Stone 12th Anniversary Bitter Chocolate Oatmeal Stout

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

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.

Pours black with a sizable, moderate tan head. Aroma is chocolate and java while the flavor has a major dark chocolate and coffee quality. Thick mouth feel. Really good beer!

Deep brown, nearly black, with a dark, dusky head that leaves tiny bead lacing all over the side of the glass. On the nose, a little leather, some savory herbs, like sage and thyme, but an overwhelming light chocolate. Bright palate, nice acidity, slick mouthfeel and a bitter chocolate finish that grows as you consume the beer. Flavors are peaty and leathery, like scotch, with the bitterness of chocolate nibs. There is no attempt to hide the alcohol on the beer, and that’s just fine with me, as it’s obviously done on purpose to heighten the bittering flavor and really matters on the palate. A very good beer -- I’m appreciative of the thought and effort that must have gone into making it.

This was extremely good. Nice bitter, roasted malt flavor with some smoke, oatmeal, dark chocolate, and bitter espresso with a bitter but almost creamy-smooth mouthfeel. Wish this was a year-round beer. YUM.

22 oz. pours pitch with nice brown head. aroma is roasted malt with a touch of bitter cocoa. mouthful is smooth and creamy with a gentle bitterness that feels like a bar of dark chocolate melting in my mouth. crisp finnish. very nice... can always look forward to a stone anniversary...