Stone 12th Anniversary Bitter Chocolate Oatmeal Stout

Pours a dark opaque black colour with a very little head. Hardly any carbonation, the body is extremely thick, almost syrupy as comes out of the bottle into the glass. Taste is rich, alcohol infused, caramel, coffee grounds, burnt toast. Aroma is the same, noticeable alcohol and bready. Dark fruits, cherries and overripe apples. After a long day of tasting beers, this was by far the best one.

Bottle. Pours black, opaque, with medium tan head. Aroma is chocolate, roast malts. Flavor is bitter from roasted malt, slightly sweet, smoke, black currants, lighter flavor than I would expect.

Black. No hints of orange or red or brown, not even when held to a 100w light bulb. Head like a chocolate milkshake. Burnt sugar and cocoa with a touch of berries. Coating like chocolate milk, hints of nutty coffee, lightly bitter from hops and roasted grain in the finish. A bit of perfumed alcohol flavor and noticeable warmth on the way down.

Smells like chocolate covered cherries and hot alcohol. Pours a thich oily black with small brown head that diminishes completely. Taste is mostly chocolate covered cherries again plus alcohol, a touch of sourness, and bitter roasted malts in the finish. Light carbonation and a bit thinner than expected. A flavorful beer, but a 22oz. bottle is a bit much for me, difficult to finish near the end.

Picked up a single 22-oz bomber at Riley’s World of Wines in downtown Madison, WI. Pours an opaque very dark brown brew with a thick tan head that has a nice retention and some good lacing. Aroma of dark chocolate, touch of coffee and plenty of toasted dark malt. Taste is full bodied, very light carbonation with flavors of thick toasted dark malt, bittersweet chocolate, toffee and some citrus zest. Finish is thick texture with a bitter chocolate and molasses aftertaste that lingers after the finish.

Cask conditioned - gravity dospense - GBBF 2008. A dark, dark brown beer with some chocolate and alcohol in the thinner than expected aroma. The taste is full bodied boozy alcohol, chocolate and hops. Very tasty, and very American.

My Bottom Line:
Dark chocolate and roastiness form succulent malt curves before they team up with leafy hops to build a potent bitter dryness in this original and very likeable Imperial Stout.

Further Personal Perceptions:
-A ring of foam circles the opaque black.
-Oatmeal contributes some crunchy cereal character.
-Alcohol is well hidden (by all the roastiness?) for a beer this size.
-The flavor profile is straightforward, but it is highly enjoyable when you enjoy such dark malt-driven discourses.

Bottles.

Chocolate malty and high alcohol aroma. Dark color with tan thin head. Flavor is sweet toffee, espresso, and smooth bitterness at end.