Stone 12th Anniversary Bitter Chocolate Oatmeal Stout

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

Bottle. Black with a small head and left no lacing. Full bodied with chocolate and a gentle bitterness which took time to develop. Impressive as you would expect from this brewery.

Dark chocolate and charcoal aroma, not strong. Black, thin tan head. Charred oak. Horehound finish. Alcohol content obvious. Uncomplex and perhaps overly bitter. Ok beer, but there are way better imperial stouts.

On tap at the Ginger Man NYC. Dark tan/burnt umber thin creamy head, black body. aroma is strong molasses, roasted oatmeal malt, licorice, and hot antifreeze. Flavor is licorice, coffee roasted malt, a little bit of vodka. Bitter, leafy and woody hop aftertaste.

Aroma: Straw, bitter chocolate, slight hoppy resin, BBQ notes Flavor: Initially burnt( Black Patent?) Malt dominated. Once it warmed a bit it showed moderately sweet, mildly roasted coffee and chocolate flavors leading to a bitter coffee finish. Comment: Tasted when newly released (summer 2008). Good once it warmed a bit but no match for the Imperial Stout.

Bottle, thanks to Ibrew2or3 for sharing! Poured black with a light brown head. Nose is full of dark chocolate and hard roasted malts. Medium bodied with a smooth and creamy mouthfeel. Flavor is dominated by dark chocolate also present are some roasted malt notes and raisin. Finishes with lasting chocolate and a slight bitterness. Very tasty.

Bottle: YES YES YES YES YES! I’ve SO wanted to try this one, and living in Canada it’s hard to find them. Thankfully my party host pulled one out to surprise me and I’m forever in debt. Pours thick and jet black, thick brown head atop. Aroma of roasted malts, chocolate, espresso and black licorice; very complex, very elaborate. Flavour is bitter as promised from a blend of chocolate, roasted malts, and anise with a great balancing caramel malt. Well disguised but present alcohol - I so want an entire one for myself. Absolutely loved it.

Pours like a nice dark syrup with a thin carmel color head. Flavors not quit what I was expecting, (might not have been stored well before purchased) Kinda reminded me of licking a piece of dark mocha chocolate. A very well executed brew, but honestly the Sam Adams chocolate bock is better, but this ones only around for awhile so dont miss your chance if you have one.

This bottled brew from a rating party at Patrick’s poured a small sized head of foamy brown colored bubbles that were quickly diminishing and left behind a opaque black brown colored body and a fair lacing. The aroma was bready and dark malt. The mouth feel was tingly at the start and at the finish. The flavor contained notes of hops toasted malt roasted malt mildly vinous and dark malt. Delicious and one I would certainly have again.