Stone 12th Anniversary Bitter Chocolate Oatmeal Stout

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

My 2800th rating! Bottle (660ml) shared with HogTownHarry & garthicus -- courtesy of HogTownHarry. Pours black with an average to large size diminishing creamy light-brown head -- looks gorgeous! Aroma’s quite roasty along with coffee, some smoke, dark bitter chocolate, alcohol and just a hint of hops. Big chocolate flavour along with espresso, lots of hops, dark fruit, some alcohol and a very bitter finish. Average to medium bodied. Great stuff, I loved it!

Bottle. Pours black with a small, frothy, dark brown head, mostly diminishing with spare lacing. Aroma is heavy malt (molasses, chocolate, toffee), heavy hops (flowers, perfume, pine), average yeast (leather) with notes of raisin, plum, smoke, tar, and vanilla. Full bodied, oily texture, lively carbonation, and a bitter finish. Long duration, heavy sweetness and bitterness, moderate acidity.

Pours a pitch black with a deep brown creamy/bubbly head that left lacing. Aroma of roasted malt, cocoa powder, dark chocolate, light coffee, caramel and some nuts. Aroma is actually very smooth, nothing bitter or harsh about it. Flavor smooth/milky dark chocolate, lightly roasted malt, caramel, light smoke, nuts, some bitter notes, hops, The bitterness of the chocolate coming through a bit in the flavor, but the oatmeal really helps to balance it out. I thought this was well done, glad I picked up a second bottle to cellar.

Bottle at patrick767’s event. Small tan head with good retention, fair amount of lacing, opaque, no visible carbonation, and a black hue. The aroma was chocolate, burnt, malt, and oats. The flavor was chocolate, bitter hops, coffee, slightly burnt tasting, and a semi-dry finish. A tingly and oily mouthfeel and medium bodied. Nice balance, another fine brew by Stone, worthy of a try, and I would drink this one again.

Bottle. Midnight black pour with a small brown head. Nose is dark roasted malts, dark, bittersweet chocolate, burnt oatmeal and coffee. Taste is very bitter and roasty. Lots of bittersweet chocolate, dark, roasted malts, soft alcohol notes, cold coffee, and burnt oatmeal. Body is thick and chewy. The actual pour was just as thick and soupy. Carbonation is moderate with dense bubbles. Oily in spots as well with soft warmth. Ends with more roasted malts, dark chocolate, coffee, burnt oatmeal, oily hops and a touch of licorice. Will be interesting to see how this ages!

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

Lakewood, Oh. - Roz’s Wine House - 22 oz bomber. Black a tar pour with a thick, mocha colored head that sticks around. Very fragrant aroma of chocolate, coffee, and licorice - rich to say the least. Full-bodied flavor with some fresh brewed strong coffee, licorice, baker’s chocolate, a touch of prunes - delectable. Mouthfeel is thick and rich - plenty of lactic acid present to give it some silkiness. A solid entry by Stone -maybe I wouldn’t be so dazzled by them if they were more readily available in my neck of the woods.

I’ve never seen so many words on a bottle of beer. Wasted several minutes of my life reading them with a magnifying glass and learned little of interest. Oily black colour with a dark brown head. Roasted malt aroma with some sweetness and a hint of alcohol. Chocolate and espresso taste, quite sweet, smooth and oily, with a strong late bitterness. The oatmeal is there, but I probably wouldn’t have noticed it had it not been for the beer’s name.