Stone 12th Anniversary Bitter Chocolate Oatmeal Stout

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

22 oz bottle in July 2008. Pours black, thick, with a chocolate brown head that nearly disipates after a couple of minutes. Aromas of chocolate, coffee, and cherry. Rich, sweet (from malt), bitter chocolate taste. The 9.2% alcohol doesn’t show up in the taste. Nice rich, smooth, with a chocolate and slight coffee finish.

Pours dark black with a brown head. The aroma is malty. Taste like dark chocolate with a roasted malt after taste.

Great chocolate stout! Big on dark chocolate and roasted coffee flavor. I would say its on par with the Imperial Russian Stout but lots more chocolate. The high alcohol is an added bonus but you wont notice it!

ok, i had this beer once, and it was some time ago. it was probally one of my favorite brews of all time for dark ales. i rembered it poured thick and black with an off white head that had the most awsome smell and aroma. could taste chocolate, malt and hops all combined with the perfect proportions. if i could have this again, i would buy it in an instant. great brew from stone!!

Put the kids to bed, time to relax and contemplate the future for a bit...this seemed to be the ideal bomber for just such an occasion. Pours like a hearty stout should with an opaque black body, fluffy tan head, and sticky/spotty lacing. Dominant aroma of dark chocolate creates a very warm and inviting atmosphere. Heavy cream and a rich, smoky, organic earthiness are evident in the powerful aroma along with plenty of coffee and cocoa scents. Heavy and filling mouth feel that remains creamy with a silky smoothness. This beer is ready to drink now, I see no need for additional aging. A well rounded decadence, this beer is grand and amazing on the palate. Rich, hearty flavor full of smooth rolled oats, roasted-burnt malts, thick molasses, and old coffee. Creamy, bitter dark chocolate is the center of attention within the well layered flavor. I wouldn’t call this overly complex, but it does taste incredible. A robust stout, most definitely to my liking, top notch.

Stone 12th Anniversary Bitter Chocolate Oatmeal Stout is an opaque black-brown ale with a soft, muscovado-colored head. There is a purplish red overtone to it. The head exhibits excellent retention and lacing. The aroma is of dark chocolate with roastiness and some alcohol in the nose. The is a hint of licorice or salmiakki. It is full bodied, smooth and very soft. It has a dry, almost silty finish, like chocolate milk. Dark chocolate dominates the taste. It is quite bitter and boozy. There is an herbal or medicinal kick at the finish. It has a long aftertaste of dark chocolate. It’s bold, chocolaty and bitter.

Bottle tasted as part of a RIS blind tasting(finished 3rd of 4) Pours flat black with no head. Aroma is hard to find. Some light coffee hints. Taste is nice and bitter. Some bakers chocolate and expresso. Light mouthfeel with some cream in the finish. Finish is bitter with some light sourness. Love it.

Pours thick and black with a dark brown head that dissapates quickly. Roast coffee, chocolate, oatmeal scent. Incredibly dark. Body is not too thick, mild carbonation. Sweetness hits first. Bittersweet roasted chocolate then comes, a little nuttiness. Finish is bitter chocolate/roastedness. Subtle, yet complex flavors. A wonderfully flavorful, lighter-bodied stout.