Storm King Stout - Victory Brewing Company

BEERMILER12

Maine

4.03/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Enjoy By: Apr 09 2017

A: Pours a pitch black color with 2 fingers worth of brown head that retains fro a while

S: Chocolate, hops, roasted malts, and some coffee notes all come through fairly generously

T: Starts off with some hoppy notes and the roasted malts, then goes more into the coffee and chocolate. Pretty bitter throughout. Lingering astringency into the finish. Alcohol is almost unnoticed

M: Medium-full bodied with moderate carbonation. A little thin for an imperial stout

O: Hoppy stout lovers rejoice! This has a load of hops and bitterness throughout from both the hops and roasted malts. Good value for an imperial stout, too. Worth a shot

Serving type: bottle

11-21-2012 02:09:22 | More by BEERMILER12

harrymel

Washington

3.45/5  rDev -16.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Best by 10DEC15 - reviewed 19NOV12 (about two years old?)

Black, light tan foam. Spots of lace. Smells of malts, oats, coffee, toasted barley and some char. Tastes like a middle of the road RIS - bitter with malt and toasted flavors with some burnt cracker. Thick body with a dry finish. Carb is tight and sharp. Fine beer for a hardcore night - tend to like my beers a bit smoother these days.

Best by: 12/10/15 - Reviewed 24FEB11 - 3.5/4/4/3/3.5-3.78
A: Pours a deep brown with limited translucency which illustrates at the edges only with tilt. Single finger, dark latte head dissipates quickly and retains a thin sheet of the same. Lacing is limited.
S: Very resinous hop nose cloaks the chocolate malts, coffee, and lightly sweet backbone. This combo allows and convinces me the beer is both ready to be consumed now, or can stand the test of time in the cellar.
T: Again, the hops are immediate in this as they were in the nose. Almost a thickened ABA. Great coffee, cocoa, black charred malts again in the backbone.
M: thicky, sticky, tacky, lip-smacky. Resonates with heavy body and moderate carbonation. Maybe a hare more spritely than I would prefer in the style, but nonetheless, above average.
D: Very good beer, I venture to say I would enjoy it even more with a year or two on it. Good beer, wish it was a little less intense on the hops up front.

Serving type: bottle

11-20-2012 06:08:58 | More by harrymel

PatriotsRule

Massachusetts

4.63/5  rDev +12.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A beer as dark and deeply intense as its label
A: Nice and dark, no light will be seen through this stout
S: Hops, really...
T: The bitter hops are really present here, and the alcohol content is masterfully masked
M: Chocolatey smoothness - roasted malts round out a bit like espresso
O: Pleasant experience. This beer needs to be sipped on patiently. Better than golden monkey

Serving type: bottle

11-18-2012 14:32:07 | More by PatriotsRule

DrinkMoreBigBeers

Michigan

4.2/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

Bottle says to drink by april 9th 2009

A - Poured out a dark brown and once in the glass appeared pitch black except on the edge when held up to the light. Made a one finger chocolaty thick head with really tiny bubbles that died off relatively fast. Lacing is average on this one.

S - On the nose I get creamy bitter chocolate right away, some black licorice and a bit of hops in the back end. I almost feel like I'm sniffing a dark creamy chocolate bar.

T - I get the bitterness from the hops right away with the nice chocolate malt, coffee, toffee, cream; in the back this leaves a lingering after taste that has an astringent flavor which I believe is from the hop variety used.

M - This brew i full bodied with a soft pillowy feel not to mention a bitter bite from the hops and a prickle on your tongue from the carbonation. Wow a lot going on here in the mouth, Amazing!

O - A really nice sipping RIS that is to be desired at the end of a cold night. If you like RIS you need to at least try a bottle of this, with its uniquely great qualities. I will definitely be cellaring some of these to see if that astringent flavor fades, will update wit an aged version in the future. Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

11-10-2012 01:13:55 | More by DrinkMoreBigBeers

Mojo

Alabama

3.83/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Wow!!! Not really sure how to properly review this one. It pours up a deep black with a two finger khaki head, decent retention, and a little bit of lacing. The smell (for me) was mainly alcohol. I'm sure there are many more subtle aromas present, but the alchol just seemed to overpower them. Taste is toffe, molasses, caramel, licorice, dark chocolate, roasted malt, coffee, and a warm finish with a little bit of alcohol present. That's the part that throws me. The alcohol is very up front in the smell, but well hidden in the taste. Mouthfeel is pretty good. It's thick but not syrupy and not a lot of carbonation. It's not a bad beer at all, but difficult to adequately describe.

Serving type: bottle

11-09-2012 04:24:16 | More by Mojo

patdrive

Ontario (Canada)

4.48/5  rDev +9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This was an experiment inspired by a Quebec brewery, Unibroue, who have aged their high alcohol beer. This was discovered a bit by accident when they were recalling beer from retail outlets that had beer on their shelves for a long time. When they tried some of the high alcohol ones they were amazed at the quality of the beer, and the effects of aging.

Here we are in November 2012, and I just drank a Storm King with a best before date of 011005.

It was amazing!
No off characteristics.
ultra-smooth
chocolatey
mellow
full of flavour.

I have a couple more stored in a cool part of my cellar.
I can't wait to drink those.

Serving type: bottle

11-05-2012 22:43:09 | More by patdrive

stephenjmoore

Maryland

4.18/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A- Pitch black pour with a big tan head that leaves a ton of lacing.

S- Huge roasted malt aroma, some chocolate, some coffee. Nice subtle hop aroma as well.

T- Very hoppy, very roasty taste. Mainly hops an malt, but solid flavor.

M- Smooth, full bodied but drinkable, medium carbonation.

O- Very tasty hoppy strong stout. Malt and hops work very well together.

Serving type: bottle

11-03-2012 22:37:04 | More by stephenjmoore

kangarooAdam59

Wyoming

4.73/5  rDev +15.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

It says "Enjoy by March 06, 2017," I'll do it now for the fresher factor:

Into a nonic:

A: jet black colored body that leaves a one finger mocha colored head that lasts, oh for about most of the brew, just slides gently down as the beer is sipped. The body is too dark for any carbonation to be seen rising. Some nice spotty yet spider web lacing speckles the sides of the glass.

S: spectacular blend of nice roasty malty with a slightly hidden sweetness that has a slight sugary brown molasses with some nice hops.

T: slightly bittersweet maltiness with the previously mentioned aromas in the flavoring adding some great roasty coffee coming out.

M: heavy with nothing sharp on the tongue.

O: wow, I really liked this, the hops come out a bit more than most RIS's I've had, but I still liked this alot

Serving type: bottle

11-03-2012 01:17:46 | More by kangarooAdam59

slim2043

Connecticut

4.58/5  rDev +11.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from 12oz bottle into Stout Glass

A - Beautiful black color slightly opaque w a thin brown sugar colored head w decent retention for a stout

S - nice roasty malty w a hidden sweetness that is slightly cinnamon more sugary brow sugar molasses type of sweet

T - bitter malt profile that's sweet on the backend. A little roasty some beautiful sweetness and a little warming booze ness at the end that you expect from a RIS

M - very chewy but yet very smooth... Nice carb .... Just great

O - a very well put together Imperial Stout. I've had about 20 bottles of it and its my fav readily available Imperial Stout

Serving type: bottle

10-30-2012 01:45:09 | More by slim2043

Oakenator

Pennsylvania

4.4/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pour is dark, dark black - no hint of light showing through this beer. Nice creamy head that retains well through consumption to arming around the glass still a long time later. Smell is rotated nuts with a heavy malt. Taste is complex with chocolate, roasted flavor, and a triple+ dose of sweet malts. Excellent beer.

Serving type: on-tap

10-29-2012 01:40:11 | More by Oakenator

ghengisflan

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -8.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Appearance - A beautiful deep dark brown, the darkest you'll ever see. A nice, thick and creamy brown head that puts my homebrew inner self at envy.

Smell - This beer smells exactly like my 12% A.A. German Magnum hop that I just used to make a black saison. I would prefer to have a little more malt aroma, but it's good.

Taste - A punch in the mouth. Hops come first then the roasted complexity of the malt. It's delicious.

Mouthfeel - Full and actually somewhat bright and bubbly for a Russian Imperial Stout.

Overall - A great winter beer!

Serving type: bottle

10-27-2012 00:01:26 | More by ghengisflan

AmitC

Indiana

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

Excellent stuff. Fits the style to the tee.

It pours very dark brown and when in glass, it is pitch dark, Totally opaque. Thin about a finger thick head. Dark tan in color. Head retention is low. Dissipates quite easily. Excellent lacing, which sticks together with the beer.

Smell is as rich and complex as it can get., not literally but still awesome. Smells from at least six inches away and you get the good feeling of what you are going to drink. I really like beers with such an inviting smell. Smell is the foreplay before the real stuff. Everything in there, roasted malts, some coffee, hell ya much hops and alcohol. Hops are much more IPA like. Earthy, some grassy and a little piney. Very upfront hop aroma. Roasted barleys are little subdued. Tinges of coffee but not a lot.

Taste is very much like nose. Very hoppy and bitter upfront. Not IPA/DIPA bitter, but yes good enough bitterness for a stout, so much so that you do not feel the roasted coffee stout like taste for a good time. Malts are very subdued and sweetness is extremely well mixed with its bitter hops and presents a distinct flavor. I like it, very much. It is warm, not due to malts, but due to its alcohol. Leaves a dry taste in the mouth.

Mouth feel is full bodied. Heavy, you feel it very well in your mouth. Carbonation is mild and the beer does not hurt unless you are put off by hops. Very much a winter beer. Pretty heavy on alcohol too.

Excellence written all over it.

Serving type: bottle

10-26-2012 23:47:48 | More by AmitC

TownDunkel

Texas

3.2/5  rDev -22.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Imperial Stouts, all you can say is awesome

Appearance - A evil ruby darkness with a coffee foam head.

Smell - Hops, and lots of it. Not much else besides that unfortunately

Taste - Hoppy with a light coffee aftertaste. Good but definitely not the complex flavor that usual stouts have

Mouthfeel - A good amount of carbonation that matches the flavor well.

Overall - A decent beer, but I wished for a bit more.

Serving type: bottle

10-26-2012 01:17:52 | More by TownDunkel

gcamparone

Rhode Island

3.55/5  rDev -13.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a Samuel Adams pint glass. Purchased at Wakefield Liquors in Wakefield, RI.

A- Pours a thick, oily, opaque black body with a frothy 2" brown head with medium-low retention. Medium lacing.

S- Interesting. Milk chocolate, booze, heavy roasted malt, slightly plastic. Not the most aromatic stout. Let's taste it.

T- Deep roasted malt upfront. Bitter cocoa and hops that linger on the tongue for a while. Slight booze on the tongue, but nothing offensive.

M- Medium carbonation, thick consistency.

Overall, I wasn't hugely impressed. For the ABV and thick mouthfeel, I expect a little more flavor. Slightly harsh.

Serving type: bottle

10-23-2012 23:19:38 | More by gcamparone

Converge

Alberta (Canada)

4.1/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

355ml bottle poured into a 16oz tulip.

A - As expected, this brew pours black as night into the glass with a thick, creamy mocha head. A touch lighter than what I usually see for the style. Decent head retention, with some sticky webs of lacing branching up the glass.

S - Surprisingly hoppy upfront, with earthy hops being quite assertive. An inviting base of charred malt and roasty coffee notes, complimented nicely by cocoa, anise, and an unapologetic boozy character. Not exactly a complex nose, but a very well rounded, yet still aggressive aroma.

T - Monster flavor here. Deep charred malt and coffee upfront, with a slight touch of sweetness and cocoa. Finishes with a pronounced alcoholic character, as well as some assertive hops, resinous and earthy. Notes of booze and anise linger in the aftertaste. There's an odd crispness to it that doesn't quite jive with what I look for in a good RIS. The roasty character is certainly present, but not as bold as I prefer. The hops really take over the finish here, and mixed with the alcoholic character, make for a slightly abrasive flavor profile overall. Not bad by any means, but not my ideal imperial stout.

M - Thick and creamy, like a good stout should be. A touch more carbonation that I prefer, however. Finishes slightly dry, with a peculiar crispness. Fairly sticky.

D - A great brew in what I would consider to be my favorite style. While the flavor profile isn't exactly what I look for in a imperial stout, it's still a big mean stout that I could certainly enjoy again.

Serving type: bottle

10-21-2012 06:07:02 | More by Converge

kagent777

Utah

3.93/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

I traded to SonofaLime to get this bottle, thanks a bunch! 12 oz bottle that he waxed poured into my CCB snifter. I do not see a bottling date, but I traded for this beer December of 2011.

Appearance: Very dark black with no colors on the edge and the thinnest whisp of head.

Smell: Dark dried fruit, licorice, charcoal, oats(?). Overall, this is an intense smelling beer.

Taste: More char, some semisweet chocolate, a touch of metallic. I still taste dried fruit and strongly roasted malts. I did not try this one fresh, so I do get some herbal earthy hops but they blend well with the roasted malts.

Mouthfeel: The body is medium to thick, and the carbonation is medium. The finish is long and flavorful with flavors all over my mouth.

Overall: I like this beer. I am curious what it may have tasted like while fresh.

Serving type: bottle

10-21-2012 00:33:19 | More by kagent777

theHoff77

Minnesota

4.2/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a snifter

A - Black in color and barely had a dark khaki head even with an aggressive pour. Spotty lacing.

S - Smells sweeter than I was expecting. Malts, coffee, and toffee.

T - Taste is on the roasted end for imperial stouts. Malts, coffee, and dark chocolate. Upon first sip to after taste it changes quite a bit with flavor. Starts off malty and roasty and ends up being more coffee and bitter at the end.

M - Medium body, slightly bitter, sweet, and well balanced.

O - It was alright, but am glad I had it. I was expecting it to be really sweet from the smell but the taste is quite a contrast. As far as a RIS that is more affordable this was good, and I think I'd rate it above Old Rasputin for personal preference. I wouldn't go out of my way to buy it, but if it was on tap somewhere I'd go for it.

Serving type: bottle

10-19-2012 19:13:26 | More by theHoff77

JamesShoemaker

New York

4.08/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle poured into my tulip.

A - very dark. This beer is really unassuming, so it's kind of a shock to see such a blackened brew from a cheap sixer.

S - nothing here really. I don't get a ton of character, maybe a little malt, but no alcohol or hops (the bottle really boasts the hops for some reason).

T - I definitely enjoy the taste. Very malty bite at the beginning, but it finishes with delightful coffee notes. Deep, drinkinable.

M - nothing special here. The 9% doesn't really hang out in the mouth, but the MF is a little empty in comparison with the taste.

O - I like it. It's inexpensive for an RIS, but still drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

10-19-2012 01:55:11 | More by JamesShoemaker

crag

3.8/5  rDev -7.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A- Pours black with barely a head some lacing. Foam cap sticks around but depends on serving type

S- lots-O-Hops. Coffee and a little bit of chocolate.

T-Hoppy taste, but balanced. Roasted flavors w/ coffee, malts, and a little chocolate.

M- Almost a full bodied brew with low carbonation,

O- High ABV makes it a once and done

Serving type: tap

Serving type: on-tap

10-17-2012 18:52:07 | More by crag

tviz33

New York

4.03/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 22 oz bottle in to pint glass

A- Pours a deep black with barely a finger of brown head with good lacing. A nice quarter inch foam cap sticks around for the entire glass.

S- The first thing I notice are the hops. Roasted coffee and a little bit of chocolate follow. No single scent dominates the others here.

T- Leaning slightly towards the hoppy side, but very well-balanced. Lots of roastiness. Coffee, malts, and a little creamy chocolate towards the end.

M- Medium-bodied and low on the carbonation, but smooth and creamy on the way down. The alcohol is barely noticeable given the high ABV.

O- Not an overall favorite of mine, but enjoyable from start to finish nevertheless. Becomes more interesting as it warms which is always a plus.

Serving type: bottle

10-17-2012 04:13:53 | More by tviz33

Brabander

Netherlands

4.05/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I git this bottle a week ago when bierman9 was @ my place. Thanks David for this beer! I had a cold for almost two weeks but now the nose got better....time for a stout!

Poured in my Struise chalice (as always) this beer looks perfect. Black fluid where light has no chance to get trough. Super head with millions of bubbles and after a while nice lacing.

Smellis coffee with some cocoa. Taste has some spice in it. Very drinkable beer. Good mouthfeel.

Serving type: bottle

10-14-2012 20:17:35 | More by Brabander

gwalt

Alabama

4.38/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Pours black as night. 1 inch of tan head with large bubble around the edges of the glass
S: Roasty malt, chocolate notes, with a little coffee accent. At first pour very little alcohol is present in the nose however is reveals its self more as the beer warms.
T: This beer boasts of chocolate and roasted malt with dark roasted coffee present. Clean bittering hops are present making this beer well balanced and very tasty.
M: Lower medium body. Lingering bitterness on the edges of your tongue with a touch of malt sweetness through the middle. The astringency or hops linger on your palette well after swallowing.
O: I really enjoyed this beer. I would certainly recommend it to others and would like to go back a get a six pack. I really enjoy a good strong complex stout that doesn't overwhelm your palette with booziness.

Serving type: bottle

10-08-2012 03:28:27 | More by gwalt

qthompso

Minnesota

3.58/5  rDev -12.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours as dark as night. A solid two fingers of cream colored head that laces remarkably on the side of the glass.

Smells of licorice, chocolate, coffee, anise, and some big hops for the style. I pick up on some faint nutty, spicy notes as well.

Very deep, roasted barley characteristics... it borders on burnt. This isn't helped by the big hop bitterness. Definite coffee notes. The black licorice notes are there towards the back. It's definitely a bit hot but not as bad as some other 9+% stouts I've had before.

Mouthfeel is nice and full, well carbonated, and pretty smooth (minus the alcohol and hop bitterness).

Overall, a pretty decent imperial stout. Having had the various Founders, BCBS, Darkness, Black Note, etc., this one has a lot to prove. For the style, it's good but not as exceptional as I would've hoped.

Serving type: bottle

10-05-2012 00:45:55 | More by qthompso

TwelveOunces

Kentucky

4.05/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle poured into a snifter
Best by Jan 18 2017. I think i made the cut.

A- Pours super pitch black with a one finger tan brown head, decent retentio0n and nice alcohol legs.

S- I get bitterness from the hops that tell me this is going to be a hoppy stout. A crisp, almost metallic malt. Slight fruit, slight chocolate. Doesnt really smell like a stout to be honest.

T- The first thing I get is a slight bitterness from the hops. Followed by a citrus fruit flavor. The malts in this beer are quite strange. There is almost a crisp pilsner malt, a very crisp flavor profile. There is a unique wood flavor that really reminds me of a cigar box. This beer finished up with roasted malts that linger on the tongue.

M- Big beer but the flavors aren't too overbearing. slight alcohol burn. Roasty finish.

O- This is a good RIS. Very unique and features a lot of different tastes that I dont see in many other beers similar to this one. A really different and well made beer.

Serving type: bottle

10-03-2012 23:02:10 | More by TwelveOunces

BasterdInABasket

Wisconsin

4.18/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle with Enjoy By: Mar 06 2017 stamped on, poured into Duvel Tulip
A- Pours 2 finger tannish brown head, slowly dissipates into thin layer after a few minutes, Body is black with no transparensy whatsoever
S- A mostly roasted smell with some chocolate and some hops
T- Big roasted malt flavor, dark chocolate, nice bitterness and a little burnt, Thick burnt dark chocolate flavor stays around
M- Big body, A thick roasty taste and chocolate really stays on the mouth and tongue
O- A great balanced fresh Imperial Stout, looking forward to how this one ages

Serving type: bottle

09-22-2012 06:36:02 | More by BasterdInABasket