Stone 12th Anniversary Bitter Chocolate Oatmeal Stout

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

Dark brown, near black in colour, lingering good sized beige head, good lacing. The aroma is roasty, good chocolate sweetness, lots of burnt coffee and some smoke. The flavour is smooth and very rich, some coffee, lots of dark chocolate, light alcohol, light bitterness. Moderately bitter mouthfeel, medium/large body, medium carbonation. Finishes long with lots of bitter dark chocolate and a bit of alcohol heat.

Not bad but the alcohol seems too much at times. Big and rich but lacking some oomph.

650ml bottle obtained in a trade with TheCheeseMan, thanks Dan.
Opened on October 2, 2008.
Bottled in July 2008.

a very nice brew. pours out a black color with a nice beige head. aroma is full of hops, dark choco, roasted malt, and a touch of sweetness. Flavor was big on dark choco and roasted malt. The finish had a nice bitterness to it. a fantastic brew.

I love good stouts, porters, etc., and this one didn’t let me down. I get a bottle almost whenever I see it. Pours thick and pitch black with a small milk-chocolate colored head. Roasty aroma with a hint of chocolate and slight hoppiness. Excellent taste. I’m thinking coffee/espresso with some dark chocolate sauce thrown in. Excellent, silky smooth. No problems putting this one down at all. It’s be an easy session beer if the alcohol was halved (but who wants that). I agree with those who say the %9.2 alcohol content is well hidden.

Bottle. [thank you, boutip!]
Pours completely black with a fair, medium, chocolate-coloured head. Okay duration. Vinious aroma with roasted malts, lots of dark chocolate and a note of fresh ground coffee. Medium carbonation, fine mouthfeel, though not as fat as I’d expected. Rather sweet at first, lots of maltiness and a sugary touch. Then along comes lots of fabolous, dry cocoa and grainy dark chocolate notes. Some clear alcohol as well, but a fine, lingering aftertaste like when I eat 70% + chocolate. Very good, but there are definately better imperial stouts.

Draught poured black with a finger of chocolate colored head. Aroma was roast barley, dark chocolate, some burnt coffee, undertones of dark fruits, and cream. Finished bitter earthy really dark chocolate and somewhat grainy. The palate was softly resinous but light for an oatmeal stout, and there was definitely too much alcohol in the flavor.

Poured a nice black color with a medium sized, chocolate milk colored head. Some of the head lingered, it left a nice lacing. Smelled of roasted malts, chocolate and coffee with some spicy and sweet notes coming through. darbish hit the nail on the head, almost a stout flavored beer instead of a stout. Seemed some what watered down. More oatmeal in the flavor than chocolate, burnt malt flavor adds to the bitterness at the end. Definite alcohol taste in there as well. Medium bodied. The bitter burnt coffee finish has some chocolate to it that coats the mouth. I think they hit what they were going for but I could have done with less bitterness at the end and a less alcohol in the flavor.

Pours a pitch black color with a thin brown head. Pleasant aroma of black chocolate and roasted malt. Good flavor of black chocolate and roasted malt over an medium body and liquorous texture.

Bottle via Hogtownharry - thanks, Harry! Pours deep brown-black with a finger of dark tan head. Aroma and flavour of deeply roasted malt, dark bitter chocolate, and slightly burnt espresso beans. Soft, creamy body. Finish is nice and dry with a great bitterness and very little alcohol heat. This is fantastic stuff that went damn well with a few squares of 85% dark chocolate.