Stone 12th Anniversary Bitter Chocolate Oatmeal Stout

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

650ml bomber at Tupalev’s, courtesy of Jan Primus I think? Huge thanks to whoever brought this. Pours a deep black with a small white head. Aroma is very much like an Imperial Stout, lots of pen ink and leather, not all that appealing actually. Thankfully the flavour makes up for that. Lots of toffee, caramel, mocha, not too bitter but with some dark chocolate bite throughout. It seems like a slightly rougher, more abrasive version of their Imperial Stout. Quite a tasty stout, though it lacks the smoothness I would have wanted. I’d take their Impy over this anyday, but I’m very glad to have tried it and it is a good beer.

Pours out of the bomber indigo black beneath a thick and creamy dark tan head. Admirable retention with some thin curtains of lacing adhering to the snifter. Rich aromas of dark chocolate, charred wood, caramel, espresso beans and vanilla greet the nose. Palate is quite full and slick (where the oatmeal additions contribute) making this Impy Stout even more enjoyable and authentic. Restrained carbonation adds to the mouthfeels creaminess. Flavor profile was also assertive with upfront notes of semi-sweet dark chocolate, espresso, licorice, molasses and charred oak. Starts out bittersweet and as with most Stone brews shows off a touch of hop bitterness in the finish along with the warming sensation from the 9.2% abv. A slight Belgian-like yeasty sourness sneaks in and is slightly distracting in the end. Overall however a superb anniversary beer.

Pours opaque black with a dark brown head that struggled to get out of solution. A stretch pour allowed a half inch head to set up before slowly retreating to a placid surface with sporatic remnants of spongy foam. Webbed lacework remained throughout the glass. Aromatics lead off with dark chocolate, espresso, oily oats, and caramel. Hints of smoke, nougat, molasses, and Kahlua follow through. Full bodied and chewy mouthfeel. Oily, slick, and velvety. Dark chocolate, coffee grounds, and Kahlua are up front on the pallet. Warming alcohol, brownie batter,and drizzeled chocolate follow through. Finishes with rich, dark chocoalte, warming alcohol, and an oily viscocity. A big, chocolaty brew and definately cellar-worthy.

Nearly black with a deep beige head. Intense burnt malt aroma, molasses, roasted coffee, light oats, and dark fruits. Medium full body. Very bittersweet flavor. Chocolate, roasted malts, burnt malts, coffee, light oats, vanilla, and light raspberry. I was hoping for more oatmeal flavor, but I think it is overpowered by the intense roasted malt. Good, but maybe a little too burnt. (Draught at Thrash Zone- Yokohama, Japan)

Pours black with dark brown head. Aroma of roasted malts, molasses, bitter chocolate, and slight nutty-wheaty notes. Flavor is roasty and chocolatey with a nice bit of vanilla and malted chocolate ball notes, its boldness tempered with the oatmeal. Lingering bitterness in the finish with slight oak notes. Alcohol is still fairly present even after six months of aging. Nice full, creamy palate, though slightly sticky. A good impy, but not a great one.

WOW huge pour with a big roasted malt chocolate aroma.same on the flavor. Very sweet and syrupy. and a great long bitter finish. This is alot like the russian impy but with more chocolate and not as good but.......still thats not saying much cause its still really good.

bottle, from Carny77. Good aroma, yup, Baking chocolate and oat, little fruity some raspberry and/or cherry,. Blackish brown color, small head, no lace. Bitter sweet flavor, like aroma basically. Thick, body, oily creamy mouth feel, bitter dry finish. Wow, weird, but to me the chocolate and oat see to play against each other, oat mellow the bitter chocolate and bitter chocolate hides the oats usual smoothness. Still kind of hot. Really enjoyed rolling this one around the mouth as it got thicker as it went.

It’s about time I got around to this one. Bomber, of course. Black with a dark brown head, a bit loose. Huge burnt chocolate nose, roasted sweet maltiness. Flavor is very bitter and burnt, malty with lots of bittersweet chocolate. Lingering bittersweet chocolate finish. Nice stuff!