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

shanem

Vermont

4.8/5  rDev +16.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

A - Crazy dark and thick with little head

S - Chocolate but not overpowering with something sweet in there

T - Definitely chocolate and oat with a slight sweetness to finish, and does not taste like the alc % it brings

M - Thick and creamy in an amazing way

D - Perfect, probably shouldn't have too many, but I could enjoy a few in a row

Probably one of my favorite beers of all time. Perfect balance in a big dark beer, with an amazing chocolate flavor that doesn't kill everything else

Serving type: bottle

Serving type: bottle

02-14-2009 05:05:09 | More by shanem

Mistofminn

Minnesota

4.8/5  rDev +16.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Got this bottle as en extra in a trade with iconoklaztor. Thanks a bunch Don!

Poured into a tulip glass. This brew is as black as motor oil, and about as thick. About a half finger of dark brown head is produced on the pour, but it doesn't stay long. Only small spots of lacing appear here and there. The lack of head and lacing are ok though, because this brew doesn't need it to look good. A good swirl leaves a visable brown film on the glass.

The nose is sweet and lightly toasted malts. There is also a semi-sweet chocolate smell, which threw me off because the bottle says "bitter chocolate" not "milk chocolate" but alas, I write what I sense. Maybe the year and a half has done away with the bitterness leaving an evolved sweet character. All I know is that it's good. Slight warming alcohol right in the finish.

The taste is spectacular. Chocolate and roasted malts, molasses and coffee. Creamy smooth, this is some really tasty stuff. Everything I said in the nose hold true here.

Mouthfeel is creamy and smooth, thick and heavy bodied. This stuff coats the inside of your mouth much like it coats the glass.

Drinkability is amazing. I wonder what this was like fresh, but I can only assume that the year and half has made this even better. This is extremly tasty and easy drinking, I'll easily finish the bomber myself.

Overall, a very good offering from Stone. I haven't had a big stout this drinkable in a long time. So much flavor and complexity, all jam packed into a small bottle. It's a shame this was a one time thing, as I would definitely buy more of this if I could. Thanks Don for the chance!

Serving type: bottle

11-18-2009 02:16:11 | More by Mistofminn

Hershdawg

California

4.8/5  rDev +16.5%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

Poured from a growler that I got at the end of winter storm into a pint glass

A: Dark, Black viscous pour. A small tan head from the cocoa powder. Little lacing but not much.

S: Chocolate, coffee, molasses, toffee...

T: Suprisingly good. The cocoa powder doesn't dominate the flavor and rather complements the oatmeal stout. The malt flavors dominate. Over all a well balance oatmeal stout. It aged well.

M: Silky. Almost like milk chocolate but closer to Guinness.

D: As much as I could drink this all day I know some can't. It takes me a while to go through but that enhances the experience.

Serving type: growler

02-19-2010 08:01:54 | More by Hershdawg

Beefeater57

Colorado

4.78/5  rDev +16%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

A: This is one of the blackest, thickest beers I've seen. Like pouring oil into a pint glass. Black/dark espresso brown with a thin mocha brown head with little retention.

S: Toasty malt smell, with a strong sense of milk chocolate. Hint of oatmeal. A very nice smell.

T: Wow, simply delicious. Smooth, love the chocolate and oatmeal flavors together. Like drinking gorp. There is a slight hop flavor in the finish which is a nice compliment. Not overpowering, just enough to show you it is there. Very similar to Young's Double Chocolate, just with a small kick of hops. Really, really good. After a while, you get a strong alcohol flavor on the tongue.

M: Thick, chewy - just like a stout should be.

D: This is one of the best stouts I've ever had. ABV is 9.2% so it will take care of you for a while. It's smooth and the flavors are amazing together. A little strong on the hops for a stout, but it is a welcome change. Wow, just a great beer.

Serving type: bottle

08-05-2008 04:52:12 | More by Beefeater57

neenerzig

Ohio

4.78/5  rDev +16%
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

adamks

District of Columbia

4.78/5  rDev +16%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

a: pours black with medium dark brown head that quickly fades

s: chocolate, coffee, slightly earthy

t: cocoa, malt with bitter hints of coffee

m: thick but medium carbonation, doesn't linger too long

d: perfect balance of bitter/sweet, no burn despite 9% abv, though i didn't review it, this is much smoother than one when it first was released. it's just about the perfect stout.

Serving type: bottle

12-15-2008 01:07:03 | More by adamks

jjanega08

Minnesota

4.78/5  rDev +16%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

A cold rainy day in Minnesota calls for a stout.
A= Pours straight black no light is able to get through this black hole. A nice thick three finger head comes from it that is brown pushing a black color in places with a beautiful lacing left behind and great lacing.
S= chocolaty greatness. Some coffee is there but mostly great chocolate odor. The oatmeal is there but definitely muted.
T= Soo smooth with dark chocolate. The finish almost tastes like I licked glass though... Still really great. The oatmeal I think captures the chocolate and really shows the flavor off. Great taste!
M= Thick and chewy as hell. One of the most chewy beers I have ever had. Fabulous.
D= Amazing. I can't say enough great stuff about this beer. It's really great drinking right now. The chocolate is so smooth and bitter. The mouthfeel is amazing. Really just all around great right now.

Serving type: bottle

04-21-2009 01:17:37 | More by jjanega08

Plenum

New Jersey

4.78/5  rDev +16%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Can't believe I waited so long to try this one. I've had a half dozen bottles sitting in my cellar for going on a year now, and just opened the first one last night. Wow!!! This is an incredible stout.

Can definitely taste the maltiness coming through on this one, with the bitter chocolate as the follow-on taste.

Pours nice and black, very little carbonation, which actually helped the mouthfeel on this one. Very little lacing on the glass, no head, great smell.

I'm going to have to track down every place that still has this sitting on their shelves...

Big fan of this one. I know Stone has one of the best RIS' on the planet, but this would make a great permanent addition to their line.

Serving type: bottle

08-14-2009 13:48:35 | More by Plenum

sweemzander

Illinois

4.78/5  rDev +16%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

22oz. bottle poured into a snifter. July 2008 release.

(A)- Pours incredibly thick and black as the darkest night. Produced a sienna, almost dark brown head that reduced down to bubbles.

(S)- Mountains of nutty roastedness with vanilla. Lots of brown sugar in this guy. Hints of creamy oatmeal & dark cocoa. Breakfast, yet dessert smells galore. Very much like burnt french toast(with cinnamon) with melted dark chocolate & sprinkled brown sugar on top with a cup of coffee on the side!

(T)- Velvet-like roasted malts of molasses, cocoa, coffee, & toast. Definitely more subtle yet more profound than the aroma led me to believe. Creamy oatmeal rolls off your tongue into dense roasted coffee with molasses & dark, almost bitter cocoa. I still taste it minutes after each sip.

(M)- Smooth as a baby's bottom! Has enough carbonation in it yet. Creamy & so damn smooth that it just rolls of the tongue & down the throat. Has just a tiny bit of heat from the 9.2%abv, but barely noticeable behind the silky malts & light sweetness. If I could give the mouthfeel a higher score I would. One of the smoothest stouts I have ever experienced, but I am sure the age helped in that regard.

(D)- An awesome beer that has obviously aged to near perfection in a glass. It has everything that makes a good stout. Awesome roasted malts with a light sweetness rolled into perhaps the smoothest drinking stout I have ever had. If you have this in your cellar, now is the time to open & enjoy it!

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2010 21:34:13 | More by sweemzander

themedievalist

New York

4.75/5  rDev +15.3%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I picked this up for dessert and split a bomber.

A-The color is very deep, almost black. There's a slight creamy brown head which quickly disappears, leaving very little lacing in its wake.

S-Let me start by saying - I REALLY like chocolate. And this had an amazing bittersweet chocolate smell. So much chocolate. So good.

T-At first I tasted mostly the bitter chocolate, but a few sips in I started to also get a sense of the smooth oatmeal flavor. Seriously: this is a delicious beer.

M-Very thick, with very little carbonation.

D-This was awesome. I would have this for dessert every night. It's like a really dark chocolate bar, but its a beer. I mean, what could be better?

Serving type: bottle

02-16-2010 02:44:44 | More by themedievalist

ODBRIP

Massachusetts

4.72/5  rDev +14.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Another fine effort from Stone. I've tried a bunch of "chocolate stouts" from various brewers. This is probably my favorite one. As the name says, it is "bitter," apparently made from bitter chocolate. I usually dislike the added sweetness in other chocolate stouts, but this one is not sweet and has a complex bitterness. There is a pretty pronounced alcohol taste. The color is pitch black with a very dark brown head....looks like a good imperial stout.

Excellent beer, definitely worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

08-27-2008 00:48:30 | More by ODBRIP

thejewthatbrews

California

4.72/5  rDev +14.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a bomber into a pint glass.

Pours a deep, dark black, with a small, quickly dissipating medium brown head. No light shing through this one. It's as dark as it gets.

Rich, roasty smell, with a bit of dark, dried fruit aroma.

Heavy, thick mouthfeel, with a slight, but not unwelcome, tinge of alcohol at the end.

Drier than originally expected, and very pleasantly bitter. Chocolate is hard to find, but it hits right when it enters your mouth, with a dark, roasty finish. Surprisingly little aftertaste.

Highly drinkable, despite the full bodied feel. The bitterness helps keep you coming back for more.

Overall, excellent. Very interesting, and not too scary of a deviation from a basic stout. As mentioned earlier, very pleasantly bitter; combine that with the dryness of the beer and you get something almost addicting. Not enough aftertaste to keep you content for more than a minute, which can be good or bad, depending on how much you drink. Obviously not a great hot-weather beer, but great for anything 70 degrees and cooler. I could drink this and find the courage to go rake the leaves on a cool autumn day, or, just drink a second one and forget about the leaves.

Serving type: bottle

09-28-2008 02:52:02 | More by thejewthatbrews

FenwaySquid

Virginia

4.72/5  rDev +14.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Presentation: 22 oz. bomber bottle, bottling date of July 2008 printed on the bottle, poured into a pint glass.

Appearance: Pours completely opaque and black. Perfect. The head formed small, one finger thick of tan brown bubbles and had decent retention.

Aroma: Appropriately enough, bitter chocolate.

Taste: Chocolate, coffee, and caramel up front. The chocolate takes over in the middle and dominates through the finish, lingering for quite a while.

Mouthfeel: Full bodied, very smooth and creamy. The carbonation was subdued and fit nicely.

Overall: Excellent. I'm going to have to buy a few more of these for my cellar.

Serving type: bottle

12-19-2008 01:20:45 | More by FenwaySquid

Tilley4

Tennessee

4.7/5  rDev +14.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

I've been dying to give this a shot and came across some in Nashville so I bought a couple of bottles.

Black, black, black....ridiculous head that measures about 3 inches and looks like tan foam..beautiful looking brew...

Heavenly aroma of deep dark chocolate with the slightest of hoppiness in the background... This smells deep and dark and evil and I'm liking it...

Loads of bitter dark chocolate invade my senses and I'm blown away by how delicious this is. I could elaborate but...why bother? Its freaking delicious..

Awesome ass brew all the way around... Another triumph from Stone..

Serving type: bottle

08-25-2008 01:51:16 | More by Tilley4

electricfields

Idaho

4.7/5  rDev +14.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: Pours like I like my metal. BLACK! (I'm sorry for that last sentence. So incredibly sorry.) Looks syrupy coming out of the bottle. The head is thick and dark-ish tan but dissipates quickly. Overall, this beer is beautiful. Truly a sight to behold.

S: Sweet chocolate with a little bit of caramel and coffee.

T: I have absolutely no problem whatsoever rating this a 5. This is a nice and complex beer with a good robust roasted dark chocolate flavor coming out in front of everything with a few subtle toffee, caramel, and coffee tones coming out in the back of it. A substantial bit of well-balanced alcohol comes out in the aftertaste.

M: Thick, syrupy, and delicious.

D: A good beer to take your time with. A high alcohol content and a very substantial and complex flavor reward more involved drinking.

Serving type: bottle

11-14-2008 06:49:02 | More by electricfields

angrybabboon

Rhode Island

4.7/5  rDev +14.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Note: surprised to find this in a bottle shop in July, 2010 - then properly cellared for a few more months

Review adapted from notes taken 2/6/11

Appearance: Very black with a small brown head - I think it has lost some carbonation over the years, but it still looks good

Smell: Roasted, burnt chocolate - both cocoa and chocolate malts - some hints of coffee, alcohol

Taste: I am not sure where this bottle was stored for nearly two years, but I guess it was in a suitable place because this tastes even better than it did back in '08 - bitter, burnt/roasted malts - chocolate, both "real" chocolate (cocoa) and chocolate malts - the flavors are great and they truly linger for a while - some heat, but it is well-hidden

Mouthfeel: Super smooth and oily, nice and full probably thanks to the oatmeal

Overall: Incredibly drinkable - just needs to be brewed again!

I loved this beer when it came out in 2008. At the time, being a certified beer noob, I didn't comprehend that it was only going to be around for a limited time. Since then I have acquired some other bottles, and I have noticed that this beer only seems to get better over time. It's not as complex as Stone IRS, but it is about on-par with its excellence. I hope this gets brewed again sometime.

Serving type: bottle

02-13-2011 20:01:56 | More by angrybabboon

BBM

New York

4.68/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

This brute of a beer poured a deep, thick black into the glass with a short chocolate-brown head. sweet sticky lacing around the glass. Aroma was German chocolate, java, espresso, and bit of alcohol.

There is an intense rush of bitter chocolate/alcohol at the front of this beer, but as it warms the complexities really shine through. Burnt grains, coffee, bitter dark chocolate, and a subtle (especially for Stone) hop influence all create a unique and exciting beer experience. Each sip gives you a little more depth and character. Mouthfeel is silky smooth and full-bodied.

This beer was great on a cool summer's eve and probably even better on a chilly winter night. I have to go back and buy another bottle of this for cellaring purposes. Another A+ beer from Stone. Well done.

Serving type: bottle

07-29-2008 21:47:45 | More by BBM

djaeon

California

4.68/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

I love good stouts, porters, etc., and this one didn't let me down. I get a bottle almost whenever I see it.

A - Pours thick and pitch black with a small milk-chocolate colored head.

S - Roasty aroma with a hint of chocolate and slight hoppiness.

T - Excellent taste. I'm thinking coffee/espresso with some dark chocolate sauce thrown in.

M - Excellent, silky smooth.

D - No problems putting this one down at all. It's be an easy session beer if the alcohol was halved (but who wants that). I agree with those who say the %9.2 alcohol content is well hidden.

Serving type: bottle

03-11-2009 23:43:54 | More by djaeon

cpetrone84

Pennsylvania

4.68/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

A-pours a motor oil looking pitch black and opaque viscous liquid. The head is a dark brown, mocha color that is tight and creamy with a lot of bubbles sitting on top. The retention is good and the lace is quite thick covering the entire side of the glass

S-the nose is very solid, roasted malts abound and hit the nose first. Dark bitter chocolate is huge in this but the oatmeal aroma definitely lies underneath. Some chocolate brownie up front, hints of vanilla, with the more bitter dark chocolate coming in towards the back.

T-this is extremely tasty! Near perfect tasting stout. Roasted malts up front all dark, tons of bitter bakers chocolate with a touch of anise in the middle. Light malty dark fruit sweetness comes in at the back, plums and raisins.

M-full bodied, thick, creamy, chewy, and smooth on the palate. There is still some carbonation in there, actually just enough to hold the body and help hold the feel. The finish is somewhat dry.

D-this beer is awesome. The complexity is great, roasted malts and lots of them, tons of dark chocolate, and a great fruity sweetness. Big and creamy on the palate. Wow, fantastic job!

Serving type: bottle

04-13-2010 01:39:20 | More by cpetrone84

joezak5

New Jersey

4.65/5  rDev +12.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Appearance: Poured into a Duvel tulip; black as night, thick dark cocao two finger head, excellent retention and glistening lacing.

Smell: Bone dry roasted cocao powder with almost a burnt bitterness, a little creaminess comming in from that oatmeal pillow adverstised.

Mouthfeel: Stone has done it again... smoothest mouthfeel I've enojoyed... it feels like I'm fluffing that oatmeal pillow in my mouth; no carbonation or alcohol feel... just silk

Taste: Nice smooth bitter cocao and coffes notes with the rich dark malt and smooth oats... dark, dark cocoa dust on the finishing exhale... pure and straight forward but oh so nice... can't wait to see how the 5 remaining bottles age.

Drinkability: While I was drinking this there was a four hour blackout... coincidence?... I'm not willing to risk the curse of the gargoyle... 5... another beauty from the good folks at Stone... seek this one out.

Serving type: bottle

07-21-2008 01:19:49 | More by joezak5

RoBotGod

Colorado

4.65/5  rDev +12.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

This beer was done well and had the typical characteristics of and oatmeal stout with a little stone twist. The nose and pour were spot on. Low carbonation and thick black with a dark tan coffee head. The mouth feel was the best part. It was well balanced instead of over the top in one area like some of stones beers. The alcohol was strong but not over powering. The chocolate part was the best. They used a bitter dark chocolate which gives it a little different taste then what you expect. Its not as smooth and its the difference between chocolate with milk fat in it and real coco use to cook with. An excellent call in ingredients. The beer is great to drink now, and will also lay down for a few years as well.

Serving type: bottle

07-22-2008 00:25:31 | More by RoBotGod

theopholis

California

4.65/5  rDev +12.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance- Wow. This stuff is dark. Opaque. Blacker than Pete Roses heart. Extremely dark squid ink black. No ruby highlights. Just black. Despite an aggressive pour, the head is still somewhat small. Head is a fairly tight, dark brown color that settles quickly and leaves very little lacing.

Smell- Smell was somewhat subdued. What aroma there was had roasted oatmeal and sweet vanilla ice cream. Some cocoa in there to.

Taste- Wow. Despite the subdued aroma, this beer is long on taste. Lots of smooth, dark chocolate with just enough sweetness to keep the edge off. Some toasted and roasted oats, very subtle hints of dark fruits. Nicely complex, with a wonderful creaminess through-out. Well done!!!!.

Mouthfeel- Body is thick rich and extraordinarily creamy. Sticky all over the lips and coating my throat. Fairly low level of carbonation, which suits this style beautifully.

Drinkability- Wow. If you're tired of fizzy yellow stuff, give this one a whirl. Like Tony the Tiger says, "It's great!!!"

Serving type: bottle

07-24-2008 05:04:13 | More by theopholis

beermebeerman

Oregon

4.65/5  rDev +12.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

This is one amazing stout.

Pours dark brown to black with a coffee/cream head. Good retention.
Smell is chocolate, bittering hops, and chocolate malt.
Taste is amazing, bitter up front but not overpowering, followed by chocolate, with hops following after. Long finish but sooo enjoyable. Little to no alcohol taste or wamth detected.
Mouthfeel is also incredible. I don't know how they did it but this beer is so smooth it's like "wiping your [tongue] with silk." Must have copius amounts of oatmeal in the mash. Very full bodied!
Drinkability is very high for such a large beer. I found myself drinking this way too fast. This is the best chocolate stout I have had to date.

Serving type: bottle

08-09-2008 01:12:47 | More by beermebeerman

techdiver

Pennsylvania

4.65/5  rDev +12.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a deep dense black. An agressive pour delivers a two finger head that dissipates leaving a thin film and some clingy lace.

Roasted chocolate malt nose, very inviting.

Taste echoes the nose with the "Bitter Chocolate" very much in evidence. Alcohol content noticed to a moderate degree.

Mouthfeel is very smooth and creamy with little minimal carbonation noted.

A very drinkable brew, highly recommended.

Serving type: bottle

08-23-2008 17:30:10 | More by techdiver

Buebie

Minnesota

4.65/5  rDev +12.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Thanks to JoeCeez for hooking me up with this!

Poured from a brown 22oz bottle. No freshness date, but its obvious as to the date.

Poured into an oversized merlot glass. 2 finger dark brown head. Quickly fading into a thin layer of retention. Spotty lace lines the glass. The head is easily rejuvinated with a swirl of the glass.

Malty in aroma with a good dose of bitter chocolate. Some faint oder of fruit, or cherries?
Toasted grain, and a faint cry of alcahol at the nose.

Carbonation zing upfront, then BLAMO! Chocolate.
Sweet through the middle and the swallow. Chewy thick cream like mouthfeel, thanks oats.
Finish is dry with a mild hop linger and great roasted malty grainy like flavors.
Some alcahol warming into the swallow.

This is damn good. Putting it back on my wants list, I want more of this delicious beer.

Serving type: bottle

10-02-2008 19:12:52 | More by Buebie