Stone 12th Anniversary Bitter Chocolate Oatmeal Stout

yum!! pours deep deep brown/black with a thick brown head. aroma is chocolate and alcohol, bitter. flavor is similar, creamy bitter dark chocolate, mild alcohol bite.

On tap at Breakwater Brewing in Oceanside. The aroma is a very nice combination of dark chocolate, oatmeal, roastiness, light cocoa powder, faint fruit with some faint burnt notes. It pours a dark brown with a moderate brown head. The flavor starts with a nice blast of dark chocolate that increases in the finish along with some light roasted coffee. The finish has some bitter chocolate, burnt notes, black licorice, some light plummy sweetness, and alcohol. The alcohol isn’t overbearing but it’s definitely there. Medium bodied with soft carbonation and a very creamy mouthfeel. Pretty damn good in my opinion. I will be stocking up on this one.

Black, with a brown head. Aroma is chocolate, alcohol, coffee, and roasted malt. Flavor is somewhat bitter chocolate, coffee, roasted malt, oats, alcohol.

Draft in Boston at the sunset grill with Clark and the gang. Poured deep black with a medium sized tan head that left nice lacing on the glass. Aroma of roasted chocolate and mild coffee notes. Tastes of a almost burnt chocolate, dark chocolate, roasted coffee, mild oats, finishes a little creamy and dry (I didn’t think that was possible). I enjoyed this.

From a 22oz Bottle. Pitch black, opaque pour with a thin layer of fizzy charred foam. Lot of roast and chocolate in the nose, along with some hot alcohol. Medium full bodied, moderately carbonated mouthfeel with a soft, oily texture. Flavors are an intense combination of dark chocolate and char. Toasted biscuit and molasses. The finish is exceptionally long and oozing with dry chocolate flavors. There’s a gentle alcohol warmth in the finish, but not as off-putting as I found in the nose. Awesome chocolate flavors without the excessive sweetness.

Bottle: Near black pour with a medium sized, dense brown head. Nose is roasty malt with chocolate and some light coffee/mocha notes. Flavor is an intense roasted malt, chocolate, coffee, and bittersweet dark cocoa. Has a light oatmeal stout element. Some hoppy notes are present as well. Plenty of bitters, as the title would suggest. Creamy mouthful. Should age well; I hope to manage my cellar properly...

This was a dark pour with definite chocolate scents and flavor. This had a complex build up of flavors and alcohol warming/flavor. I have one being aged right now so we will see how it turns out. I think my expectations of this beer were to high... I mean come on chocolate and oatmeal.

Cask@GBBF 2008. Black beer with a malty aroma, and a malty, vinous and spiced flavour. Overall a nice malty and herbal tasting beer.