Stone 12th Anniversary Bitter Chocolate Oatmeal Stout

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

On tap at the Falling Rock in Denver. Thick, black oily pour with a dense thin dark brown head. Beefy smoke aroma, with underlying vegemite and dark chocolate. Wow. Heavy, full-bodied, chewy, with flavours of rich dark roast coffee beans, chocolate, smoke. Bitter, bitter finish. Loved it.

(22oz bottle) Pours a black body with a small tan head. Aroma of roasted malt, chocolate, and coffee. Flavor of chocolate, burnt grain, roasted malt, and coffee with a dry, bitter finish.

22oz bomber shared with ealdent (and another non-ratebeer-ian). Pours thick, black, and opaque with a thin brown head. The aroma is roasty - burnt toast, espresso - with some dark fruit. The flavor follows the aroma - some chocolate (though it doesn’t taste like actual cocoa, despite the label; more like chocolate malt), subtle licorice, and a healthy dose of fruity, bitter hops.The beer is surprisingly hoppy with a balanced, bittersweet finish with light licorice notes. The beer is full in body - rich and creamy. Overall - delicious. Disappointingly low in cocoa and unexpectedly hoppy (and hoppy is almost never a bad thing...). Perhaps the word "bitter" in the name refers to the hoppy bitternes, not like "bitter chocolate"...

22 oz bottle poured black with a fluffy brown head that diminished quickly. Aromas of roasted malt, coffee, dark chocolate, and booze. Flavor is roasted malt, molasses, and a slight hint of chocolate.

Bomber. Pours black oil with dark brown head. Sweet chocolate nose and some roast malt. Lots of roast malt in the flavor and bitter chocolate. Alcohol is evident. Medium full body with moderately low carbonation. Could use some cellaring I think.

Bottled sample via oakbluff. Jet black in colour with low to moderate carbonation. Aromas of dark chocolate, dry red wine , dark toffee, and a bit of oatmeal. Very dry in the mouth, with more dark chocolate and vineous notes. Additional elements of minerals (flint and chalk), light molasses, medium roast coffee, and caramel are also present. Heavy in the mouth, in spite of how dry it is. Good, but not great overall.

22oz bottle. Black body topped with a brown ring of coarse foam. Leaves a coating on the side of the glass of brown film, like whole milk leaves white on a glass. Aroma is molasses, chocolate, oats, and roasted malts with an undertone of vodka. Mouth is full with light carbonation on the finish to dry it out enough. Flavor is molasses, roasted malts, hints of alcohol, and a finish that smacks of oatmeal with a hint of chocolate. Chocolate is quite subdued, especially considering that it’s in the name of the beer. A nice oatmeal imperial, very drinkable.

Bomber. Black, motor oil pour with a medium brown head. Aroma of chocolate and coffee. Taste of dark chocolate, oatmeal with roasted almonds present and a really nice even but bitter finish.