Dogfish Head World Wide Stout 2002 (23%)

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

[had again recently - soooo sweet - why did I love this so much back in the day?] The write up on this beer that I got from my beer dist. said that a bottle of this beer was 666 calories, which is so very fitting because if Satan drank beer, this would be it. This is more of a cross between a dessert wine and a chocolate liquor, but this is a good thing. Chocolate, brown sugar, molasses, coffee, with a dominant, syrup-sweetness, combine to make this beyond any ordinary beer. My girlfriend and I bought several bottles (at 7.99 a piece, but well worth it) and made the mistake of opening a bottle a piece. I sure hope we can finish them. I’m two-thirds done, and I feel dizzy. I’ve got two more bottles, and these suckers are getting set aside to age for a very special occassion.

Well what do you say about a beer that’s 23% alcohol? “Holy Cow Batman”!

As it s sets in the glass, “Dark as the inside of a Cow”, the head microscopic, the color dark chocolate, texture spumous, the lace patchy. Alcohol quite evident, bananas and pineapple, sweet, underpinned by the malt, start is sweet as eating sugar from the bowl, some malt, and the top full, finish “ZAP, ZING, WHOOF”, all alcohol with the hops present but buried under the alcohol, dry and long lasting aftertaste. More than warms the belly, sets it on fire, definitely not meant for people who aren’t into ferine, beastly, bestial, brutal beers, I love it, but only once a year.

A pitch black beer with almost no head. Sweet chocolate aroma with a lots of alcohol, too much in my opinion. Flavor is extremely sweet again with alcohol penetrating. Notes of coffee and chocolate but the alcohol is dominating. Not as good as the two other WWS, it is way too strong for me!

Jet, oily black, no head. Boring appearance. Aroma is overwhelmingly alcohol, burnt chocolate liquer. Flavor is very complex, thick, peppery molassis like body. Chocolate syrup like charcter with a suggestion of sweet raisins, and sweet espresso, toasted caramel. Upfront it’s warm and roasted, however it finishes smooth and sweet. Afterward you lick your lips and there’s a sweet residue left on them.

Bottle: Courtesy of Eyedrinkale via trade. Huge alcohol aroma, almost tequila-like. Behind all the alcohol is chocolate, molasses, and the slightest hint of roastiness. Vinous aromas in there as well. Probably the most alcohol I’ve smelled in a beer outside of the Utopias. Pours a very dark brown, with no transparency with a minimal tan head. Very sweet. Sugary sweet with some light hints of fruit (apple) and sweet chocolate. Finish is rather vinuous with lots of alcohol and a moderate warming affect. Definitely a sipping a beer in small amounts. Just a tad too sweet for my preferences.

I think I traded kramer17801 for this. The beer opened with a little psst sound. The brew poured to a dark brownish black color; with a vigorous pour, I was only ever able to create a small brown head that was fizzy and immediately disapated. The aroma has some dark fruits like bing cherries and figs with some chocolate. The flavor is still quite good. I woulda liked to have one of these in 2002... The finishing flavor is where I love this beer. It goes from flavor and merges into palate. At times, it’s hard to discern the difference. The palate is very creamy and masks most of the alcohol. Almost feels like powdered sugar on the tongue. The flavors are deep chocolates and overripe raisins, powdered sugar and something that’s hard to identify. Call it a fruity desert if you will. I woulda given a 5 on the palate but I burped and it hurt. The carbonation must be that intense. Still a very good brew, but the aroma and appearance are hurting tremendously.

Rerate in a vertical. Nice vinous qualities in the flavor. No change in aroma. Still a decent brew.

Insane beer - very powerful. Works more like a brandy or port wine and almost transcends being a beer. The first thing you notice is the alcohol - in the nose and taste. Reminded me of Thomas Hardy Ale a little in the nose. The taste is chocolately and not bitter. Recalled Jaegermeister at times. I had this after my Thankgiving dinner (split a bottle with Yogi_Beera and my brother) and it made a wonderful dessert beer. I’m still undecided if it is worth $7 a bottle, but I’m glad I tried this beer.

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!