Storm King Stout - Victory Brewing Company

esprit

United States

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

Big, bold, beautiful...this is one of the most staggering Imperial Stout's I have ever experienced. These guy know what they're doing and they will give the British a run for their money as far as this style is concerned.

Serving type: bottle

05-24-2002 16:20:20 | More by esprit

Suds

Pennsylvania

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

Victory always impresses me. This is an overall excellent beer. Pours with a small, rocky head that has staying power. Aroma is subtle, but complex. This beer must have an extremely multi-faceted malt bill. Very dense, high-gravity beer. Very little alcohol presence despite the 9%.

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2002 17:51:53 | More by Suds

Thrasher

Oregon

4.58/5  rDev +11.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pitch black liquid with dark tan head. Very fragrant with hints of blackberries and pumpernickel. This is a bold, robust beer with severe burnt maltiness and slightly creamy mouthfeel. Hops give it a real kick and finishes with a twang. You can't taste the alcohol but you feel the numbing in your mouth and in your gut. Quite thick and cloying, tarry with a vague milky sourness. Reminds me of Cuban coffee. I found this beer unique, can't think of any other like it. Not for the timid. It has been hyped to no end on this website but I have to say it lives up to the praise.

Serving type: bottle

05-02-2002 20:05:34 | More by Thrasher

cokes

Wisconsin

2.83/5  rDev -31.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

2005 (aged 2 year):
This has slipped further. All burnt astringent coffee, vague plum and tobacco, and an equally harsh and astringent (and uncomplimentary) spearmint-aspirin hopping. The body thins like a hairline, and drinkable suffers in proportion.
In the course of 4 or so years (not the bottle, but the beer itself, because this sucks fresh now too), this has gone from elite to disaster, and is now totally off my radar. Keep in mind that this was once a beer I rated 4.95 (see below). Oh how the mighty have fallen.

2002. Second go-round here. A little less enthused, but it is still a very good Imperial.
Blackish with dark brown hints. Thinnish, fizzy tan head.
Roasty, cascade-hued aroma.
Taste is huge on expresso, and equally huge on piney, citric rind hops. But I've come to find it lacking in the dark fruit that I hold so dear in the style. Liquorice hints. Char and pine sap dominate the finish.
Considerably thinner than I recall. Though still around medium.
Maybe this batch is slightly different, but I remember the 2001 to be a killer. I can't rate the current batch that high. A vertical tasting well be done next year to figure out what's going on.
Still, this is a well done, but very straight forward Imperial Stout. But I can no longer call it elite.
Thanks to Bighuge for the 2002.
(Rating 4.05)

2001
First off, many thanks to VENOM for allowing me to try this beer. You're my man, bro. What a beer!
Storm King has been tops on my wish list for awhile. And for good reason.
Pours pitch black, even when held to strong light...maybe just the slightest edge of orange. Nice tan head that lasts the duration.
Smell is big on chocolate, roastiness and hops. I know I'll love it just from the smell.
Taste is big expresso, chocolate and cascade hops. A dark fruit undertow is present as well. Sweet and bitter in perfect harmony. Taste it for your own damn self, this is too good for words.
Nice and thick, a delight to drink.
A tear falls from my eye when I finished this...until I realized I have one left. I will certainly save it for sometime special.
(rating 4.95)

Serving type: bottle

04-29-2002 23:34:59 | More by cokes

mickeymac

California

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

This is the best stout and one of the best beers I've ever tasted. Carbonation is minimal but appropriate for the style. The roasted barley smell mixes nicely with the hops. I detected a wonderful mix of flavors including coffee/espresso, chocolate, and an ever so slight ripe fruitiness. I'm leaving a little bit of wiggle room for something that might warrant a better score, but this is close to perfection.

Serving type: bottle

04-24-2002 20:40:38 | More by mickeymac

Bighuge

Minnesota

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

This beer pours jet black. Nice brown head. Not a lot of retention, but it forms a nice lace as I drink. Very nice aroma. It consists of licorice, molasses, coffee and roasted malt. This is very tasty. Love the bitterness. (Wonder what the IBU is on this one?) I find some chocolate tones, wonderful roasted malt, anise and slight java in the taste. Very complex. There are tastes at work here that I'm sure I'm missing. Very smooth and creamy mouthfeel. This really goes down easy for an Imperial. This is exceptional. I have just added another beer to my Elite Imperial Stout List (along with Bell's Expedition, Rogue and NC's Old Rasputin).

I was really excited about this one because I had one of these about two years ago and thought it was good, not great. Well, this is great.

Serving type: bottle

04-11-2002 21:21:16 | More by Bighuge

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

pbrian

Connecticut

4.28/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

This imperial is extremely subtle. My sample was young yet it tasted as though it had been aged a year. There was no edginess that is often found in imperials. A nice thick, strong night time treat.

Serving type: bottle

03-25-2002 08:52:50 | More by pbrian

dabruguy

Massachusetts

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

had this at the Real Ale festival in New Haven, all I can say is wow,,,very impressive Imperial, especially as a cask, rich flavour, nicely done

Serving type: bottle

03-20-2002 19:01:44 | More by dabruguy

RonfromJersey

New Jersey

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

Black hole of a body, tan head starts off rocky, settles eventually into ring, leaving lace behind. Aroma and taste offer mix of chocolate and coffee, with a backing of hops. Creamy in the mouth. Drinkability a four because it is an imperial stout, but you have to remember that yourself. An outstanding winter seasonal.

Serving type: bottle

03-17-2002 00:59:00 | More by RonfromJersey

Alewife

New Hampshire

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

Black as night with a tan lacy 'crown'. Very nice to look at. Dark chocolate, alcohol nose with hints of fruit. Chewy mouth feel, creamy on the tongue. Espresso and dark chocolate is very strong in this brew. Very nice flavor overall, but my preference is for a slightly sweeter taste.

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2002 19:01:40 | More by Alewife

Murph

Arizona

4.97/5  rDev +20.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Wow. This is one amazing brew. Absolutely the blackest black ever. Not one ray of light gets through this stuff. Pours with a nice head that sinks down to a clinging lace. I picked up aromas of dark chocolate, dark fruits, and a very faint alcohol aroma. The first thing that hits my tongue is chocolate and espresso, lots and lots of both. Lots of roasted malts too. A very chewy beer, very creamy in the mouth. For as full bodied and chewy as this beer is I find it incredibly drinkable. It is like my taste buds just can't get enough of it and my somach has no objections to more and more of it. An absolutely awesome beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-11-2002 22:53:19 | More by Murph

WilliamPhilaPa

Pennsylvania

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

Wow! This brew is super duper complex & full-bodied. The color is deep black / opaque. The aroma is complex but it is a little hard to pin point what stands out. The flavors that stand out are that of dark chocolate and roasted malts and alcohol is evident / no question . I thought this brew was very complex but was lacking a bit of balance to it. My overall opinion is that it definitely lives up to the name Storm King. This isn’t an everyday beer for me, especially w/ the 9.1% abv. Another superb beer from Victory nonetheless, and makes for a excellent winter brew for me!

Serving type: bottle

02-20-2002 18:40:48 | More by WilliamPhilaPa

ADR

Pennsylvania

4.3/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Not a lot to add to the other reviews, other than as usual, the Imperial Stout style attracts me more than is good for me, so aside from echoing excellent mouthfeel, fruits well balanced with coffee notes, a sixer of Storm King knocked me on my butt a couple of months ago...as many have written, a modern classic.

As this is an older review and it remains a high-scoring beer in my book, I will say that this Imperial Stout has a complex fruitiness and brightness, retains a lot of solid mouthfeel, and avoids an overly burnt or motor-oil impression. Still, it may not be what it once was...seems to have faded in its best characteristics....

Serving type: bottle

02-18-2002 12:15:50 | More by ADR

mophie

Delaware

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

Try pouring this in a glass and holding it to the light; I defy you to see any get through. This is the blackest stuff I've ever seen. Then the taste -- a hint of chocolate (just a bit), espresso, and just enough bitterness from the hops. Amazing. This is why I love beer.

Serving type: bottle

02-06-2002 22:45:46 | More by mophie

Bierman9

New Hampshire

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

Now 18JUN10, and my last "old" bottle is opened and ready for quaffing. Bottled 07DEC04... Nothing much different on appearance... aroma has mellowed and is on the mild side, with some roasty choco... still fairly thick and smooth... lots of choco and bitterness present, with only light floral hops present. I had a fresh one on tap about 2 weeks ago at Victory... Thoughts? I really think it's better fresh! Aging doesn't really so a lot for this, though it is still verrry quaffable!

Prosit!

*** *** ***

Am drinking today (14APR10) my last Storm King that was bottled on 18NOV03... Opaque brown, very thin head, touch of lace... dark choco and a vinous quality in the nose... Smooth and almost chewy, still, after all these years... Flavor has some more choco, dark fruit, a smidge of bitterness and florality. Verrry nice, after almost 6.5 years... Same as it ever was....

Prosit!!

*** *** ***

Today (18MAR09) I'm quaffing my oldest bottle of the King, from 29OCT02.... Still an oily, dense black, with minimal tan head mostly rimming the edge... aroma has lightened, a bit raisiny and still a touch of florality. Smooth and chewy on the tongue, the flavor has mellowed considerably. Bitterness has ebbed, with roasty choco still present. Some dark fruit lingers in a vinous sort of way. Hopping is much lighter as time goes by. Reminds me now of something more akin to Brooklyn Black Choco Stout, in this stage. Better fresher; not one to age too long... (no re-rating on this... just notes for posterity).

Prosit!!

*** ***

Tonight (25OCT06) I am trying the '05-'06 version, bottled 18NOV05. Still 9.1%. Still engine-oil black, with a thin, tan, wispy head and quite pretty lacing. Even when held up to a strong light, nothing penetrates. Roasty, bitter choco aroma notes emanate from the liquid, with a decent floral hopping. Body is still solid, though not as full as years ago. Passes smoothly, as always, over the tongue. Flavor has lots more bitter choco action and roasty malts. Bits of dark currants and raisins also check-in, with a solid, floral hopping rounding things out, and lingering well after sipping. Perhaps not as good as years past, or perhaps my palate has changed and this isn't the be-all, end-all stout I found it to be almost 5 years ago. All the same, quite tasty!
Prosit!!

overall: 4.5
appearance: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | mouthfeel: 4.5 | drinkability: 4.5

*** ***

17MAR02 - Just an update from the previous 01JAN02 draft review...(this is a bottle review)....Black as night....creamy, tan, full-head, with some top-notch lacing, too!!! ... Rich, full nose and mucho dark fruit in addition to a healthy dose of hops....superb... Creamy smooth and full!!! Oh baby, oh Mama!! Complex taste, with that great flavor of malty sweetness, dark fruits, and loads of hoppiness. This is one GREAT brew...I really want to get to Victory in PA and try this fresh on tap, as well as their other brews! (5.0/4.5/4.5/5.0/4.5 = 4.65)

*** ***

Bier #1 on my long, strange BA trip.... 01JAN02... Happy New Year!!

Superb! First tried this on tap at the Sunset Grille in Allston...A-1 in the bottle too!!
Luscious vollmundikeit....so smooth and full! I love the finish of dark roasty flavors...just keep an eye on how many you've had! Prosit!! (Original ratings not retained, though in the 4.85-4.90 range).

1

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2002 16:33:43 | More by Bierman9

mmthompson33

Kansas

4.95/5  rDev +20.4%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Definitely one of the best, if not the best, stouts I've ever had. Every sip is a pleasure. The complexity and fullness are strong down to the last drink.

Serving type: bottle

12-11-2001 17:39:37 | More by mmthompson33

bcm119

California

4.13/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The flavors are very complex and change as the beer warms. Licorice, espresso, burning oak, bitter chocolate, dry leaves... lots of interesting stuff in there. Hops are big and grapefruity- this beer is so complex its confusing. Alcohol notes come through occasionally in the aroma and the nose, but still an amazing stout. One of my original "favorite beers" from the 90s.

Serving type: bottle

11-13-2001 20:33:40 | More by bcm119

marble

Pennsylvania

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

A great stoudt, no doubt. Alcohol content is high, but doesn't dominate the taste at all. This one has everything a stoudt lover looks for.

Serving type: bottle

11-09-2001 16:11:23 | More by marble

John

New York

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

Without question, one of the best Imperial Stouts. Has to be tasted to be believed. Outrageous on cask.

Serving type: bottle

09-24-2001 13:01:29 | More by John