Three Floyds Dark Lord Russian Imperial Stout

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

2008, aged one year, thanks to gonzoillini! aroma is acidic coffee, black cherry and grape. big chunky, coating mouthfeel. appearance is opaque with swirling chocolate film head. initial oxygen blast carb from pour is filthy mud. flavor is industrial chocolate. aroma initially is solely java while flavor maintains the monopoly on cocoa. in due time, aroma begins to evolve to almost 100% cocoa ironically! dregs from the bottle nearly choked me to a death of the utmost pleasure. this is practically chocolate syrup, the most decadent imperial stout known to man. 2009 bottle has far more alcoholic nose and pour/oxygen head is not nearly as filthy. much more acidic nose with less java and more booze. very hot all around but still substantial, potent and very enjoyable in its own way. head retention (for what little carb exists in either vintage) is far inferior as well. soy sauce while was hardly noticeable if at all in 2008 is prevelant here. this beer needs a nap!

2009 bottle. poured jet black with a tan head that faded quickly to give nice lacing. smelled of coffee, dark chocolate, plums, raisons, bacon, cherries. tasted sweet to start with notes of cherries, chocolate, plum, raisons and very good at hiding the alcohol.

bottle thanks to cavie. thanks for finally helping me get this one. 2009 version. poured as black as the night with a tan head. the legs on this were sick and stained the glass. aroma was chocolate covered cherry cordial and plum. flavor was the same plus dark roast, cinnamon, and some alcohol. body was medium-heavy with a good slick feeling. great stuff and glad i have a bottle to age.

2009 Bottle courtesy of belgiangirl. Poured thick black with deep molasses and licorice aroma. Complex hops at the beginning followed by anise and molasses and finishes well with a smoky/hop bitter ending. Was even better warmed up, and is a delicious brew.

#1400! 2009 vintage. Pitch black pour. No light escapes this dark hole of a beer. Yum, lots of darkness in the pour. Heavy malty notes. Some chemical sour but nothing distasteful. Taste has loads of chocolate. Flavor has bit of astringent notes that fade quickly. This will be much better with years on it. Some sharp flavors need to fade and it will be fantastic. That being said, well freaken done!

Black Oily pour, tight ring of fizzy tan head. Intense Aroma of molasses, dark sugars, dates, figs, Black Olives, booze. Subtle chocolate notes as well. Complex malt in the mouth, powerful sweet molasses and chocolate as well as vanilla, nutty hazelnut, and booze. the Finish is lasting, boozey with chocolate and a shadow of the dates in the aroma. Awesomely multidimensional.

Plenty of people to thank for this, #1900!!! Cgarvieuk for the first sample hand bottled into a Thai Swet Mango Chili hot sauce bottle, kid you not. Enjoyed on the bus from Edinburgh, Scotland to Sheffield, England. TomThompson for the 2009 & El Jefe for the 4 yr vertical (2005-2008). Deep dark pour. Darker tan head, Big heavy roasted malt aroma, light soy, light booze, rich. Fuller oily mouthfeel. Rich, roasted malts, soy, chocolate. Extremely complex. Much Thanks to all the previously mentioned

09 white wax vintage. Oily black pour with with some ruby and brown tints around the edges. Almost no head present. Aroma is absolutely monstrous; big notes of chocolate, espresso, molasses, brown sugar, fig, raisin, date, black olive, plum, a bit of marzipan, and a warming alcohol presence. I expected a straightforward bomb of an imperial stout, but this is so complex and so nice. Flavor is incredible; lots of coffee, rich chocolate, vanilla, molasses, and clear booze notes. The dark fruit becomes more subtle, but those notes of date, fig, and raisin are still present. There is a really nice toasted almond, walnut, and hazelnut note; adding the sweetness to that, it borders on a Nutella feel. Palate amounts one of the easiest 5s i’ve ever given; absurdly rich and smooth, and the flavors are just further expounded in the aftertaste. Dark Lord somehow lives up to the hype.