Stone 12th Anniversary Bitter Chocolate Oatmeal Stout

Formerly brewed at Stone Brewing Co.
Style: Imperial Stout
Escondido, California USA

I had to have this beer a few different times to make sure my opinion of the beer was on target, because it’s a small shock to the system when someone regularly make top-notch products, but then puts forth something less than what is expected. The beer has all the makings of a classic imperial stout except for one small problem. It just doesn’t taste very good. Perhaps a little age and things will come together a bit better, but I had 3 about 60 days apart and neither time did it for me.

The beer pours out a deep midnight black with a beautiful 1" thich creamy tan head. The head lasted the entire pint, and left behind some really intricate lacing. Aromas were dark chocolate, but it reminded me more of smelling the inside of a Hershey’s baking chocolate tin, than smelling something rich and decadent. Other notes of Raisinettes, coffee, a touch of treacle and a bit of vanilla extract. Flavors just had an overpowering alcohol effect for me, with that low-grade chocolate flavoring trying to blend with the alcohol. A bit of figs helps to even the alcohol out with some sweetness along with some coffee, but I thought that it was just too hot. I can see this being tasty in 2-3 years and I will definitely re-rate. I’ve got about 5-6 more bottles so I can be patient. It has to be better, doesn’t it?

Jet black pour with dark brown head and lace. Burnt chocolate and coffee on the nose. A rich sweet chocolate flavor on the front followed by a hint of abv. A light bitter finish. Very smooth creamy mouthfeel with good carbonation as well. A very special beer with a bitter that grows on you after the deed.

[2023-20090227] 1pt6floz bottle. Minty roasted malt aroma with some dark chocolate notes. Dark brown black body with a quick foamy light brown head. Lots of chocolate roast malt flavour has a dense base and a long roasted finish. Full body. Drinkable and stouty, two of my favourite beer things.
(w/ jerc)

Black pour with a dark tan head. Oats, chocolate, booze, and cocoa in the aroma. Flavor was very boozy with a good chunk of bitter chocolate and a bit of toffee. Watery mouthfeel killed it a bit.

Incredibly dark head. Very nice aroma, but flavor falls short. Alcohol and bitterness are both fairly strong. As the beer warmed, the flavor became sort of bland.

Bottle thanks to 17thfloor. Opaque black with medium to large creamy burnt tan head. Aroma is chocolate, roast, dry, wonderful. Dry chocolate, bakers chocolate, roast, nice bitterness, slight alc, rich but dry. Medium to full with creamy, syrupiness. Absolutely delicious, a great imperial stout.

Bottle shared with xnoxhatex and funkybrewster. Pours a lovely uniform obsidian with a small creamy frothy fine tan head. Aroma of bitter-sweet chocolate, molasses, some sort of spices, oatmeal, light fruit. Dry but decadent first taste, dark fruits, nice bitterness, prunes, lots of dark unsweetened chocolate, just a touch ashy, oatmeal aftertaste. A hint of alcohol is noticeable throughout with a touch of burnt sugar. Full bodied with a creamy mouthful and fine sizzling carbonation.

Bottled. Pours dark w/minimal tan/brown head. Aroma is bitter dark chocolates...some cerises as well. Taste is nice and sweet with a bit of a bitter kick. Well done Stone as usual.