Storm King Stout - Victory Brewing Company

BadBadger

New York

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

Bottled NOv. 11, 2002. Opened May 4, 2004.
Wow, a fantastic imperial stout. Pours a pitch black color. A beautiful brown head forms. Nice lacing remains after every sip. The taste is amazingly complicated with hints of caramel, coffee, and perhaps chocolate. This is a very smooth beer. Also very drinkable, even at 9.5% ABV. Be sure to drink this at room temp for best taste.

Serving type: bottle

05-05-2004 02:03:02 | More by BadBadger

TagoMago

New York

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

Presentation: 12 oz. bottle poured into pint glass.

Appearance: This beer pours as black as storm clouds at night (hence the name). It's completely opaque - if you were to shine a flood light into it, it would not pass through. This beer pours with a beautiful light brown head and has superb retention, leaving a beautiful foam lace on the glass. The body of the beer is very thick, almost syrupy.

Aroma: An intense floral hop and chocolatey malt assualt on the olfactory. There is also an aroma of currant and/or juniper berries.

Taste & Mouthfeel: This beer is incredibly smooth, it's almost like velvet going down. The body of the beer is very thick and creamy. The flavor of the beer is that of roasted malt - coffee, chocolate. And berries (possibly currant). The beer leaves a lingering hop/malt taste on the palate.

Overall: Words cannot adequately describe this beer. This is a world-class beer in every way, and is quite possibly the best beer ever made in the US of A. This is, by far, the best example of an Imperial Stout I have ever tasted. Drinking this beer is like floating through heaven on a majestic cloud of hops and malt.

Serving type: bottle

06-26-2004 05:44:13 | More by TagoMago

necoadam

Connecticut

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

On-tap at Eli Cannon's

Oh boy, I know how this beer is in the bottle, but on-tap? Couldn't wait. Served in a pint glass. Color was pitch black with a nice amount of carbonation. Smell was a little hoppy, some ripen fruit, chocolate, and some coffee in there. Taste was out of this world. So smooth and creamy it was amazing. Some roasted flavors hit the palate along with some hops and then the bitter chocolate hits along with some coffee and dark fruit. But they all blended in so well it was amazing. After having some of this I don't know if I could go back to the bottle verison. This was just stunning on-tap.

Serving type: on-tap

07-05-2004 16:56:55 | More by necoadam

klewis

Ohio

4.9/5  rDev +19.2%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

A: A respectable tan head slowly arose after a hard pour and then subsided to a frothy ring. The brew, a dark brown, is actually lighter than most stouts of this stature. The goblet is covered with lace by the end of the drink.

S: It hit my nose as soon as I popped the cap. So much going on here... roasted malt, beautiful hops aroma, coffee, chocolate, and honey(?). Delicious.

T: Tons of wonderful hops flavor is balanced surprisingly well with the malt and flavors of dark chocolate and espresso. A blast of hops bittnerness in the finish completes the experience. The alcohol is very well hidden in this one.

M: Nice and heavy with a very smooth carbonation that is perfect for the style.

D: This is a stellar beer. This one doesn't have the motor oil-like mouth feel of the Stone RIS, but its taste is smoother and for $8.99 a sixer, you just can't beat the value. Not even with a stick. Buy this beer, drink it often.

Serving type: bottle

09-27-2005 01:25:18 | More by klewis

maddamish

Tennessee

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

Appearance - This is a beautiful beer. Pours out thick and creamy. Settles into a nice dark brown with a medium sized head. You cannot see through this even held up to the light. What a wonderful looking beer.

Smell: Strong coffee/Chocolate notes here. Slight alcohol smell.

Taste: Wow! I found my new favorite beer! (October 27th, 2005) Tastes of coffee, chocolate and caramel.

Mouthfeel: This is one of the thickest beers I have ever had. That is a good thing. Am I gushing? I should be... This is the perfect beer

Drinkabilty: Can I take this I.V.? This beer is a meal in itself and I want the buffet. Congrats to Victory! You have a great brew here! I defy anyone to point out a better double stout!

Serving type: bottle

10-28-2005 03:35:10 | More by maddamish

becktone

Ohio

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

The beer is black, pitch black. It forms a nice creamy tan head. The lacing property of this beer is also very appetizing. I don't think they look much better than this. Head retention is good as well.

The smell of this beer is that of chocolate and roasted malts. I can also smell a hint of alcohol. There is something in the smell I can't put my finger on. In addition to that the aroma of this beer slightly reminds me of a RIS. Perhaps there is also a dark fruit aroma and flavor to this beer as well.

This beer tastes great. There is a big malt influence here. The sweeness on the front of the tongue is followed by a big chocolate and roasted flavor near the back of the mouth. There is also a very familiar taste accompained by that as well, however I can't put my finger on it. Perhaps it is the hops. This brew has a lingering aftertaste of the roasted flavor. Even when I burp the taste of that is exceptionally good as well. This is some high quality beer. I really don't get any bitter notes from this one, but I could be wrong. In any case this beer is great.

Storm King Stout has a nice full bodied mouthfeel to it. The light carbonation compliments the style well. I don't think that something that tastes like this should be highly carbonated. Just doesn't seem like it would mix to well. The beer is smooth and easy to drink. This is one beer that I will probably buy every season.

Serving type: bottle

12-23-2005 19:17:48 | More by becktone

ClearDog

Wisconsin

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

I've been enjoying Storm King for a good part of the winter season, but am only now getting around to rating it.

Appearance -- Black ink in color with a strong two-finger khaki head. The head has some staying power and leaves a foamy lacing on the sides of my imperial pint glass when it weakens. This stout is absolutely breathtaking to look at!

Smell -- Roasted malts, but with a great hop presence. The hops in the beer are what make Storm King such an endearing stout for me. One of the best smelling beers IMHO.

Taste -- Malty with an aggressive hop finish. Hops are pretty prevalent in this beer, but you can definitely tell this is an Imperial Stout.

Mouthfeel -- Heavy and creamy. Almost like a think shake.

Drinkability -- For a RIS the drinkability is very good, although I'd recommend stopping after two. I absolutely love this beer and recommend it to all craft beer enthusiasts! I plan on buying at least a case before the summer. I don't know if I'll be able to wait until next fall/winter to drink this one again!

Serving type: bottle

04-03-2006 01:36:30 | More by ClearDog

skotster13

California

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

SERVING: My roommate Kirk unleashed a 2003 on me, well aged and carefully preserved. It was served at room temp in a Duvel glass from a bottle.
APPEARANCE: The color was that of soy sauce. Held it up to the light and saw not one photon shinging thru. Beautiful opaqueness.
SMELL: Light chocolate, mellowed by time under the sink. Silky malt with toasty notes of lightly burnt fruit, perhaps apricots, peaches.
MOUTHFEEL: As smooth as butter. Glides over the tongue with glorious sensuality. Kisses the roof of the mouth with the gentle persuasion of roasted malt. Rarely have I had a better experience regarding mouthfeel.
DRINKABILITY: It is strong, but so mild (at least aged 3 years). Mild in overall presentation, though not in spirit. It warms the soul and sticks to the ribs, if you can try it, you would do yourself a disservice by not doing so.

Serving type: bottle

04-25-2006 04:18:41 | More by skotster13

esurreal

Georgia

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

This is a very tasty brew. The only thing I can compare it to is the russian imperial from north coast. It lingers forever. Very long finish. If you like dark chocolate, chocolate cake, coffee and an extrordinary smooth hops bitterness, you will dig this one. It's tasty, that's all I've got.

Serving type: bottle

06-07-2007 09:51:11 | More by esurreal

OKCNittany

Oklahoma

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

12 oz bottle into a mug (yes, I know, not the ideal glassware - but this one is so good I'd drink it strained through a dead squirrel)

A: Poured a rich, black body with a brown 1" head that eventually fell to a thin layer. Nice lacing throughout.

S: Pleasant aroma. Semi-sweet chocolate is the standout here over notes of roasted malts and a healthy hop presence.

T: Big taste. Outstanding! Rich chocolate & caramel malt, spectacularly balanced with plenty of hop bitterness. There's more going on here than my palate can identify - but whatever it is, I love it.

M: Full body w/ carbonation just right. Smooth with just a slight hint of alcohol (warming w/ no burn) that doesn't interfere with the taste. Roasted coffee/expresso notes to go with the bittersweet chocolate in the great aftertaste.

D: This is too good to be slowed down by the 9+% abv. A truly fantastic beer. I will never tire of this. No wonder it's been our favorite at the Split Rock Beer Fest every year.

Would love to try this against Old Rasputin and Yeti - but until I do, this is #1 on my list. If only I could get it here in OK.

Serving type: bottle

07-27-2007 01:38:02 | More by OKCNittany

happy4hoppybeer

Pennsylvania

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

Appearance= Poured out of bottle into tulip/snifter glass a beautiful midnight black with exceptional creamy head leaving behind good lacing.

Aroma= roasted barley malt, cocoa/coffee, and booze. Very tempting and empowering. Cannot wait to sip it.

Taste= Burned maltinesss overpowered by the hops with lingering for minutes after wards, WOW!! Some hints of chocolate and coffee-like flavors. Very nice.

Body=Medium to full-bodied, with minimal carbonation. The subdued, minimized carbonation really helps, as too much carbonation would kill the flavor. Unlike other Victory beers, they actually kept the carbonation level low here.

Outstanding!!! I know others do not like hoppiness in their stouts/imperial stouts, so maybe I'm being biased being a hardcore hophead, but this rocks. I love it. Truly heaven

Serving type: bottle

12-06-2009 02:27:43 | More by happy4hoppybeer

generalnotsew

Tennessee

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

A: Holy bubbly head Batman! This thing is HUGE! Nothing I would ever expect to see from a RIS and I am a careful pourer. 5 fingers easily and a beautiful twilight black. Take me 20 pours to get into my pint glass. Frothy, chocolate mountain of a head.

S: Nice citrusy hard hitting hops. It really compares to their Hop Wallop. Bitter roasted chocolate malts in the background. I don't get the usual sweetness like in most RIS's and that is a good thing in a different way. Very much coffee like here.

T: Oh my! Very hoppy. Very bitter. I am another hop head that does not care for it in my RIS but this is really nice. The bitterness is like chewing on a coffee bean. Any chocolate sweetness is out in left field.

M: Creamy and frothy. That head still hasn't died down. Even the bottle took on a head. Probably the thickest RIS ever.

D: A lot of beers this style can be hard to drink sometimes due to overwhelming sweetness or off bitterness. This one is near perfection.

I avoided this one for awhile because review seemed a bit low. The reviews seemed to step up and caught my eye. I see now I have been missing out. Victory has a taken a bold step in a different direction with their RIS. In a sea of many this will stand out as breaking away from the style. Do we really need every RIS to taste like swiss chocolate and cafe mocha? Victory doesn't think so and hit has paid off big time.

Serving type: bottle

03-07-2010 07:37:45 | More by generalnotsew

allboutbierge

Austria

4.88/5  rDev +18.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Drank out of a storm king glass. An awesome winter warmer. Thick and heavy yet drinkable. First sip reminded me of SN's stout in respect that it has that touch of crisp hopiness. Color was that of my 30W oil and head was medium with a brownish hue. Taste was that of a heavy and dark coffee/chocolate with a crisp hopiness in the background. This beer is calorie and flavor packed. A recommendation.

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2003 17:49:53 | More by allboutbierge

Boto

Connecticut

4.88/5  rDev +18.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Pours an almost inky color. It has a small head that is light brown in color. It dissapates quickly. A bit of caramel and coffee to the nose. Very full body to the beer, almost "thick". Somewhat roasty, not as much as some others. A hint of sweetness, chocolate and a good hop bite. The alchohol is not evident at all. This is excellent!

Serving type: bottle

05-23-2003 13:29:21 | More by Boto

BittRnessabounds

Colorado

4.88/5  rDev +18.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Wow. This is easily the best beer I've ever had. I love stouts and I love hops....therefore it makes sense that I love this Beer. There is probably no praise I can give this beer that has not been given before. Everything is perfection, or very near perfection. The near pitch black color, with the warm light brown abundant head call you forth to enjoy the warm smell of roasted malt, chocolate, caramel and hops. The taste is so complex and amazing i won't even attempt to write about it. I don't know how this beer has 9.1abv, I never got a sense of it, and if i had more than one i would have gladly consumed as many as possible.

Quite simply if you have not had this beer, go find it, and you too will fall in love with it.

Serving type: bottle

05-29-2003 14:02:40 | More by BittRnessabounds

AtLagerHeads

Ohio

4.88/5  rDev +18.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Every bit as good as on tap, the Victory Storm King is truly a king of beers. The dark rich body and nice beige head seem pefectly suited to the superior lacing job it does. Lots of rich aromas of toasted goodness, the taste that follows is full of chocolate and coffee. A truly superior hop finish makes this one of the truly great beers of America.

Serving type: bottle

12-17-2003 05:29:03 | More by AtLagerHeads

rkhaze

California

4.88/5  rDev +18.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Bottled Dec. 17, 2002. Poured out black with some dark chestnut colors just escaping the edges. No head developed to speak of.
Lots of smells. Coffee, chocolate, dark roast malt and hints of molasses and licorice.
Complex tastes of sweet heavily roasted malt, dark coffee, chocolate covered cherries and a hint of licorice. There was a nice subtle smoky element and a spicy/tangy hop bitterness that balanced it out. Well hidden alcohol. Great job!
Medium bodied. Rich and creamy but lacking the viscous feel of some Imperials. Excellent drinkability.

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2004 02:45:58 | More by rkhaze

abcsofbeer

Virginia

4.88/5  rDev +18.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Wow! This is some good stout. I thought Brooklyn's Black Chocolate was good. This is better.

Pours like motor oil, dark and thick. Can't see any light through it. Creamy tan head is small and quickly disappears, leaving very little lace. The aroma was distinct and recognizable at first whiff. Chocolate and coffee with more emphasis on the coffee. The taste is coffee like too, but unlike real coffee, I like this (not much of a coffee drinker). There is a noticeable maltiness as well as hoppiness.

Excellent beer that goes to the top of my list.

Serving type: bottle

06-17-2004 02:05:09 | More by abcsofbeer

oxmasterscream

New Jersey

4.88/5  rDev +18.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

This beer is unbelievable. Period. As others have mentioned, the price just seals the deal.

Appearance: Poured like a really dark espresso, with just a small tan head, which eventually became a tiny ring around the glass. If I angled the glass correctly, I could see a faint ruby brown glow at the bottom of the glass. It was beautiful.

Smell: A nice combination of burnt, sweet and spicy, with an emphasis on sweet especially as it warmed... hops, burnt malts, dark chocolate, raisins. I couldn't wait to taste it.

Taste: Sweet and spicy with a very mild and enjoyable, bitter and drying aftertaste. Tastes of raisins, prunes, molasses, and burnt sugar. As it warmed, it got sweeter and more tart. It left a nice tang on the back and sides of my tongue. Major Cascade grapefruitiness in the finish later in the glass. The alcohol, as with other big beers, began revealing itself about halfway through the glass.

Mouthfeel: Nirvana. It's full-bodied, silky, smooth, creamy and luscious. Feels like a cafe latte with bubbles.

Drinkability: For an imperial stout, to date, it's my most drinkable. I've had others that seem to get tougher to handle as you get closer to the end of the glass (e.g. Rogue Imperial Stout). Storm King doesn't seem to concentrate all of its energy so much on all things burnt; instead it seems to cater to the sweet tooth. It's like drinking sophisticated candy. My favorite to date.

<note: Just had a fresh bottle (dated 10/20/04), roughly one week old and it's much hoppier than I remember. My original review was of a bottle aged for at least 6-9 months. The hoppiness really mellows out with some aging. I think it's the way to go with this beer to get the most out of it. I don't think I'd give it a 5 for taste had I reviewed it fresh.>

Serving type: bottle

08-06-2004 11:03:51 | More by oxmasterscream

jcdiflorio

West Virginia

4.88/5  rDev +18.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

served into a nonic glass from a long neck brown bottle with crimped-on cap.Enjoy by Sep.27/11?

Opaque,black color. 2" thick,pillowy tan head,good retention,clumps of lace sticking down the sides of the glass,leaves a thick layer of foam throughout the beer.

A nice hoppy aroma mostly pine and a good bit of citrus,a very hoppy smelling stout. Very roasty,sweet carmell,chocolaty a bit smokey,a very pleasing and complex aroma. Even a bit of fruittyness in there.

The taste was amazing, lives up to its reputation. I enjoyed the taste so much,I almost forgot I was reviewing this beer. A nice clean piney taste,a very complex malty taste, carmelly/roasty,a burnt chocolate taste. Execellent balance.Finished with a crisp,citrus,sharp bitterness,leaves a nice bittersweet chocolatly/carmelly /citrusy taste lingering on the palate.

Chewy mouthfeel,very nice, also a soft creamy texture,mouthwatering.
The drinkability was amazing for an Imperial Stout, this went down way to fast, wish I had another.. 9.10% alcohol would never know it, felt it when I was done though. I have to get more of this beer,it's worth all the hype!

Serving type: bottle

12-13-2006 04:31:10 | More by jcdiflorio

illidurit

California

4.88/5  rDev +18.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Poured into a snifter. Pitch black with a 1 finger tan head. Very good retention. Dark berry in the nose, some hoppiness, chocolate ice cream. Flavor notes include blackberry, dark chocolate, coffee, currant, tobacco, a nice almond-skin dryness. Huge dose of hops make this pretty unique in the imperial stout arena. Great complexity. The alcohol is not apparent, but it lends a nice residual warmth in the chest that makes this beer great for winter. Not overly thick in body but smooth and velvety. Another great offering from Victory.

Serving type: bottle

12-07-2007 08:06:41 | More by illidurit

Wackyfoot

Oregon

4.88/5  rDev +18.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Pours out black as the night with almost no head. Lots of hops and coffee and chocolate in the mouth with a good alcohol burn on the finish. Sharp aroma of molasses, dark fruits and coffee. One of my very favorite beers and something I can drink anywhere, anytime.

Serving type: bottle

12-28-2008 07:49:27 | More by Wackyfoot

xXTequila

Massachusetts

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

I think this is the biggest stout (taste wise) that I have everhad. It pours pitch black with a deep tobacco leaf aroma and a big nougat colored head that goes away somewhat quickly.
Semi-sweet chocolate, coffee liquor, and rum raisin flavours that leaves your mouth alittle sticky after you drink.
Very warming with a abv of 9.1
This is a great stout to either start or end a cold winter night with.

Serving type: bottle

04-08-2002 06:36:36 | More by xXTequila

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

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