Three Floyds Dark Lord Russian Imperial Stout

Brewed by Three Floyds Brewing Company
Style: Imperial Stout
Munster, Indiana USA

07. Poured jet black with a fluffy brown head. Great lacing. Aroma of chocolate, fruit, coffee, and malt with some caramel. Taste was mostly the same. Very smooth. Some age did wonders. Calmed it down.

2005 vintage bottle shared by CaptainCougar. Pretty much solid black with a brown head. Dark chocolate, dried fruit, super malty and roasty, light alcohol, all nicely mellowed with age, adding a light oxidized touch to the nose. The flavor is intensely coffee packed, dark chocolate laden, and fruit filled, while also being hoppy and pretty bitter. This stuff is just so thick, I can’t even describe it. Definitely the thickest beer I’ve ever had. Honestly, the verdict is out on whether beer should even be this thick, but I have to give it a 5 just for accomplishing that. Definitely unique and intense stuff. It is hugely rich and sweet, yet seems to pull off a pretty good balancing act. Big thanks to Tom for pulling this out. A great way to end my time in DC. (4.3) Rerate: 2009 bottle thanks to kp on the RBSG09 bus. This was way hotter and more bitter than the aged version that I first had, and seemed more syrupy in its sweetness. I was actually surprised at how messy it was. Still pretty good, but not as moving as my first experience, and i wouldn’t want to drink much of this fresh stuff.

My first experience with Dark Lord was a bottle of the 2008. When poured at certain times you could almost see chunks dropping into the beer. Lots of hop, and wonderful taste. You can taste/feel just a hint of the alcohol content when drinking. The label on the back that says motor oil like consistence is actually incredibly accurate. I’ll def be attending Dark Lord Day 2009 this year.

Rating Number 1000! This is a 2008 bottle courtesy of markwise and zuluflboy. Pours a murky intimidating black as night color with a one finger tan yellow clingy head that settles quickly. Aroma is boozy with heavy notes of raisins and ripe dark fruits, rum soaked cake, molasses, brown sugar, hints of bourbon and toffee. Mouthfeel is so velvety and silky that is seems more like chocolate milk than a beer. Flavor is chocolatey with notes of molasses, brown sugar, ripe dark fruits, bourbon, hints of toffee and caramel. Again, mouthfeel is thick and creamy. Somewhat boozy even after a year but a really wonderful beer. Sticks to the back of my mouth as I drink it. Full bodied with notes of bourbon and chocolate on finish. Believe the hype - this is a great beer.

Thanks to those who provided the bottles at bockyhorseys for a semi-vertical tasting of 2005, 2006, and 2008. I will review the 2005 here, as it was by far the best. Pours jet black with a really dark brown head. Aroma is of thick bourbon, roast, and lots of alcohol. Taste has some minor diacetyl, some chocolate, cigars, malt sweetness, and bourbon. Very light carbonation and super super thick mouthfeel. THICK. Very overrated. An average RIS at best. the 2006/2008 were much worse, being far more sweet and unbalanced (to put it nicely). Lesson learned here is to age the heck out of it.

2008 bottle. Thanks to Motortoddhead for the hookup! Pours a deep oily black color, head dissipates to nothing rather quickly. Flavor is roasted malt, cocoa powder, black coffee, molasses, vanilla bean. Medium bodied, mild earthy alcohol notes. Finish is dry and lingering. Nicely done!

Pours a dark chocolate espresso brown with dark tan colored head. Aroma is light bourbon notes with toasted hazelnut notes and vanilla extract. Flavor is roasted malts mixed with roasted salted nuts. Body is very thick creamy with definite carbonation present. A very good balance between the two.

2008 bottle, black wax, pitch dark black color, with a creamy tan-colored head, sweet, toasty, roasty malt, mochaish, fruity candied blackcurrant, blackberry nose with a cookie dough, chocolate praline, molasses note, with some coffee bean, licorice aromas follow though on a full-bodied palate with a yeasty, rich, thick, syrupy, oily, intense, buttery, dark chocolate, roasty malt, blackcherry, blackcurrant character with some velvety mochaish, black coffee, vanilla, fruity flavors of burnt dried raisins, dates, plums, with some molasses, licorice, port liquorish accents, with a bitter black cocoa, chocolate note, with a faint flowery hop pineyness, leading towards a warming, fruity, blackberry, dark chocolate, coffeeish, lingering roasted malt bitterness finish.