Storm King Stout - Victory Brewing Company

AaronRed

New York

4.85/5  rDev +18%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This is one truley amazing and unforgetable beer. I did not expect it to be this good. It poured jet black with a creamy tan head- laces all the way down the glass. Wonderful presence of aromas- chocolate, coffee and even sweet plumbs. The taste was great- strong bitterness chocolate and dark roasted malty tones. Vigorous and strong, the flavor never faded. Silky and smooth, yet powerful, this brew is among the best beer I have ever tasted.

Serving type: bottle

11-26-2002 18:26:15 | More by AaronRed

yen157

New Jersey

4.8/5  rDev +16.8%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

An example chosen to teach my girlfriend about imperial stouts, her favorite style. Although I've had this before, my taste memory isn't the greatest so having this was kinda a new experience for me too.

What can I say that hasn't been said already? A great imperial stout all around. Is it the absolute best? I'm not sure. I will come back to this one time and time again because memorable it IS. The characteriastic that sets this stout apart from others such as Sam Smith, Brooklyn Chocolate, and every other that I've ever had is the hopping of the beer. Many imperials rely on toasted malts and blackened grains for a majority of thier flavors. Doing this they achieve great things in terms of depth of flavor and complexity. Victory is the only brewer that really gives hops a chance to shine through in an important way. Most will provide hop flavor and bitterness for balancing these normally weighty brews, but Victory somwhow manages to make their hops the centerpeice of their brew. Very, very well done.

Serving type: bottle

11-26-2002 04:42:16 | More by yen157

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

4.55/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

Dark brown head, dies quickly.
Cocoa, espresso, rich chocolate, hint of anise, a beautiful blend of brandy, rum in this very alcoholic nose.
Rich, full, sweet mouthfeel, long finish. Prominent strength, perfect winter warmer, dessert, nightcap, bludgeon,etcetera!
The flavor lingers and nestles deep down on the palate..plums, raisins...

My first review ended before the bottle did, and I tried it the next night, this time with a warm bottle. Big difference. Head is bigger, browner, flavor is intense and hot, feels stronger than 9.1%! The very epitome of roasty, a totally unique beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-20-2002 16:38:45 | More by feloniousmonk

aracauna

Georgia

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

Imperial Stout Blind Tasting notes (11-16-02): Big hops, some chocolate, burnt. Mouthfeel feels a little thinner than you'd expect from the well formed head.

It seems that the trip in the mail may have done a little harm to the beers in the package this beer came in because it and 2 others seemed a little light on the head. Still, this slight defect did little to detract from the quality of the beer. Huge roasty, burnt malt hits the nose strongly hinting of coffee with lighter hints of caramel. The flavor pops your taste buds with more coffee, and caramel. Very rich and a bit sweet. The palate is a bit grainy, but still creamy without being to heavy. My first experience with the imperial stout has been a good one.

Serving type: bottle

11-19-2002 21:07:58 | More by aracauna

MaineBeerMan

Maine

4.72/5  rDev +14.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Rich black color with a big light brown head. Aroma of coffee, chocolate and some floral/bitter hops.
Full bodied with a nice smoothness, the flavor is pretty amazing. Roast barley , dark chocolate, espresso and and some dark fruit flavor hit big with an initial sweetness. After that fades the hops and a burnt/ roasted bitterness kick in for a long lasting and drying finish. A very good beer that I wish I could get locally, thanks go out to Jim in Pennsylvania (NeroFiddled) for providing me with a wonderful beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-18-2002 16:54:19 | More by MaineBeerMan

thefireman

Pennsylvania

4.8/5  rDev +16.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

I tried this great beer at the Victory Brewery facility, which is another rating in itself. (great place). This stuff came to me in a pint glass with a small head, which was leather brown in color. I held it up to the light and saw it was black as coal. Great smell-like malty, with a chocolate, coffee aroma. Needless to say, the alcohol was quite evident. That being said, it was time to taste. Great malt, chocolate, and alcohol hit right away-with the hops kicking in after a couple minutes. This stuff felt great, almost like a meal in itself. Fabulous stuff. I had the waiter set a case out for me when I left. Can't get enough Victory brews.

Serving type: on-tap

11-17-2002 14:40:14 | More by thefireman

NeroFiddled

Pennsylvania

4.72/5  rDev +14.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bottled on Sept-26-02. Pours blacker than a cloudy, moonless night for a sailor lost at sea in the middle of the Pacific. When held to the light only thin glints of deep brown are seen along the rims of the glass. The opaque body is topped by a solid and creamy head that is at first quite brown, but shortly thins and becomes more of a deep tan. Really interesting! The head holds quite well but eventually drops to a good collar and a thin surface covering (probably due in part to the high alcohol content). It does, however, leave an intersting "spider web" lace throughout the glass. The body is medium/full with a median level of carbonation that softens as it warms and leaves a very silky mouthfeel. The aroma is bold and fresh; full of rich, very deep bittersweet chocolate and roasted malts as well as some apple-like fruitiness and sharp grassy & floral hops. Quite hoppy when young! The freshness and high level of hop character are quite unique in the world of Imperial stouts (I'm guessing Goldings). The flavor starts with some light fruit and a rich chocolatey note, reveals some lightly acidic character (probably from the low pH of the deeply roasted malts) and then some more sweetly malty notes as it warms in the mouth, finally finishing dry with a firm bitterness and lingering espresso-like roastiness. Exceptionally well balanced between malty sweetness, acidity, deeply roasted character and bitterness... with some hop flavor thrown in to spice things up a bit! It's not too acidic or thin bodied (as many Imperial stouts can be) and the alcohol is very well cloaked. An exceptional beer that's well worth seeking out. Additionally, although the fresh character is really interesting and engaging, it ages very well and becomes quite another beer. I like to enjoy it both ways. If cellared, it will round within 6 months but really smooths at about a year. Beyond that it will probably not improve greatly, but should hold without defect for at least another 6 months, and probably well over another year! Buy a case and put away half to cellar!

Serving type: bottle

11-16-2002 18:27:23 | More by NeroFiddled

jackndan

Illinois

4.85/5  rDev +18%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Storm King Stout: Bottled on October 15, 2002. Dense head, ocher colored, long lasting. The head leaves a thick lace on the side of the glass. The aroma is very nice, dark chocolate and fruits. This Imperial is as dark as night, no light penetrates this beer, even when held up to a strong light. Wow, this is fantastic beer, with a wonderful roasted malt taste, that is nicely balanced with hops. Double mocha espresso, with a long lasting aftertaste. Substantial alcohol warmth. I'll have to age a couple of bottles. This is truly a wonderful beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-10-2002 14:14:23 | More by jackndan

IrishRedRock

Pennsylvania

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

I'm not worthy!! I have been anticipating my first sip of this beer for a long time now, and am ecstatic that it is in my glass right now.

By far, the blackest, darkest beer I have ever poured, with a thick tan head atop. The smell is wonderful, with hints of dark chocolate, roasted malts, bitter hops, and alcohol.

Mouthfeel is absolutely as smooth as silk, sliding across the tongue and down...ohhhh. A delicious bitter hoppy aftertaste follows the taste of chocolate, coffee, and burnt toast. Alcohol flavor is present, but certainly not overpowering, and does not seem at all to be 9.1%. There is a nice warming feeling in the stomach though, which I am thoroughly enjoying. By far one of the greats...

Serving type: bottle

11-09-2002 14:19:51 | More by IrishRedRock

aaronh

Pennsylvania

4.85/5  rDev +18%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Bottled 9-26-02. An essentially black beer with dark ruby edges that pours with a light coffee colored head. The head is modest and fades quickly, leaving a slight lace. The nose is very sweet and fruity. The mouthfeel is heavenly. Very silky, it just coats your tongue and feels like it slides down so easily. The taste is very complex, with roastiness up front, followed by a little sweetness and bitter mocha-coffee notes. The aftertaste brings dark chocolate covered cherries to mind. The balance of roasted bitterness and malty/fruity sweetness is amazing. Although this is a big beer, the alcohol is primarily noticable as it warms the esophagus. I could enjoy these all night long, simply because of the seemingly endless flavors this beer throws at me. I honestly did not expect this much pleasure from such a young beer. Where has this beer been all my life? Thanks to Nero for hooking me up with this beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-08-2002 20:41:32 | More by aaronh

pezoids

Pennsylvania

4.9/5  rDev +19.2%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

My first impression of Storm King was the complex and rich
flavor and it's drinkability. The alcohol was subdued but it was
definitely there. It was midnight black with a creamy, leather-
brown head. This beer matched perfectly with the chocolate cheesecake I was enjoying. A great cold weather beer. I tasted hints of chocolate and coffee, along with some fruitiness. Excellent.

Serving type: bottle

11-03-2002 06:30:50 | More by pezoids

Scoats

Pennsylvania

3.68/5  rDev -10.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

I had a year old Storm King last night. Younger batches seemed to have a very noticable alcohol taste, which wasn't obvious in the aged version.

The aged version was more balanced but didn't have a long tailing aftertaste that I was expecting.

Serving type: on-tap

10-29-2002 11:29:52 | More by Scoats

HossMcGraw

Pennsylvania

4.45/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

I'm currently about halfway through my first Storm King and I'm impressed. It really is a great beer but is a bit overrated. Very malty and cloyingly sweet. It's kind of syrupy. I understand why people like it so much but for me, I'll have a Sam Smith or a Shakespeare Stout.

Serving type: bottle

10-28-2002 17:39:34 | More by HossMcGraw

ElGuapo

New Jersey

4.85/5  rDev +18%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

my most anticipated beer yet, and it was well worth the wait. i have been waiting to get it in the store i work in for quite some time now, and now that we did, i can enjoy it at leisure. pours dark with a foamy brown head. the aroma has a strange hoppy hint, but not much coffee smell.

at 9.1% you don't taste all that much alcohol. just a roasted coffee flavor that just tickles all your taste buds. smooth all the way down with a little bitter finish. This is an in your face stout to start with. Dark and roasty malts and coffe are all over you as you are engulfed in this brew. Then... you get hit with a mass of hops that gives the hoppiest stouts a run for their money. This is one of the best brews out there without a doubt in my mind. man oh man this is one beer you should not miss trying.

Serving type: bottle

10-27-2002 16:32:21 | More by ElGuapo

boblinneman

Pennsylvania

5/5  rDev +21.7%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Most stouts are good, really good. But some are great. Storm King is one of the greats. There are several mysteries lurking in the darkness of this brew. The roasted flavor blends with a malt sweetness that is balanced by plenty of hops. The hops are my favorite aspect of the complex stout, its rare that the hops shine through such darkness that the Storm King brings.

Serving type: bottle

09-27-2002 21:49:30 | More by boblinneman

jtw5877

Ohio

4.9/5  rDev +19.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Pours a deep dark brown/black color with tan head. Nice full flavor with strong malt flavors such as coffee/caramel chocolate, also a real nice hop flavor which balances out the malt. Amazing smoothness for the high alcohol content. This was the first Victory brew I've tried, and I love it. Special thanks to StevieW.

Serving type: bottle

09-20-2002 21:09:35 | More by jtw5877

doho95fu

California

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

Nothing bad to say about this beer. The color is almost black, and the smell is great - is it coffee or chocolate? - can't be sure but it smells good. The taste is firm and varied, it seems to end with a chocolate taste, and for a beer with a 9.1%, it doesn't have a real hard alcohol taste. Very drinkable at 9.1 as well. This is my first Victory beer, and now I can't wait to get the rest.

Serving type: bottle

09-03-2002 07:42:25 | More by doho95fu

jreitman

California

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

Deep black in color with a persistent thin brown head that lines the top of the glass. Aroma was very nice, but my clogged up nose could not identify specific smells. Nice coffee flavors with some pleasant sweetness and nice roasted character. Finish is moderately bitter. A lot going on here, but it is not too confusing and all the flavors work well together. A near perfect stout.... glad my dad brought out a six pack on his last visit.

Serving type: bottle

08-29-2002 17:37:01 | More by jreitman

BeerManDan

California

4.83/5  rDev +17.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

WOW! What a stout. It almost smells like it tastes. The aroma and taste of coffee/toffee is heaven, with a tinge of a malty carmel. So smooth for a stout, beautiful after taste that just lingers on the palate and no harshness! The best stout I've tasted in years.

Serving type: bottle

08-28-2002 12:25:33 | More by BeerManDan

rosebud

New Hampshire

4.72/5  rDev +14.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Just bought a one year old case of this. All I can say is that time has been good to Storm King. When I first bought it last year it was too green. Too much alcohol on the palatte and the malts hadn't smoothed out enough. Time has been kind and this is now an exceptional beer. The blending of malt and hops are incredible, if anything the hop is more pronounced. Unfortunately this is quickly becoming a session beer. Victory consistantly puts out a quality product and their attention to detail is great.

Serving type: bottle

08-06-2002 18:27:17 | More by rosebud

marc77

California

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

Jet black & opaque topped by a rocky, dense & well - retained beige head that leaves attractive lace. Sweet dark caramel, buttery malt, bittersweet chocolate, black licorice, & smooth roasted grain aroma, with a lightly floral hop nose. This brew exhibits excellent balance all around. Residual sweetness is superbly offset by both roasted grain & clean hop bitterness. This balance allows the deep, bittersweet chocolate flavors to coat the palette, while subtle dark fruity notes inculding raisin and caramelized dates pleasantly eek their way into the flavor profile. The body is unfortunately a bit thin and doesn't deliver on the malt profile and could use more dextrins and / or proteins. The finish is surprisingly light, and is comprised of more roasted unmalted barley & mild hop bitterness that lingers enjoyably on the back of the tongue. Storm King is a delicious imperial. With more body this would be phenomenal.

Serving type: bottle

08-02-2002 17:46:51 | More by marc77

pheurton

Pennsylvania

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

pours midnight black with a bubbly milk-chocolate colored creamy head. huge aroma of roasted malts, chocolate and ripe, dark fruit all punctuated with a green cascade hop aroma. mouthfeel is smooth as silk, with a low carbonation perfect for the style. flavors of roasted malts and chocolate covered cherries. smooth cocoa character in the middle. assertive hops come in the finish to leave a wonderful aftertaste that lingers and lingers. the hops set this beer apart from its contemporaries. it is hard to believe this brew is 9% ABV b/c it is impossible to detect. one of the best and certainly the most innovative imperial stouts i have ever had the pleasure to drink. head and shoulders above the pack.

Serving type: bottle

07-25-2002 09:51:26 | More by pheurton

StevieW

Florida

4.95/5  rDev +20.4%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

An exceptional beer in every category...Deep black color, perfectly creamy tan head. It stayed and laced the glass perfectly. Nice smooth balanced chocolate, roasted fruit aroama. Plums, raisans, and sweet hit the nose. The taste was everything to be expected. Heavy chocolate taste, balanced with some unexpected hoppyness. Perfectly smooth, silky chocolate finish and feel. Flavors are perfectly balanced and more subtle than the Old Rasputin, lacks any harsh bitter finish. It would be a dream to have on tap. Another highly hyped Victory product that lived up to the hype.
3 Cheers to Victory....................

Serving type: bottle

06-27-2002 18:51:40 | More by StevieW

beertravel

New Jersey

4.35/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A hopped up version of a high gravity stout, this is another success story by the guys from Downingtown. The deep, dark color tempts the eyes, the hoppy nose tempts the tongue and does not disappoint. Its roasty, coffee notes along with the distinct hop finish makes this a hophead's delight. May not be to everyone's taste and the 9% abv can be a bit daunting, but to enjoy this beer on a night with a good book or beer magazine or even an entertaining movie, is worth it. I've had this on cask as well....awesome!!!

Serving type: bottle

06-27-2002 15:18:05 | More by beertravel

frank4sail

New Jersey

4.5/5  rDev +9.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Very dark opeque in color with a rich lasting brown head and lace. A 1/4 inch sheen stays on the surface of the brew just to remind you of its stormy name. There is a wonderful cling to the brew with that thick lace. Complex smell of coffee, licorice, and roasted malt. There is a strong bold complex flavor to the beer of roasted malt/expresso/ and a bitter hop finish. The Mouthfeel is originally very lively and carbonated followed by a smooth finish. This beer will improve greatly with time in the bottle and I have cellared several to revisit this review.

Serving type: bottle

06-04-2002 18:51:47 | More by frank4sail