Stone 12th Anniversary Bitter Chocolate Oatmeal Stout

Pours black with a small tan head. Aroma of chocolate, malt, light booze. Taste is also chocolate, roasted malt, and plenty of bitterness. Mouth is smooth and creamy. Finish is bitter. Very nice, easy drinking brew.

Date: 08/23/2008
Mode: Bottle
Source: South Bay Drugs, San Diego

Appearance: black, fine tan head, drippy sudsy lace,
Aroma: dark chocolate aroma with a touch of sweetness, just a hint of fruityness,
Body: creamy body,
Flavor: rich chocolate flavor, touch of roasted, creamy milky sweetness balances the bitterness from the roasted and dark chocolate to bring out a milky chocolate,

Aroma: 7/10; Appearance: 8/10; Flavor: 7/10; Palate: 8/10; Overall: 15/20
Rating: 3.7/5.0
Drinkability: 8/10
Score: **4

GBBF, Trade Day, 2008 Gravity cask. Smooth, tasty, easy drinking and sweet. American hops and American cookie dough. Very tasty and enjoyable.

Bottle from Discount in Milwaukee. First off, pour is black and thick, dark brown head that eventually goes away. Nose is strongly chocolate and Nutella, a little bit of fusel alcohol as well. This, to me, blows Stone RIS out of the water. Taste is much roastier and rich, very dry and distinct bitterness. If this had another 6mths on it, it would be perfect. As it stands, a bit alcoholic and boozy. There is some burnt cherries in the finish. Very damn fine beer, wish I had more to lay down...

this beer cascades slowly into a glass like an espresso mixed with molasses, thick like oil - almost gurgling. it is of the darkest shade of brown with a thin hazelnut colored head. it is smooth and rich, with a finish of dark cherries, bulgar, and cacoa. fundamentally strong and classic in its endeavor, truly delicious, far from revolutionary.

Pours so rich and thick. It looks like the oil from my last oil change. Almost black with some red and a dark tan head that disappears quickly. Aroma is not pronounced but offers coffee, chocolate, and must. Flavor is also somewhat muted and has plenty of alcohol. Also noted are dark chocolate, ok, even bitter dark chocolate. Some vanilla and oatmeal add nice texture. Some chocolate milkshake. The balance here is bitter and sweet with both showing nicely. Hops are buried so deeply they are barely noticed. This beer warms so nicely. It feels thicker and smoother with temperature. Almost like it should be eaten with a spoon. This might be the longest rating I have ever written but there is just so much to say about this beer.

Damn dark...super black. Thin, dark head. Not very sticky though considering the residual sugar that has to be in this. Heavy malty nose, molasses, vanilla, scorched brown sugar, metal, heavy dark chocolate and ETOH. Flavor is strong with bitter chocolate, espresso and very sugary but is softened by the oatmeal. Body is medium. Finishes almost vinous and has a hint of overly sweet molasses. Definitely not bad. Good as a once in awhile kind of thing. Not the best impy I’ve had and not as good as Russian Impy.

Cask (gravity) @ Great British Beer Festival, GBBF 2008, Earls Court, London, England SW5.
Dark black color with a small, virtualle none head. Aroma is heavy malty, caramel, chocolate, alcohol, vanila notes. Flavor is heavy sweet and some salty notes with a average to long duration. Body is medium to full, texture is oily - syrupy, carbonation is flat, finish feel is light alcoholic. (050808)
8-4-8-4-17
Bottle 65cl. @ Papsoes blindtasting. [ Bottle #7. ]
Clear dark black brown color with a small to average, frothy to creamy, fair lacing, mostly diminishing, light brown head. Aroma is moderate to heavy malty, roasted, burnt, coffee - mocca, licorice notes ? Flavor is moderate to heavy sweet and heavy bitter with a long duration. Body is medium, texture is oily, carbonation is soft, finish feel is light alcoholic. [20090612]
7-4-8-3-15