Stone 12th Anniversary Bitter Chocolate Oatmeal Stout - Stone Brewing Co.

mikesgroove

South Carolina

4.6/5  rDev +11.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

I had the pleasure of getting to try this one on tap at Barleys the other day. I didnt make it to the release, but was thrilled when I saw it was still around the next day. Served in a Duvel glass straight from the tap, this one was consumed on 09/19/2008.

The pour was straight up friggin nice. Rich dark brown, competlely opaque. There was a gorgeous looking head on top, maybe two and a half inches in height that just literally would not fade away. Huge sticky and gooey side glass lace just would not quit and really gave this one of the better looking stouts I have seen recently.

The aroma was just as I would have expected. Lots of chocolate here, tons of it, with a good amount of bitter hoppiness coming through as well. Some notes of a bourbon like alcohol and a bit of a sweet molasses touch to it as well. Really very well done. The flavor almost made me fall out of my seat, as it was just that damn good. Intense notes of sweet chocolate folded over themselves and dived into a rich molasses filled bourbon like alcohol. Super sweet in the front before turning intenesly bitter and hoppy on the finish. I had the mouth dry out soo bad when i was done I almost reached for some water. This was almost remiscent of Darkness in the hoppiness of the finish. Super creamy and smooth, this was definitly a full bodied stout with an excellent amount of carbonation that gave it a velvet like smoothness. I could not believe the alcohol was as high as it was, as I was just sipping away on this one with no regard, really well masked and very welll hidden.

Overall I was very, very impressed with this one. One of the best chocolate stouts i have ever had, nevermind for an anniversary ale. They really hit a homerun with this one and I would love to try it again.

Serving type: on-tap

09-21-2008 22:56:43 | More by mikesgroove

barleywinefiend

Washington

3.48/5  rDev -15.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Had on tap at JJ Brewskys along with my Old Viscosity, Saucerful of Merkin.
I previusly rated the bottle and now the tap. It came to me in a pint glass, ddep brown in the light as I sat outside, very small tan head to this brew. Nose was hot, cocoa and oats. Taste was a bit smoother than the bottle but this beer is still to hot and it masks the great flavor hiding in it. Mouthfeel was chocolatey and too boozy for me. Almost a pain more than a pleasure to drink.

Serving type: on-tap

09-17-2008 18:31:32 | More by barleywinefiend

NJpadreFan

New Jersey

3.4/5  rDev -17.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Stone XII

A- Deep brownish black with a small light head, no lacing.
S- Big smokey BBQ sauce with a touch of chocolate.
T- Smokey pork flavoring?, BBQ sauce honey, cumin, paprika, and pepper spices with a good background of milk chocolate.
M- Very sweet up front with a solid smokey center and a thick molasses/black licorice finish.

Overall- Good, but I didn't detect a good choc. oatmeal stout background (like a Founders Breakfast Stout) More of a Rauchbier to me. Good but not impressive.

Serving type: on-tap

09-10-2008 23:09:23 | More by NJpadreFan

neenerzig

Ohio

4.78/5  rDev +16.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Enjoyed by me on-tap earlier tonight. Served in a pint glass. Draws a very dark brown, almost black color. The tan head is about 1/3-1/2 inch when served to me. Settles to a nice brown ring lining the inside of the glass along with a very decent surface coating. Has very nice lace. Has roasted sweet malt aromas with hints of coffee and chocolate notes. Tastewise there are sweet, roasted chocolate malt, bitter coffee and some hops, rounded out with a sort of oatmeal taste. Very good balance here, a bit better balanced than out of the bottles. Has a crisp, smooth full bodied mouthfeel with moderate carbonation. Extremely drinkable, especially considering the high ABV here. Very good indeed!

Eric

Serving type: on-tap

09-08-2008 03:41:48 | More by neenerzig

beerphan

Pennsylvania

3.15/5  rDev -23.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

on tap -> 12 oz goblet

Arrived a dark black with a nice dirty brown head.

Nose: Malty, some cocoa, alcohol

Here's where it went wrong for me. The chocolate flavors were present, and the bitterness was medium and lasting, but i just couldn't get past the smokey meat flavor. Made me think rauchbier, over the top rauchbier. I let some friends sip and they had the same feeling, taste like bad meat.

I love stone and will give this a try next time a see it, to see if i was mistaken, but my advice is to avoid on tap and grab a bottle to age.

Serving type: on-tap

09-05-2008 18:02:31 | More by beerphan

RichardWalter

California

4.08/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

On tap at Cato's poured into a 10 oz. glass.

The beer pours a solid black color with a small head due to the small size of the glass.
The taste is strong and sweet. There are hints of chocolate taste. The alcohol level is also apparaent. Small sips are what to take as it provides almost a dessert feel to the end of the meal.

Serving type: on-tap

08-18-2008 02:12:19 | More by RichardWalter

johnmichaelsen

Oregon

4.03/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Another impressive beer from Stone, reminding me very much of the RIS, but with (predictably) more of a chocolate overtone.

On tap at Mahaffey's the other day.

The beer pours a solid black color with persistent, chocolate/coffee colored head. Head retention is pretty good and there is good sticky lacing. The nose on this beer is pretty complex, with coffee, cherry, vanilla, chocolate, some roastiness and licorise. The flavors on the palate generally replicate the nose, except the licorise is even more pronounced. The beer has a sizable presence on the palate and tastes like a big beer (which of course, it is). While moderately sweet initially, the hops come on strong at the end, giving the beer almost a grainy mouthfeel. The beer finishes fairly dry, and frankly is a bit heavy and tiring. I think the finish hurts this beers drinkability just a bit, though it's certainly an impressive effort from Stone. I get the impression that this one may improve considerably with age, not unlike the Stone RIS. Still a solid beer.

Serving type: on-tap

08-17-2008 19:22:23 | More by johnmichaelsen

TonyT

Pennsylvania

3.63/5  rDev -11.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

I've had this from 22 oz. bombers (one that has met its fate with the ceramic tile of the kitchen floor...yes I'm ashamed)...
But I thought that it would be a better/more fair rating from a tap...

Poured into the glass (both from the tap and bottle), as perfect as a glass of motor oil...(as many other posts have stated)...I would say like New Jersey Lake Sludge (I can't wait for the replies on that one...I've looked for my own snipes (as a kid) thank you very much...)...

The taste mellows out while the pour gets warmer, much like the bottle.

The alcohol taste is more apparent as it warms..., but I would not say that it has such an "oatmeal taste", I was expecting more of a Rogue Chocolate Stout meets/ Sammy Smith's...but for all around it was good.

...It definitely has its own character and holds up on its own...I am interested to see how this brew ages...(like other posts have stated).

Stone Rocks...

Serving type: on-tap

08-16-2008 03:48:18 | More by TonyT

mcallister

Ohio

4.03/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours very black in color with a small tannish head that fades quickly into nothing. No lacing.

Dark bitter chocolate, who would of thunk. Cocoa and hints of vanilla and grain. Very grainy and in your face. Caramel and black fruit esters.

Very bitter and chocolatey with a nice silky smoothness from the oats. Black currant and anise fight each other in the background. Nice alcohol on the finish with caramel, slight vanilla, bakers chocolate, cocoa, roasted malts with a hint of tobacco and spent coffee grains. A very nice beer that could use a little time for the unsweetened chocolate tannins to surrender.

Serving type: on-tap

08-11-2008 20:46:19 | More by mcallister

rabsten

West Virginia

4.58/5  rDev +11.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On tap at Fatheads, South Side of Pittsburgh.

Dark, dark brown-to-black with thick, brown head. The goblet in which it was served wasn't the most conducive to lacing but some was there anyway. Surprising carbonation, given the style[s] of this.

Light chocolate hints over basic toasted malt. Some sweetness in nose. Minor alcohol. Pleasant.

Flavor: Perfect balance of bitterness and oat-y malt. Light chocolate again, serving as a bittering agent, apparently, as the bitterness of unsweetened cocoa is much more represented than the traditional "sweet" chocolate flavor you often find in chocostouts. **BTW, I figured that out BEFORE I read the description on the wall stating the bitter chocolate was acting in lieu of hops. I was pretty proud of myself after that.**

Good mouth feel, a bit on the dry side. Not unexpected given the higher level of carbonation noted in the appearance.

Could drink this all day. Or at least until the alcohol poisoning kicks in. Another Stone brew where the high alcohol is masked by the tremendous flavoring. 4.5 instead of a 5 only because of the stealth ethanol.

Bottom line: another Stone Anniversary success. X was great. XI was better. XII is really, really good too.

Serving type: on-tap

08-02-2008 14:47:12 | More by rabsten

TheEremite

California

4.28/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

This is a great example of an extreme beer done well. It's thick, flavorful, roasty, and chocolaty, but it's not over the top. I could easily have a few pints. It is, however, a cold weather beer. The oatmeal thickens it up quite a bit without sweetening it. There are some phenols on the nose, but they get lost in everything else. I'm looking forward to this in the bottle.

Serving type: on-tap

08-01-2008 14:05:35 | More by TheEremite

boralyl

Oregon

3.9/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A - Had this on draft. It is pitch black with no light coming through it all. It has roughly 1/2 finger of creamy tan head that didn't really leave any lacing.

S - A roasted aroma, chocolate, and a small alcohol smell is emitted from this brew.

M - A full bodied beer that has a nice smoothness to it and a good amount of carbonation.

T - It tastes similar to how it smells. Dark roasted malts, chocolate, coffee, and a slight bitterness create a fairly complex flavor. There is also an alcohol taste present, but it is hidden pretty well.

A very good brew, I'd like to try it later after it ages. I could probably only have one of these in a sitting because of the abv and thickness of it.

Serving type: on-tap

08-01-2008 00:03:34 | More by boralyl

illidurit

California

4.15/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On tap at the Parish Publick House in Santa Cruz. Totally black with bright brown foam that leaves sheets of lace. Aroma is roasty with baker's chocolate and some dark fruitiness. Flavor is off the charts roasty with just enough body and sweetness to keep it from charring the tongue. Similar to dark chocolate-infused coffee. Very smooth and creamy, no trace of the 9.2% abv. This beer toes the line between stout and imperial stout nicely. Another top notch Stone beer.

Serving type: on-tap

07-27-2008 06:10:41 | More by illidurit

ffejherb

Pennsylvania

3.83/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at Shady McGrady's in Harrisburg, PA on 7/25/08.

A - Dark chocolate brown body with more than a finger's width of frothy mocha-colored head that left decent lacing around the glass. This puppy reminded me of a milkshake!

S - Surprisingly muted nose with faint notes of dark chocolate and a bit of coffee. Some roasted malt as well, but overall the aroma is quite subdued.

T - Chocolate and roasted malt up front that quickly seques into more of a bitter coffee aspect with a dash of earthy hops for good measure.

M - Smooth, creamy texture with a bit of oily slickness and a slightly chewy mouthfeel. Finishes moderately bitter on the palate.

D - Not as chocolately as, say, Suthern Tier Choklat, but still highly drinkable for such a big beer (9.2% ABV). Nice bitterness all around with this one.

Serving type: on-tap

07-26-2008 14:50:40 | More by ffejherb

Deuane

Pennsylvania

4.15/5  rDev +1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at Shady McGrady's in Harrisburg.

A-Beautiful! Black with no highlights....with a BIG, thick, creamy looking mocha head. Left mucho lacing behind.

S-Faint....gets a bit better as it warmed though. Light smokiness, bitter chocolate and a bit of espresso.

T-What it lacks in aroma is made up in tatse! Mmmmm...rich, full flavoured bitter chocolate meld with blasts of espresso and dark roasted malt. A tiny twinge of smoke creeps in late.

M-Medium-heavy body with a full, smooth richness. Long lingering bitterness.

D-This is like a dessert beer. Smooth, rich and flavourful. Even at 9%+ this is one to grab a snifter of a relax with by a fire!

Serving type: on-tap

07-26-2008 13:48:54 | More by Deuane

BEERchitect

Kentucky

4.4/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

12/16/08
Had on-tap at the Chase Taproom. This beer impresses even more from the tap. Creamier, better emphasis on the oat silkiness, and stronger chocolate flavors. Lightly carbonated like most English ales, the beer weighs a little heavier to the mouth, but fuller, rounder, richer and without the carbonic bite found in the bottle.

7/22/08
After reading all the hype about this beer, I couldn't wait to get my paws on a bomber. Finally, the beer arrives in Lexington and I had the pleasure to share it with family and friends. The very thick beer slowly flows into the glass with a velvety appearance and a marshmellow-y head formation that lasted til the last sip, adding a lot of lacing and legging on the glass. Aromas were subdued, but offered a rich milky, chocolate, coffee scent that balanced well, pure, and clean. Low esters, fruits, alcohols, and phenols to the nose makes the beer purely inviting. Flavors favor the chocolates giving a brownie-cocoa rich taste with complimentary notes of near espresso / nutty columbian notes. The oates (and I suspect light milk sugars) gives the beer the needed sweetness and full flavor that tempers the cocoa-coffee aggression. Again the fruits and spices are very moderate allowing the true choco-java-milkshake character to dominate. Even the bitterness of hops balance well with the coffee bitterness and sourness to offset the remarkable malt backbone. Finishes with a round chocolate flavor and coffee bitterness. This is one pheonominal beer and I suspect that 6-9 months of age will bring the flavors together even better.

Serving type: on-tap

07-22-2008 03:23:10 | More by BEERchitect

opwog

Minnesota

4.38/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I first had a goblet from a bottle, followed by a goblet from tap.

I am not a fan of big chocolate, so I was nervous of what an extreme brewery like Stone could do with this. But I was very happy with the results.

Common to both bottle and tap:

Syrupy darkness

It is nice to see what Stone can do when hops are not the focus.

Bottle:

Dark head that diminished slowly.

Probably served too cold initially, but this had an unusually sweet smell like bazooka joe bubble gum. After it came down in temperature, chocolate became obvious

Tap:

Almost no head at all, but carbonation in mouth was fine.

Very well balanced start to finish

Serving type: on-tap

07-16-2008 08:30:01 | More by opwog

d0ggnate

California

4.47/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Got my hands on a growler of 12th anniversary brew this weekend and can't wait to drink my fair share of this rich brew treat this summer.

A: Pours black with a dense brown-foamed head. This froth is very bubbly and laces my glass heavily.
S: Immediate bitter dark chocolate aroma. Very strong with notes of coffee beans.
T: Continued bitter chocolate with flavors of strongly-brewed black coffee. A bit of sweet malt is apparent, as well.
M: Coates the palate with a warm alcohol characteristic. Long lasting flavors don't give way to high(er) ABV.
D: A nice transition from more recent anniversary brews. Conversational. Intriguing. Tastefully chuggable. This beer would go great in my coffee mug at work. Deliciously brewed.

Serving type: growler

07-16-2008 03:15:22 | More by d0ggnate

m1ked

California

4.38/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Picked up a growler after a dusty round of disc golf across the way at Monteal Park. Sat outside and enjoyed a beautiful relaxing SD day.

A- Poured into my 11th anni pint glass. Pours a pitch black with dark brown edges. Fine sticky mocha colored head about an inch thick with sticky, sticky lacing. I love stouts, and I love this one.

S- I can only appreciate a couple things here. The sweetness of dark chocolate is undeniably on the nose. There is some woody smoky notes in there. A little alcohol in there too.

T- Dark chocolate and then some dark chocolate and then some more dark chocolate after that. Some woody coffee flavors. Ends with some alcohol notes.

M- Smooth creamy mingled with some alcohol heat. Light on the carbonation, moderate body.

D- Wow what a curveball from Stone. This is an excellant offering and so different. I could easily drink this whole growler. I love stouts and dark chocolate. I look forward to drinking more of this throughout the year.

Serving type: growler

07-14-2008 04:24:56 | More by m1ked

Overlord

California

2.23/5  rDev -45.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 1.5

Finally had a chance to sample this.

Pours jet black with a luscious black head. Thick, clingy, and viscuous.

Smells like roasted malt and chocolate. Actually not that strong of an aroma, which was surprising. The taste is, again, roasted malt with chocolate (but, again, it's not THAT strongly flavored) with a hint of oatmeal. It's perhaps a decent beer, but a bit too acrid, and it's way, way, way too hot. In a distracting, choco mixed with ethanol sort of way.

**Age hasn't done as much for the beer as I thought it would. It's still got that astringent, hot choco-alcohol overload. Just ... not that good, unfortunately.

Serving type: growler

07-13-2008 07:09:17 | More by Overlord

pfelon

California

3.85/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I had this on tap at Pure Luck this week. I was surprised to see it there.

It looks very dark and, honestly, a bit imposing for someone who may shy away from darker beers. Smell is distinctly alcoholic and gives a resin-y sensation, which nicely sets you up for a beer that isn't saturated by a searing alcholic taste, but rather a roasty, dark chocolate sort of flavor. I found it difficult to drink this at first- the burst of cocoa was a bit overpowering. But as my mouth adjusted, the subtle underlying elements came to surface. I think this is a fine effort by Stone, though their last two Anniversary ales were more my preference.

Serving type: on-tap

07-10-2008 17:55:26 | More by pfelon