Stone 12th Anniversary Bitter Chocolate Oatmeal Stout

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

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.

Bomber shared with Timfoolery and Wessidemc. Poured a dark brown almost black with a tan head. Strong smell of cocoa. Tasted of bitter chocolate and roasted malt. Excellant on the palate. A great beer on a cold winter night. Cant wait to try my second bottle.

22 ounce bottle split in Duvel glass. Black with lasting flat brown head. Chocolate coffee port earth aroma. Chocolate covered fig sweetness, earthy, with underlying hop flavor and bitterness. Full body, low carb, amazing soft mouthfeel, maybe because it’s pretty warm. Well-disguised alcohol. Complex and wholesome. Definitely excellent!

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.

Creamy earthy sweet oat aroma. Pear, molasses and currant. Dark chocolate, espresso, burnt barley. Big bitter chocolate and espresso flavor. Licorice, molasses, charcoal, hazel and walnuts. Minor cherry and plum fruitiness. Hops gives a perfumey spicy character. Some alchohol burn but in a good way, like acidic coffee. Some smoke in the finish. Killer silk texture (from oats) on the Uber-smooth palate. Astringency puckers mouth at first, then mellows to a rich semi-sweet finish.

Well I had to go to Vermont to find this in the bottle at a local shop in Stowe. Rating #600. This is a kick ass beer. Pours a jet black with a nice foamy brown head. Aroma is(shocking)all chocolate. I also smell a hint of coffee and maybe some molasses. Taste is dark chocolate, dried dark fruit, coffee and some molasses hints on the nose too. I truly enjoyed this from start to finish.