Stone 12th Anniversary Bitter Chocolate Oatmeal Stout

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

22oz. bomber: This one pours an inky, very opaque dark brown. There was just a wisp of a brown head on it, and that was gone almost immediately. Complex aroma. Chocolate stands out, but not overpowering. Some roastiness and woodiness in there. Hint of some fruits, possibly cherries. Somewhat heavy, slick feel on your tongue. A complex taste also. Chocolate, roasted malt, coffee, bitterness. This is very nice.

Bomber: Pours black. No ruby edging, just black, with a medium sized fluffy tan head, huge chocolate, grain and coffee nose, starts bitter and ends more bitter. Oily, slick mouthfeel, mild carbonation, thick bodied. Alcohol is well hidden.

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.

I bought a few bombers last summer of 12th Anniversary and decided to sample one outside on a February afternoon being warmed by a chiminea. As I sat there sampling the beer and reading the back label, it was a winter day the brewer had in mind when it was brewed. Bitterness eases as my palate adjusts to the full bodied Oatmeal Stout. Dark black coffee appearance, this is a strong beer. Caught a nice little buzz from just one bomber and cellaring a few bottles made for an enjoyable winter afternoon.

This beer pours blacker than black with a thick brown and foamy head that diminishes slowly. Stringy lacing on the glass. Milk chocolate, grainy malt and oatmeal aroma. Rich smooth body with flavors of dark chocolate, dried fruits, vanilla and roasted malts. The finish is bitter dark chocolate and sweet malt. Overall this beer is not at the top of the charts as far as Imperial Stouts go, however it is well-crafted and enjoyable which is the norm for Stone.

Bottle via Hogtownharry - thanks, Harry! Pours deep brown-black with a finger of dark tan head. Aroma and flavour of deeply roasted malt, dark bitter chocolate, and slightly burnt espresso beans. Soft, creamy body. Finish is nice and dry with a great bitterness and very little alcohol heat. This is fantastic stuff that went damn well with a few squares of 85% dark chocolate.

Pitch black pour with a quarter inch brown head that fades quickly. Aroma of toasted malt and chocolate. Flavor is dark, rich chocolate syrup with a semi-sweet finish. Pleasantly bitter. Like an alcohol-infused Hershey’s Special dark. Very good.

WOW! Pours near black with a thick tan head. Aroma of chocolate, some coffee/espresso, and dark roasted grains. Flavor bursting with chocolate. Like most big stouts there is a coffee presence, but it is a little more subtle here with the forwardness of the cocoa. It is roasty dry with only some residual sweetness, but it has a creamy quality that really adds to the enjoyment. EXCELLENT!!!