

Sampled June 2004: The difference between this and the 18% version is obvious. The alcohol is everywhere in this thing. That said its still a pretty good sipper. Intense aroma of raisins, alcohol, nutty, rummy. Black and oily appearance, minimum carbonation. Intense and heavy palate. Very strong alcoholic presence. Raisiny and acrid with strong burnt flavors. Alcoholic finish. Some chocolate or mild espresso, plummy, prunes or figs arise deeper into the glass.