Stone 12th Anniversary Bitter Chocolate Oatmeal Stout

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

7/27/08: Bottle.
Oily black-brown body with a rich mocha colored head. Roasted yet sweet aroma - coffee, dark chocolate and caramel. Flavors include roasted coffee, dutch cocoa powder, vanilla - balances out nicely. Chewy mouth-feel with a slightly sweet finish.

Poured from a 22oz bomber and served in a snifter. This stout poured an opaque black with a thin head of dark tan foam. Decent lacing. The aroma of the beer was made up of bittersweet chocolate, toasted oats, and a bit of fresh coffee. The flavor included charred malts, bittersweet chocolate, oats, caramel, and a hint of dark fruit. The alcohol was well hidden. The mouthfeel was full-bodied and smooth. Light carbonation. Pretty tasty.

Pours very dark brown/black with brown head. Aromas of burnt malts and alcohol. Flavors od roasted malts, chocolate and coffee. Not as much chocolate flavor as I was anticipating, but it was still good nonetheless. Full body with minimal carbonation and a somewhat dry finish. The oatmeal gives it a nice smooth and creamy mouthfeel. A well done imperial stout.

Pours a dark brown color with thick light brown ehad. Aroma is bitter chocolate, oatmeal, malt and light hop fragrance. taste is bitter chocolate, earthy malt, light coffee and some milk sugar. It’s mildly carbonated and the aftertaste is really mellow and bitter. The alcohol is well hidden but this impy just doesn’t do it for me. It’s good, but not great.

Bottle. Pours a good black color with a fairly good tan head. A good coco to the nose and roasted malt. Flavors are real good with the chocolate Wonderful oat flavors too. Pretty creamy mouth. Very relaxing beer for a wind down to a busy day. I wish I picked up more to age. I willl have to keep my eyes out. Resampled (12-31-08). Growler from Stone. Pours a midnight creamy black with a towering thick dark dark cream head. Same roasted malts and coco nose. Also a subtle hop note on the nose. Roasted coffee, dark chocolate flavors. Mouth is creamy with a bitter dry finish. Alcohol is a bit much as it pulls away from the rest of the flavors.

Bottle, thanks M@. Oily-thick black with thick brown head. Nose of coffee, black chocolate, toasted marshmallow. Mildly sweet flavor with slightly dark and smoky edge. Bit of pumpernickel type sourness. Nice thick MF. Roasty aftertaste.

Bitter is a fitting label. This one has a bite in the finish that is nothing but bitter. Aroma is of roasted malt, maybe some subtle dark chocolate lingering there, and alcohol. Mouthfeel is harsh out of the fridge, but mellows as it warms. High very tight bubbles in the carbonation. Flavor is bitterness, charred meat, licorice, ash. Jet black in color with a thin tan head that dissipates quickly. I love how complex this beer is, just not sure it has what I want to find. I wish it were sweeter with more of the chocolate and oatmeal smoothness coming through.

Bottle. Rich, slightly smoky bitter dark chocolate. Some dry oak-like character. Oily, viscuous dark brown with a big foamy light brown head that leaves thin splotchy lacing. Dark chocolate dominates up front Finish is burnt toast char, dry and bitter. Slightly foamy, creamy, full bodied with a slight warming bite.