Three Floyds Dark Lord Russian Imperial Stout

Brewed by Three Floyds Brewing Company
Style: Imperial Stout
Munster, Indiana USA

Bomber to large snifter. Pour was oil black with rich tan head and solid lacing. Aroma is earthy oak and and chocolate and mocha scent. Taste is rich sweet coffee and chocolate with just enough booze to it with nice dry fiinish. Palate is full thick and heavy feeling. Overall this is one of my favorite imperial stouts it is just plain delicious. (2009) white wax bottle.

2007 bottle from Decaturstevo. Thanks dude. Picked this up in a trade. Actually, beer wasn’t the only thing traded, brewing equipment was mixed in that equation as well. Nice DARK chocolate head. Not much was produced whatsoever. Head fades away very quickly. The pour was extremely viscous. It was like pouring oil. Isn’t overrated in terms of appearance. Wow, this beer is fairly pungent. Extreme smore, chocolate, and sugar aroma. Slight touches of bourbon, but not much. The chocolate aroma is unparalleled. Subtle roast is also mixing in. Vanilla and molasses are obviously present. Wow, a little too sweet for me. Molasses and vanilla cut right through. Chocolate sweetness is present. Very interesting beer in terms of its developing qualities. Graham cracker sweetness creeps up and touches the touch. At first it seems a bit light and creamy, and then it turns to a smooth roast flavor. Alcohol is well-hidden. The palate is insane; the palate is very rich. A huge dessert beer. Doesn’t have a carbonation bite at all. Has carbonation, but it is just right. Molasses, sugar, cream, vanilla, chocolate, smore, graham cracker, and roast. Only reason it got a "lower" score overall, is that this thing is a little too sweet for me.

2009 bottle, big thanks to puzzl. Opaque, dark chocolate brown pour, nearly headless, putting forth just a skiff of coffee-brown bubbles. Hot alcohol nose harmonizes nicely with some dark fruit malt, overall gives a nice spiced raisin aroma. Flavor leads off with more of the same, plums, cinnamon, nice, but overall is dominated by the molasses. Strong, leathery, blackstrap molasses, somewhat mineral in character. Interesting, but I can’t say I care for it as the primary characteristic of a stout. Thick, full body, very smooth and viscous, potently warming.

Silver wax - Vintage. Pours black with a brown head. Aroma is roasted malt, liquorish, plum, raisin, chocolate and coffee. Flavour is roasted malt, liquorish, coffee and chocolate, light alcohol. Palate is quite sticky. Extremely nice.

2009 bottle, sampled at the Great Imperial Stout tasting in Boise 1/16/10
Appearance: Thick, black with a small brown head
Aroma: Roasted malts, chocolate, coffee and alcohol
Taste: Bitter (hot) alcohols, sour, roasted malts, coffee
After a night of having some Awesome Imperial Stouts, this was a disappointment from all the hype. The aroma was great, but the taste was mostly hot alcohols and sour at first. There were several at the tasting that said the same thing. I would like to try this beer again after aging for a few years. I’m sure that would mellow out the alcohol.

Truly one of the best. Chocolate, coffee, vanilla, licorice, and other roasty flavors abound. Drink one now and forget about the rest for a couple of years.

Bottle. 22 oz. (2008 - White Wax) Gift courtesy of my good friend Vinny. This beastly, epic brew comes sealed in a dripping, candlewax-sealed, shiny bottle with a badass evil lord destroying foes on the label. Pours straight cola, dark chocolate black with a thin, creamy amberish-red head that fades quickly. Aroma of raisins, figs, dates, walnuts, plums, vanilla, chocolate, espresso, barley, roasted malts, toffee, caramel, oat, and hints of coriander and pepper. Heavy, deep body with a rich, velvety-full mouthfeel. Finishes with a slow, insane warming through the throat and entire chest. Alcohol is nearly invisible. This is the best beer I have ever drank in my life. Find this brew and buy it now.

2008 vintage. Pitch black with a small brown head. The liquid is really viscous. Huge aromas of roasted malts and dark chocolate. Some dark bread, soy sauce and licorice and molasses. A rich and powerful smell. This one really fills the whole mouth with flavors. Every sip is like getting hit by a tidal wave. Roasted malts all around, sweet dark chocolate, more sweet toffee, coffee and caramel. Every now and then, a slightly burnt flavor develops. Woody notes. The taste is predominantly sweet. The finish is quite bitter with big notes of well integrated alcohol, salt, hints of licorice and soy sauce, and perhaps some hop notes. Mouthfeel is off the chart on this one. Ridiculously big body, viscous like old engine oil and smooth beyond belief. So, what to say about this one, the dark lord, one of the white whales? Well, it’s just a great beer. Fantastic mouthfeel, rich and powerful taste, and very complex. However, it’s a little on the sweet side, so it’s not perfect. But I actually think it manages to live up to it’s reputation. Serving type: bottle (Copy of old Beer Advocate review)