Stone 12th Anniversary Bitter Chocolate Oatmeal Stout

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

Very dark, bakers chocolate and roast in the aroma. Tastes of slight roast with a long bitter finish, like bakers chocolate without the hearty chocolate taste.

Bottle: The aroma is a very nice combination of dark chocolate, oatmeal, roastiness, light cocoa powder, faint fruit (cherry?), and some faint burnt notes. It pours a dark brown, virtually black, with a moderate brown head that fades to a thin film after a minute or so and leaves minimal lacing...really the only thing keeping it from a 5 in appearance. The flavor starts with a nice dose of dark chocolate that only gets stronger in the finish along with some light roasted coffee. The finish has some bitter chocolate, burnt notes, black licorice, some light plummy sweetness, and alcohol. The alcohol isn’t overbearing or hot by any means, but it’s definitely there. Medium bodied with soft carbonation and a very creamy mouthfeel. Pretty damn good in my opinion. I will be stocking up on this one.

From a 22 oz bottle, this poured poured like old motor oil into my Duvel Glass and was a very dark brown (almost black) with very thick tan head and very sticky lacing. Nose is coffee, chocolate,and ripe figs. Mouthfeel is very full bodied. Flavor is very rich with chocolate and ripe fruit and some alcohol.In the finish you detect for the first time a tiny bit of hops in the slight bitterness. This is simply a great beer.

Thanks eagle. Poured was as dark as used motor oil major choco head good lacing throught. Aroma was a nice chocolate, roastedness. Flaove was amazing chocolate smoke not overly hot either. Wow another from stone I love it.

Chocolate malty and high alcohol aroma. Dark color with tan thin head. Flavor is sweet toffee, espresso, and smooth bitterness at end.

Black as night pour, fluffy head, lacing...all that good stuff. The aroma reflected the flavor...huge in all regards! Loads of dark chocolate flavors, tons of roast and a noticeable sweet oatmeal flavor. Sweetness not overdone and a nice dry mouthfeel. Rich creamy somewhat chalky mouthfeel. I don’t know about the criticism of "harsh". This was less harsh than Ten Fidy. I love both beers!

Shining, black body under a small, tan head. Inviting aroma of sweet, lightly roasted malts. Very rich flavoured ale with cocoa, vanilla and chocolate up front successfully mixed by late and dried fruits. Lingering smooth bitterness to the aftertaste. Very well bodied with tingling alcohol on the tongue. Wonderful and superb. This ale has got almost everything - maybe except for the oatmeal (my best drink at this year’s GBBF, 06.08.2008).

22oz bottle. Black Chocolate Heaven, with a hint of hops flavor. Dry and bitter. A very drinkable Imperial Stout, especially for dessert.