Dogfish Head World Wide Stout 2002 (23%)

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

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.

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.

The new batch for this year is out!! I traveled all the way down there (3 hours or so) just to get some of this brew & let me tell you it was more than worth the trip, according to Sam at DFH, WWS is now the world's strongest beer available commercially at 23%, it also has an astonshing 666.65 calories in a 12 oz bottle, the aroma was sweet, malty & very similar to a fine port, black in color, just a little bit of foam around the perimeter of the glass, the alcohol was masked very well for being at the level it is, very complex flavors, roasted coffee, a bit of some fruity flavors as well, full-bodied, certainly is a sipping beer, take your time drinking this one, the alcohol level certainly warms your entire body up as well, my chest felt like it was on fire by the end of the glass, this is a super, incredible stout, now one of my favorites, get some if you can!

For me, this review has to make comparisons with the 18% WWS. First, this beer is not just 5% stronger, it is a million percent better in every way. First, the ABV. I honestly drank the 12 oz. bottle of the 18% and didn't really feel it. On this one, I drank it in one sitting, 4 oz. at a time in my GABF glass, and I was buzzed after half of the first glass! Now I am about halfway through the last 4 oz., and I will admit to being ripped. Now, the taste. It is incredible. There is so much going on here, fruity tastes, sweet sugar tastes, malt, some hops, and of course the alcohol. And an intangible taste is there as well, one that only this combination could produce. It has gone beyond the world of beer, yet it is so very much a beer, unlike the Sam Adams Triple Bock which did not taste like anything that you would ever want in a beer (a soy sauce maybe, but not a beer). And this stuff actually has some carbonation and head to it! I have had Utopias too, and this is SOOOO much better. I won't even start on the price of the Utopias. This cost me $7.99, and I had one bottle and don't need any more beer for the night. It will be bedtime soon. I can't bring myself to rate any beer as a 5, but I am going to rerate the 18% WWS that I had at 4.9.

(gabf'30 - 2002 on tap at Falling Rock) After a day and night of tasting every type of beer imaginable at GABF, this blew me away. This stout poured dark and rich. The palate is like a cross between a barleywine and a stout. Many complex flavors highlighted by plum and cherry. Deep, roasty flavors of a stout but also the sweet undertones of a sherry or port accented by the undertones of the immense alcohol. This tastes too good to drink slowly but you defintely want to take your time caressing this stout. Superb.

Bananas, hints of vanilla, vinous nose. Midnight black colour. Tan head. All sweet, chocolate, plum, black cherry, terribly warming, alcohol is definately evident, but this is terribly drinkable for the weight. Full bodied, velvety soft mouthfeel, smooth and sweet, light bitterness tries to push through in the long lingering alcohol laced finish. AN incredible brew from Sam and the guys at Dogfish, HOT DAMN.

This reminded me most of a fine liquer. A Kahlua or something like that. Probably mainly because it is the same ABV. Did not really feel that alcohol was as omnipresent as others did. Dark, less thick than expecting, no head. Bourbon notes, chocolate and delicious sweetness follows. Shared with a whole posse of cowboys. All enjoyed the beer. I particularly thought it was better than the 18%. Maybe the 4 years of aging did something to it. It was quite the powerful brew. After a slew of bitter IPAs, this beer provided the malty sweetness to balance them all.

I was excited to find the 2002 release at Holiday Wine Cellar in Escondido. For $8 a 12oz bottle, I got all that I expected and more. Aroma of brown sugar, caramel and heavy alcohol. It pours fantastic with a black opaque body and a thick one inch mocha head. Unfortuantely, the head dissipated quite quickly but the lacing was outstanding. Great body in the taste, sweet, and a helluva bite. I enjoy this stout immensly and I am a stout and barleywine kinda guy. This is like the best of both worlds. A great purchase and highly recommended. I matched this with the Dogfish Chicory stout and this absolutly punished the Chickory. Apples and oranges but still leaps and bounds above many sweet imperial stouts.