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

Bottle, 2007 release. Enjoyed in a snifter over several hours. Pours black with little head. Aroma is fairly alcoholic, with quite a bit of anise, black licorice (yuck), and a bit of molasses. Flavor is lightly sweet, with raisin, fig, roasty malts, and that black licorice that I dislike in this quantity. There is also some brown sugar sweetness and a just a hint of coffee. Creamy and smooth for mouthfeel with a fairly evident alcohol burn. Interesting, big, bold, and intoxicating as hell. I got more I’m going to age for the hell of it. Good sipper and if not for the ever present licorice in this bottle it would be one of my top raters.

Bottled, 2006 release. Poured dark, dark brown, with caramel-colored highlights and a tan head. Nose was raisin, licorice, treacle, hoarshound. Mouthfeel was thick, oily, and chewy. Flavor was licorice, hoarshound, raisin, and coffee. Finish was dryer than expected, with a nice rush of alcohol. A finely crafted Imperial Stout, though prohibitively expensive.

Bottle courtesy of jcapriotti, 2004 vintage. Pours like a cup of strong, cold, black coffee with a halo of a head that is deep oatmeal in color. Nose is subtle but rich, with coffee, bittersweet chocolate, and a sweet alcohol influence, almost like whisky, or more appropriately, like Irish coffee. On first sip, the complexity is incredible. The forward sweetness from the chocolate influence quickly subsides to coffee, and then fades to reveal the alcohol burn that lingers. It’s not a bad thing on a cold fall night. The mouthfeel is incredibly creamy and smooth. This is one kickin’ beer that I can’t wait to get more of! Of course, my rating may be scued since I am quite drunk after drinking this thing by myself!

Black with decent, creamy espresso head / Sharp winey nose of coffee and molasses / Full, port-like, creamy body with lingering finish / Rich flavors of roast coffee, molasses, dates, raisins, with long dark coffee finish / Will be interesting to see this age.

2004 bottle - Black with a small tan head. Aroma of dried fruits, alcohol, chocolate. Alcohol hidden. Dark fruits, malt, hints of chocolate. Wonderfully complex beer.

Special and different. Clearly more of the after dinner or "stand alone" variety of beer given the alcohol content and complexity. I had it right after nachos, which I’m not sure was the best/most sophisticated choice. Nonetheless they said it was very limited so wanted to try. Comparison to a port/brandy is spot on. Aroma and tastes in this brew complex and plentiful. If you get a chance give it a try.

Pours black with a dark ruby glow. Thin dense rusty-brown head slowly fading to ring of foam. Massive aroma of heavily roated malts, raisins, dates, alcohol, burnt candy-sugar, bitter licorice and bitter chocolate. Intense and complex flavor; dark dried alcohol-soaked fruits, a very prominent hopbitter taste mixed with bitter chocolate and espresso. Loads of sweet and roasted dark malts. Notes of tar and wood. Thick oily texture. Fat body. Lasting complex finish. Extremely aromatic , extremely flavorfull. Double up of everything, but still a delicious beer. [Sampled @ RBNAG’07 as the last beer in a 8-hour grand tasting session (with a second sample the to confirm my notes the next morning)]

Sampled bottle, RBNAG 2007 in Grimstad. Black colour. Intense aroma of sweet malts, roasted barley, leather, liquorice and oak. Very sweet, alcoholic and roasty flavour with notes of molasses. Interesting, but overdone.