Three Floyds Oak Aged Dark Lord Russian Imperial Stout

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

I had this at the 2008 Dark Lord Day draft. Un real! Like a slicce of thick rich cake and velvet in liquid form. Not only was it poaque it clung to the sides of the sample glass and I think it actually sucked out some of the light in the room! It was worth the wait just to try it, I liked it even better than the regular which I’m saving bottles of, this is one of the best beers I’ve had.

this is like drinking motor oil. as if original dark lord weren’t enough to kick your ass they covered it with bourbon. this is just too too much. i get it, but i just can’t drink it.

Black, soulless body with a thin, dark tan head. Everything the original Dark Lord is, both in aroma and taste, but now given a hearty soak in bourbon -- something I highly recommend. Strong bourbony accents blend in well with the other strong flavors. Thick, somewhat sticky body with almost nil carbonation. Enjoyed at this year’s DLD, it really helped take the edge off standing around for hours upon hours in a line.

Draught, DLD ’08. Pours dark and rich like the original Dark Lord but with almost no head. Aromas of chocolate, coffee, and malt. Great depth of flavor that coates the palate. Oak aging tamed, some may even say to the point of hiding the overall intensity of the original Dark Lord, but it did add great woody and bourbon flavors. The oaked version provides a much different experience and well worth a wait in line if given the opportunity.(Thanks to the guy in the Goose Island Jersey for giving me a pour).

Draught, Dark Lord Day 2008. Original Dark Lord is a 5.0 beer for me, a 1 year barrel aged version just takes it to another level. Has the smoothness, intensity, layers of flavor and incredible body of Dark Lord, with additions of whiskey, charred oak, vanilla and coconut.

4-26-08 tap into plastic cup at DLD ’08
Thick black oily pour with no head. Smell is whiskey, oak, grass, and mocha. Flavor is thick and heavy dark bourbon. First few drinks are hard to handle - but then your body adjusts and falls in love. Finish is thick and oily. No real carbonation - but it works here. Not exactly the easiest to throw back - but worth every second.

In short: A heavily barrel port-wine disguised as a beer
How: 2 x 6oz sample at Dark-Lord-Day 2008
The look: Black body with not head
In long: Bourbon is overwhelming and kills all the complexity that the regular Dark Lord has. Gone are the rich fruity flavours, chocolate and all. All I was left with was some kind of lifeless port wine with a shot of expresso. Very flat carbonation. Alcohol more apparent than in the regular Dark Lord. One hour later I even got myself a second 6oz sample thinking there was something wrong with my first sample. Nope, same simple brutal “beer” (and I use the term “beer” very loosely). This is yet another case of rarity creates make-believe quality. So let me be the first to say “The Oak Aged Dark Lord is all hype”. Let me also be the first to say “Groozaboniac slumperknoker truziamphonic”.

Tried at DLD. Smooth and sweet, yet has a nice crisp kmini hop bite in the the end. Oak is nice and drawn out, but not overplayed. I’d like to try this again when a little more sober.