Stone 12th Anniversary Bitter Chocolate Oatmeal Stout

Pours out like used motor oil with a dense mocha head that has moderate retention. The nose emanates an arms length from the glass. No lacing sticks at all. The nose is robust, with heavily roasted malt, espresso, anise and booze. They weren’t kidding when they said bitter! chocolate. The oatmeal is present in that sweetness I can only identify as oatmeal from other oatmeal stouts. It is definitely intense. The aftertaste is coffee-like with some citric hops, bitter dark chocolate (almost like baking cocoa) and a fair amount of booze. The palate up front is incredibly full and silky with perfectly matched soft carbonation. Surprisingly, the finish cuts out quick, though not in flavor, but in body. Towards the end, the palate seems to evaporate and turn watery. At the same time, it is drying and warming. A good brew for sure.

22oz bottle. Pours a black, thick liquid with a small brown head. Nose is chocolate, coffee, toffee. Palate is very thick, oily, sticky, coating. Flavors are chocolate and oatmeal with some Dark malt notes, resin. I very much enjoyed this one

Great smokey/ chocolatey taste. drinks very smooth, As usual a great beer from stone

Reviewed 1/22/2009 (bottle Dated July 2008): Pours an extremely dark black brown colored body with an average brown colored head, diminishing. Chocolate, malty aroma, with some oatmeal too. Smell of somewhat bitter chocolate. Sweet like a milk stout. Sweet creamy mouthfeel. Slightly bitter aftertaste. A little bit of hotness but some sweet stoutiness too. Oatmeal taste. A little alcoholy but pretty good. Maybe airing this one out will do it some good. A little better as it warms up/airs out.

Pitch black with a very thin tan head. Aroma is very bitter chocolate bark and alcohol. Taste is very bitter right in the middle with the baking chocolate, not much roastiness, some coffee and dark fruits notes but a big alcohol bite. Not that nice.

Bottle. Pours dark black with a small creamy brown head and some slippery lacework. Aroma of roasted malts, chocolate, caramel, dark fruit and a hint of vanilla. Flavor is creamy and roasty with rich dark chocolate, coffee, alcohol, molasses and a touch of toffee. Medium to full bodied with a rich texture and a dry roasty finish

Sample from January 24, 2009 Beer Club meeting. This sucker is so dense that the bottle is heavy! Excellent appearance. Solid black color with a reddish-brown head. Bitter, sweet, alcoholic aroma. Easy drinking. Thick and meaty oatmeal, chocolaty, and a little fruity. Spicy, effervescent at the back of the throat. Very viscous!

Black in color with a small tan head. Aroma is of dark chocolate, oats, and coffee but the smell is faint. Taste is of coffee beans, oatmel, caramel and dark chocolate.