Dark Seas - Mission Brewery

leantom

Virginia

5/5  rDev +22.9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

This beer simply blew my mind. I'll most certainly be getting it again (and again).

A: Very dark. This is to be expected, given that the opaqueness of RIS's is greater than any other beer style. The beer also had a very thick, dark head that accompanied the body.

S: Incredible. Smells very chocolatey, and I don't mean the dark, bitter, roasted malt kind of chocolatey. No, the beer smelled very sweet and creamy, which is different from many other RIS's I've had (see "Old Rasputin" and "Storm King" by North Coast and Victory, respectively).

T: Like the smell, the beer tasted excellent. Usually, beers of this style taste somewhat bitter and coffee-ish given the presence of dark, roasted malt. While this beer retained some of the coffe-ish taste found in other RIS's, it was not overwhelming, the predominate flavor being milk chocolate and cream. Very drinkable.

M: Very thick and creamy. The beer was rich in dark malt.

O: This is not a beer to be missed. Imperial Stout lovers, rejoice!

Serving type: bottle

05-15-2012 09:13:46 | More by leantom

beergoot

Colorado

4.74/5  rDev +16.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

Coal black with a rich brown head makes up the appearance. Anise and coffee notes in the aroma; a bit of mint; deep roasted grains; chocolate; charred toast. Wonderfully rich and bitter roasted flavors; subtly deep malt sweetness; semi-sweet chocolate; slight astringency; some alcohol warmth. Medium-heavy body, dry with a bit of milk chocolate richness makes up the feel.

Oh, yeah! This is a good one! Deep, rich, and complex. This could easily stand up with the best of the northern European dark ales that emphasize deeply roasted goodness layered with hop and alcohol goodness. Wild yet balanced in its intensity. This ain't your momma's Guinness! Seek and enjoy!!

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2013 22:50:02 | More by beergoot

chefdaddy18042

Pennsylvania

4.7/5  rDev +15.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Fantastic aroma, everything you would want out of an RIS, chocolate, hint of licorice, and dark tones of malt. Poured your stereotypical dark grey head with bold bowling ball black body. The flavor was impeccable, covered the tongue with bitter chocolate and then finished boozy. Worth the price of the 4 pack, and from this kid, DEF case worthy!

Serving type: bottle

07-28-2012 18:43:41 | More by chefdaddy18042

rjvanston

Pennsylvania

4.61/5  rDev +13.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

Holy crap. I be a borderline stout guy and have never heard of Mission but you gotta try. Really. Not disappoint. Dark, rich, thick mouth feel and is there alcohol? Super hidden by what I see the ABV to be. Balanced and one would have to make an effort not to like or at least appreciate.

Serving type: bottle

03-25-2013 02:48:24 | More by rjvanston

WVbeergeek

Ohio

4.58/5  rDev +12.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Excellent big chewy stout, dark as night pours with a chocolate tinted tan head...spent oil all the way. Big chugging bubbled carbonation, with chunky spanning lacing. Aroma has deep chocolate notes, dark bitter roasted malts, expressive with a bit of coffee like tones and ample hops in the back end mild citrus/herbs. Flavor is big upfront a bit of booze whacks you right in the kisser, but the chocolate creaminess/creamed coffee combo soothes the palate and it becomes a big dessert beer with bitterness from the herbal hops and dark roasted malts. Carbonation is ample pushes this big bruiser of a beer across the palate well no off flavors or lingering harshness, very drinkable big imperial stout. Overall I loved it up there with the best of the best in the imperial stouts, I like this and Black Out from Great Lakes just about equally.

Serving type: bottle

06-13-2012 22:30:40 | More by WVbeergeek

DoubleSimcoe

New York

4.55/5  rDev +11.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Mission Dark Seas, 32-oz growler filled at Whole Foods Bowery for $7.99+tax. I first had this beer on tap at Pony Bar, NYC.

Appearance: Served in my Lost Abbey chalice/snifter, the Dark Seas pours thick and rich and black, with a by-the-book perfect one-finger head and good retention and lacing. Great-looking Imperial Stout, no doubt!

Smell: Damn, this is a good sniff! Roasty and bitter, a good hop base and great coffee around the nose. Sugar, some vanilla.

Taste: More coffee, dairy. Mostly sweet, thick chocolate and cookies. Sugar, some smoke and tobacco.

Mouthfeel: Truly exceptional indeed!! This is all I want in an Imperial Stout. Rich, silky-milky, creamy, sweet-and-bitter... full flavor and body, great carbonation. Smooth, never burns despite the hefty ABV.

Overall: I love Imperial Stouts but I'm picky about them... they have to be "just right". Some of the more famous ones, like Stone IRS, don't always cut it for me. Mission Dark Seas strikes me as very close to perfect. Great looks, body, smell, taste and drinkability. A winner!

Serving type: growler

05-30-2012 03:27:04 | More by DoubleSimcoe

TehParabox

4.53/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Appearance: Dark; So dark that I'm not sure if light even passes through. Has pretty nice dark brown head that fades slowly. doesn't leave lacing from what I know.

Smell: Dark roasted coffee or espresso, and dark chocolate. maybe a hint of vanilla extract. It's smell warns you that this is not for the weary traveler. the smell is distinct it might be overpowering to some. The coffee is the most present in this beer.

Taste: It's very good, if you love coffee or dark chocolate this is the way to go. The flavors are very dense but rich. Sweet and nice good roasted flavors accompanied by dark chocolate.

Mouthfeel: the body isn't as thick as I expected, but it is really smooth.

overall: Not something for everyone but for stout drinkers this is a really good one to try. I'm quite impressed I can't say it's the best I've had but it's definitely great for what it is. It has a lot of good textures and it simply is what it is a very dark/sweet luscious tasting RIS. Don't know if I'm ready to take on another .. just yet. This one has gotten me by surprise not something to take easily. After a couple of tastes it turned out a lot better than I initially expected. I highly recommend this one!

Serving type: bottle

09-07-2012 09:49:36 | More by TehParabox

BeerFMAndy

Wisconsin

4.53/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

22 oz bottle poured into a snifter.
9.8% ABV, no date.

A - Darker and thicker than used motor oil, this beer pours quietly into the snifter generating an almost red dark brown head which floats above the midnight beer briefly before capsizing into the abyss. Frothy waves of lace are left on the snifter.

S - Dry cocoa and heavily roasted chocolate malt slaughter the aroma with presence while chunks of alcohol-soaked raisin and plum follow through. Dark Seas has an interesting wood-paneled basement aroma though; dust, old funk, and dark-leaf tobacco in a humidor. Sweet molasses and brown sugar claim the last word and sweeten the aroma a tad.

T - Milk chocolate overcomes the molecules of dark, bitter chocolate chunk but cocoa still resounds, as do the dark fruit nuances of the aroma; raisin and plum. Dry, light wood caresses dryness along the beer's lingering finish which works well with the molasses component to it.

M - Don't look for it and you almost might forget this beer is carbonated. Small bubbles dance on the tongue if pause is given to see past the incredibly smooth, rich, and full-bodied beer. Roasted but balanced, this beer marries sweetness with acrid roast well for a great finish that lands a touch dry.

O - Mission, I'm glad you've decided to dock here in Wisconsin. Dark Seas is a fantastic Russian Imperial Stout that churns with rocky waves of malty depth for an incredible outcome of rather epic proportions. And the price is right which makes it that much better. I will be sure to secure more of this beer for the winter months.

Serving type: bottle

11-09-2012 02:00:48 | More by BeerFMAndy

CraftBeerTastic

Pennsylvania

4.51/5  rDev +10.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Ba Review #262
Served On: 3/22/2013
Glassware: Duvel Glass
Labeled ABV: 9.8%
Date/ Code: -

Ran into this at A.K.A. Frisco's in Frederick, MD ($12.00 / 4-pack).

Look: An aggressive pour formed a 1-finger of dirty tan head comprised of tight bubbles. A very black and viscous brew. Some sticky head lacing formed but the head dissipated quickly. Alcohol legs were all over the glass.

Smell: Strong roasted coffee and rich dark unsweetened chocolate. Some lactose or vanilla sweetness seemed to be lingering around. A hoppy herbal quality also came through in the nose. Some coconut.

Taste: First up was a coffee bitterness that was quickly overtaken by a sweet chocolate creaminess. The middle had a coffee and chocolate component blending together with unbelievable balance. Things seemed to fade quickly towards the end with a slightly bitter finish and sweet notes returning for the aftertaste. The 9.8% ABV was completely hidden with no dryness whatsoever. The mouth-feel was creamy, but a little thinner than the color and body suggested. Very drinkable with good balance.

This was a very enjoyable RIS from Mission. Almost as good as Founders BS except with slightly lower drinkability. Go out and get this!

Serving type: bottle

03-22-2013 17:37:47 | More by CraftBeerTastic

jjchristiano

New Jersey

4.5/5  rDev +10.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I really like this stout.
As dark chocolate in appearance as a stout gets.
Rich chocolate and molasses smell.
Taste is just as you would expect, no surprises.
mouthfeel is so smooth as it's rich and not a lot of carbonation
Did I say, I really like this stout.
At 10% alcohol its a nice sipper for my scotch snifter.
I was in San Diego last July and wish I would have known about this brewery.

Serving type: bottle

02-17-2013 03:21:18 | More by jjchristiano

rudolphjacksonm

Virginia

4.43/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A - Opaque black stout with coffee colored head and heavy lacing. Head dissolves suuuuper slowly and is delicious. This beer looks amazing for a stout! 5.0

S - Smokey malt and a hint of firewood and/or peat moss. Hint of sweetness, caramelized sugar maybe? Either way it's a pleasant smell with a tinge of ethanol. 4.0

T - Slightly sweet smokey malt flavors on the tip of the tongue, followed by a subtle burn of the 10.5% abv on the middle and back of the tongue with molasses and hop bitterness. Very nice coffee aftertaste. Very smooth considering the high alcohol content! 4.5

M - Thick and creamy, very stouty. Definitely what a stout should aim for. 4.5

O - A very, VERY solid stout. Possibly one of my new favorites. I'd recommend this to anyone who is a fan of a bran muffin in a glass. 4.5

Serving type: bottle

05-03-2012 00:22:50 | More by rudolphjacksonm

Krakistophales

Connecticut

4.43/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: Pours jet black with a nice but rather small chocolate head that quickly disappears but leaves nice lacing

S: The usual bitter chocolate, roast, malt, slight smoke, caramel sweetness and hints of anise

T: Rather sweet and kinda fruity up front, almost full of dark berries mixed with really dark chocolate, but eventually giving way to hoppy bitterness, chocolate richness, and espresso-esque dryness.

O: This one is interesting. Kinda sweeter up front than most RISs, and seems to have more fizz than most as well. A nice offering.

Serving type: bottle

07-04-2012 01:34:28 | More by Krakistophales

AgentMunky

Alabama

4.38/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 22 ounce bottle into a St. Bernardus goblet. If this was actually only brewed once, then it's from January 2012. My bottle reads 9.8%.

A: A very dark brown, creamy, mocha head. A sinfully black body; utterly opaque. Heavy lacing.

S: Mmm. Chocolate, berries, dry-sweet malt, chocolate, distant roast, a touch of hops...pretty much everything I want in an imperial stout. However this nose comes only sometimes and every other sniff -- especially after my first sip -- comes boring, dry, and sterile.

T: Damn good. A deep milk chocolate base has just enough coffee bitterness to avoid sweetness and skip straight to roasted pleasantness. Gentle, soft, and alluring, it draws you in before treating you nice.

O: Delicious imperial stout. Must try. Will buy again.

Serving type: bottle

06-27-2012 06:59:19 | More by AgentMunky

srandycarter

California

4.35/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Bottle is a little under 10%

A - Pretty darned close to black. No light gets through. Big tan head slow to leave. Lots of spotty cling lace.

S - Chalky cocoa, soy, sweet toasty malt, some booze.

T - Big chunk of dark chocolate, bittery cocoa. Anise in the taste was not found in smell.

M - Heavy body, nice carbonation and balance.

D - A keeper. I will buy more. I love this stuff.

Serving type: bottle

03-08-2012 06:24:21 | More by srandycarter

UCLABrewN84

California

4.33/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

9.8% ABV per the label.

Pours a super thick and opaque black with a foamy 2 inch amazingly dark khaki head that settles to a thin cap on top of the beer. Thin foamy rings of lace line the glass on the drink down. Smell is of dark roasted malt, cocoa powder, and some coffee bean aromas. There is a slight cinnamon aroma that comes out as the beer warms. Taste is of dark roasted malt, dark cocoa powder, coffee beans, and some subtle port wine flavors. There is nice roasty bitterness and alcohol warming in the back of the throat with each sip. This beer has a really thick and creamy mouthfeel with a low level of carbonation. Overall, this is a very good RIS that took me by surprise.

Serving type: bottle

03-20-2012 02:22:51 | More by UCLABrewN84

Brushkanna

New Jersey

4.33/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance - dark dark black body, someone wrote "pitch black", head is dark chocolate brown and comes back with a swirl of the glass
Smell - light smell with a little alcohol vapor wafting up, when does a smell on a stout really come up very much?
Taste - love this kind of dark toasted malty stout, more on the sweeter side, not bitter almost tastes like a it is made with lactose sugar
Mouth - great mouth, lasting chocolate coat in the mouth
Overall - I really like Imperial stouts like this, not to bitter but dark full flavored, give this one a try

Serving type: bottle

10-11-2012 23:47:37 | More by Brushkanna

DenverLogan

Colorado

4.33/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

From 22 oz bottle ordered through Letspour.
Black with rich brown head...poured into a Palm tulip glass.
Aroma of cocoa, sweet malts.
Modest carbonation...big mouthfeel.
Flavors of dark roasted malts, dark chocolate, carob, molassas...let's give this 5 minutes...
OK...several minutes later we have a lot of lace and a reduced head remaining. Aroma and flavors include coffee, bitter chocolate... there's a big bitterness, black liquorice, toasty dark malts.

Serving type: bottle

03-12-2013 04:23:56 | More by DenverLogan

DrDemento456

Pennsylvania

4.31/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Paid almost 3 dollars for the single, poured into a tulip glass.

A - Such a rich deep mocha head, I don't think I have seen many this dark. Equally pitch black beer very viscous.
S - Ah nice notes of bakers chocolate, ashy roasts, vanilla, some hops with a touch of molasses.
T - Drinking this a tad cold I got a great deal of vanilla and bakers chocolate, not as sweet as I expected it takes the edge off with roasted coffee, some dark fruits notes of plum come to mind and a mild dry finish with some hops which are very balanced not bitter which I love. Man these guys got the style down well!
M - Medium to thick in body as expected yet smooth enough for big sips.

Overall looking back at others beers I had from these guys I would have never expected such a world class imperial stout. I think I like it better than Founders version AND that is saying a lot. Worth picking up and aged I bet it could be even smoother.

Serving type: bottle

05-07-2013 02:41:39 | More by DrDemento456

Zorro

California

4.24/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.25

Pours like used motor oil. Damn dark colored beer Black beer with a small dark brown colored head.

Smells sweet with a strong Chocolate Aroma. Toasted bread and rum and some caramel and a little coffee.

Starts out sweet with a fairly strong charred malt taste. Chocolate and coffee. And that is about it. Tasty stuff but does lack complexity.

Mouthfeel is extremely thick, like full fat Eggnog thick!

Overall a damn tasty RIS. On the sweet side so if you like your RIS dry this isn't your best choice.

Serving type: bottle

01-31-2013 03:06:59 | More by Zorro

Cylinsier

Pennsylvania

4.23/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22 oz.

Pours jet black with a tan head about half an inch, dissipates quickly to a ring.

Smells of dark chocolate and smokey woody notes.

Tastes smokey and of roasted coffee and dark chocolate with some hop bitterness and a bit of brown sugar sweetness.

Full viscous body with tingles of carbonation and a slight alcohol warmth.

An excellent RIS, definitely worth trying for fans of the style or newcomers too. Not the best heavy dark stout, but certainly could compete for the upper echelons. Would have again.

Serving type: bottle

03-20-2012 22:10:57 | More by Cylinsier

ksimons

New York

4.21/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

A-inky black with just a thin layer of dark tan head that quickly disappears to leave a ring around the edge

S-smell's very nice. Lots of roasted malt, black coffee, molasses, light dark fruit sweetness, and finishes with a bit of smoke

T-taste is similar to the smell, chocolate heavy with roasted malt, roasted coffee, and light brown sugar.

M-smooth and creamy, medium body, good carbonation

Overall I would definitely have this again, really nice chocolate and coffee flavors, smooth and creamy, and well hidden alcohol

Serving type: bottle

02-27-2013 23:26:06 | More by ksimons

drpimento

Wisconsin

4.21/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Serious big beer. Poured at a good temperature with a small, brown head that soon settled to a swirl and a ring and no lace. Color is an opaque brown black. Aroma is roast, cocoa, molasses, new leather, malt, and dark ripe fruit. Flavor's similar to nose with cocoa coming out more along with bitterness that is just balanced by sweet and tang. Body is full and has the bitter points slightly rounded off. Finish is remarkably moderate in length and fairly easy. Alcohol is tamed. Very good brew!

Serving type: bottle

03-04-2013 05:18:32 | More by drpimento

Murrhey

Montana

4.18/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a pint glass. Reviewed live.

A- A quarter inch chocolate head. Dense with nice lacing. Jet-black in color. No light comes through.

S- Rich roast coffee and barley smells. Chocolate and toffee with a hint of vanilla as well. Dark and intimidating.

T- Layered malts and big boozy hit. First comes the heavy flavors, chocolate, coffee, roast barley, vanilla, tobacco, toffee. Packs a wallop.

M- THICK. Almost had to chew it.

O- Solid, not great. Tough ride but a tasty and roasty one.

Serving type: bottle

03-25-2012 05:30:44 | More by Murrhey

GilGarp

Colorado

4.15/5  rDev +2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bomber served chilled into a goblet. ABV listed at 9.8% on the bottle instead of the 10.5% it says here.

Dark Seas is a very dark brown with very thin short-lived head.

Aroma is full of roasted malts, chocolate, and a sweet booziness.

Flavor is rich and strong with big roasty bitterness. There is some dark chocolate and coffee beans.

Mouthfeel is full bodied and a little over carbonated for my tastes.

Overall a very good double stout.

Serving type: bottle

04-16-2013 00:47:22 | More by GilGarp

Halcyondays

California

4.13/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

On-tap at Beachwood I,

A: Pour black with a medium dark brown head. Fair retention but with great colour.

S: Lots of dark chocolate, molasses, and licorice, classic.

T: Big dark chocolate flavour which dominates the taste. Nice sweet malt flavour, with notes of brown sugar and a good amount of backing hops, Yeti-esque.

M: Full-bodied and smooth, creamy and delicate.

O: A nice unbarreled throwback American RIS. Well made and tasty.

Serving type: on-tap

01-06-2012 03:05:08 | More by Halcyondays