Dogfish Head World Wide Stout 2001/2003-Present (18%)

Bottle. I dedicate this 200th rating to my liver...Thanks for holding out for me, I really appreciate it. Pours basically black with a good head if poured aggressively. Lacing could improve but its not bad. Aroma is much more subtle than I expected: however there is a wide range of aroma. Caramel chocolate. some coffee, vanilla, but the thing I was most impressed of was dark fruit. I did not expect to experience dark fruit while drinking this. Very sweet blending nicely with the aromas with a slight fruit tangy flavor which is a mild but great addition. Goes down like silk, low carbonation, full bodied, and extremely drinkable. I cannot taste the alcohol which is surprising. This is easily the most flavorful and drinkable stout I’ve had. Amazing.

2007 bottle. Pours black with a thin brown head. Aroma of dark fruit, chocolate, and molasses. Flavor starts with molasses, very sugary, and finishes with coffee. A touch of plum in there as well. Alcohol is amazingly well hidden. A very nice beer.

Geez, the average RB rater must have a sweet tooth. I love strong beers, but the famous World Wide Stout had me wondering if I would have any teeth left when I finished drinking. There’s a lot to like here, but the residual sugars overwhelmed this palate. Looks great, smells great, tastes pretty good until the sugar tsunami breaks. Rich aroma of bitter chocolate and dark rummy fusels. Oily body. Challenging flavours of turpentine, blackcurrant and cocoa beans. Warming finish. Just too damn sweet. Fetch me a toothbrush - I can’t afford to lose any more gnashers. (Bottle courtesy of Linc at Sully’s Sydney RB Xmas 07 gathering)

Pours a color like engine oil, but definitely not the same viscosity. Most likely due to the high levels of sugar added to reach the ABV. Aroma is heavy booze and roastiness. Booze smell take a lot away from what I suspect would be a lot more subtle aromas. Same can be said for the taste. This one is exceptionally boozy to the point of seeming uncomplex. The more you drink it, the more you can see where there could have been a more interesting beer behind all of the alcohol. I’m glad that it has been toned down; I can’t imagine this at 23% alcohol (black lighter fluid?). A beer with great potential and a lot of hype that was somewhat of a disappointment. I think that it has the potential to be set down for a number of years and enjoyed on a snowy day for a higher rating one day. UPDATE: sampled again at bockyhorsey’s. This time it was an 8-year old 2001 sample. This beer does not improve with age. Still over-the-top alcohol. Some diacetyl, bourbon, and port flavors. Meh.

2007 vintage. Murky dense brown with a modest layer of brown foam that dissipates quickly. Aroma is bittersweet dark chocolate malts, dark fruits, alcohol, a touch of smoke and molasses. Texture is very heavy and thick with ample carbonation. Initial taste is dark fruits on an alcohol booze bomb that permeates the palate, eventual transition to bitter chocolate and hints of sour milk and dark fruits, finishes sickly sweet and boozy. This is the second WWS I have been disappointed with, the sourness really wrecks the existing malts and fruits, I don’t know what’s going on with this beer.

I can’t get into this one at all. Disgustingly sweet + scorching 18% ABV = drain pour.

2006 bottle green cap. Pours a solid black beer with a dark tan head that diminished. Aroma is sweet dark fruit and chocolate with a huge hint of the alcohol. Flavor is sweet, followed by the initial taste of alcohol with a smooth creamy body that finishes with a tart bitter roast coffee finish. What a delight to drink this fine beer. This is easily one of my favorite beers.

Bottle given to me by AndyReynolds. Been dying to try this one for a long time, so thanks alot! I approached this beer the same way I do with all popular, hyped up beers.... with slight skepticism and much anticipation. But this beer rocks! It definitely exceeded my expectations. I wasn’t sure how well I would like this one, thinking it might just be more "big" than balanced. But wow... just found a new favorite stout.

A totally black pour with a thin brown head. Aroma is strong, with roasted malt, dark fruit, and alcohol. Flavor is sweet, rich roasted malt, brown sugar, caramel, raisins, more malt, and oh yeah...sweet. One of the most remarkable flavors I’ve ever tasted in a beer. Incredible full bodied palate as well. Extremely smooth for 18%. An awesome beer.