Ken Schmidt / Iron Fist / Stone Mint Chocolate Imperial Stout - Stone Brewing Co.

stephenjmoore

Maryland

4.15/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

A- Pitch black pour with a thin mocha colored head. Head clings to the glass throughout.

S- Huge fresh mint aroma up front with chocolate malt coming through as well. Smells just like a thin mint cookie.

T- Chocolate makes much more of an appearance in the taste than the nose. Chocolate up front with the mint coming in towards the middle and the finish. Very good combination of flavors.

M- Pretty good carbonation, but somewhat of a murky body. Not necessarily smooth, but not bad either.

O- A great take on two flavors you would think you would see more of together.

Serving type: bottle

11-19-2012 00:38:04 | More by stephenjmoore

Brenden

Ohio

3.94/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Very dark brown, as dark as any imperial stout would be proud to be, this big-looking brew develops a one finger tall cap of creamy brown head that stays almost a finger tall for the entirety of the session and leaves good lace in its wake.
A firm roast comes from a strong malt backbone, more than adequate, which also imparts notes of barley in the nose. The mint comes on nicely and sticks with it, a soft sort of peppermint but natural, not candied. A little more chocolate would do for the overall effect, but it's very good nonetheless.
This is a very strong stout with lots of goodness. Chocolate comes out a bit, but mint is just a flash up front before going roasty and a flash again into the finish. For this to work as well as it should, this beer has an excellent base but the secondaries here are too understated (not something I ever thought I'd say about Stone). That doesn't take away too much from a great stout, though.
Thick, chewy and creamy in a big, chunky body, the mouthfeel isn't holding back. The big malts provide plenty to work with and it goes silky with just a little edge into semi-dry as it goes to the finish.

Serving type: bottle

06-19-2013 12:03:22 | More by Brenden

FUwolfpacker

South Carolina

4/5  rDev -2%

06-17-2013 01:20:57 | More by FUwolfpacker

huysmans

New Jersey

4/5  rDev -2%

06-16-2013 13:34:28 | More by huysmans

andysc83

South Carolina

4.75/5  rDev +16.4%

06-14-2013 20:40:04 | More by andysc83

djre4orm

Virginia

4/5  rDev -2%

06-13-2013 19:23:30 | More by djre4orm

greg4579

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -8.1%

06-09-2013 17:43:19 | More by greg4579

savagepm

Colorado

4.5/5  rDev +10.3%

06-07-2013 22:35:51 | More by savagepm

aslamm75

Indiana

4/5  rDev -2%

06-07-2013 00:12:55 | More by aslamm75

westcoastbeerlvr

California

3.75/5  rDev -8.1%

06-04-2013 02:48:49 | More by westcoastbeerlvr

smartassboiler

Illinois

5/5  rDev +22.5%

06-02-2013 18:05:37 | More by smartassboiler

vkv822

Oregon

4.31/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

on-tap @ Belmont Station.
from notes.

Black, with a foamy, creamy light brown head.

Tons of chocolate and mint in both the nose and taste. Really awesome.

Full, creamy body with mild, foamy carbonation.

I was very pleasantly surprised with how prominent, and well done, the chocolate and mint are. Reminds me very much of the Andes thin mint chocolates. A real treat.

Serving type: on-tap

06-02-2013 06:40:27 | More by vkv822

beercatbrew

Illinois

4/5  rDev -2%

05-27-2013 16:32:15 | More by beercatbrew

ste5venla

California

3.75/5  rDev -8.1%

05-27-2013 08:37:11 | More by ste5venla

Photekut

Azerbaijan

3.75/5  rDev -8.1%

05-26-2013 00:21:01 | More by Photekut

Absolut

California

4/5  rDev -2%

05-23-2013 23:07:35 | More by Absolut

drh1382

Texas

4/5  rDev -2%

05-23-2013 20:18:44 | More by drh1382

pisano

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev -2%

05-23-2013 13:39:31 | More by pisano

verge

California

4.5/5  rDev +10.3%

05-21-2013 18:02:07 | More by verge

SpdKilz

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -8.1%

05-21-2013 02:21:21 | More by SpdKilz

kemoarps

Missouri

4.36/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Deep black, mid-brown billowy head that hangs out and laces the glass like a pair of sneakers.

In a blind smell test, I would be hard pressed to pick which was which between this beer and a pack of thin mints (disclosure: I absolutely LOVE thin mints. Like, more than is healthy. If I had to choose between giving up thin mints for the rest of my life or giving up beer for the rest of my life... well, ok I'd probably give up the cookies, but I'd have to at least think about it). sweet dark chocolate, peppermint, some roastiness...

The taste has much of the same. The mint is less pronounced, but leaves a nice clean finish on the back end. The chocolate becomes more bitter cocoa powder/baking chocolate, a little burnt malts. mildly bitter.

very smoothe. The alcohol is a little more apparent than I would prefer, but by no means is it 'boozy.'

I really like what this beer is. This is not going to be for everyone, and it's not one I would necessarily drink alll the time, but it is a very well crafted beer featuring a set of flavours that are very near and dear to me.
If it sounds even the slightest bit appetizing to you I'd look for it.

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2013 06:31:42 | More by kemoarps

Craigory

South Carolina

4.75/5  rDev +16.4%

05-19-2013 22:07:09 | More by Craigory

beernads

Florida

3.25/5  rDev -20.3%

05-18-2013 06:38:08 | More by beernads

Zimm

New Jersey

4.5/5  rDev +10.3%

05-15-2013 17:32:09 | More by Zimm

Zbeetleman

California

4.5/5  rDev +10.3%

05-15-2013 02:58:52 | More by Zbeetleman