Elysian Dragonstooth Stout

2006 Vintage... Elysian Dragonstooth Stout is opaque and nearly black. It has a perfect size, creamy brown/dark tan head that leaves some thin lacing lines. Initially there isn’t too much in the aroma (at colder temperatures). Once the beer warms, the aroma becomes rich, semi-sweet chocolate with a touch of smoke. The flavor is also rich semi-sweet chocolate with some roasted malt and a hint of anise. The bitterness is dry and roasty and becomes apparent just before and through the finish. It is well balanaced with the other flavors and just right for this beer. There is some warming alcohol and a delicate smokiness that peak out in the finish. At warmer temperatures the flavor develops some additional complexities such as a deep port or merlot flavor paired with a really dark and rich chocolate (high percentage of cacao). The palate is creamy and smooth. This beer is full-bodied and nearly chewy, but interestingly enough, it has a velvety feeling in the mouth and is ultra drinkable. This is a killer stout! Like the other Elysian brews that I’ve had (i.e. The Immortal IPA and Perseus Porter), the Dragonstooth Stout is very well balanced, smooth, easy to drink, and really opens up when it’s not so cold. Elysian really knows how to create really tasty and all around great beers (at a good price on top of that!). 22 oz bottle (7.4% ABV) from first trade with bitbucket in November 2006. Thanks again Bob! I appreciate it.

Pours black with little more than a thin filmy ring of bubbles. Smells of chocolate, raisins, some spices. Tastes of raisins, prunes, chocolate and spices. Palate is spicy and boozy. Light bitter elements at the end.

22 oz. bottle courtesy asteele8. A perfect brown head of whipped cream consistency rises from an opaque black pour leaving some sticky lace behind. Espresso and vanilla jump out up front, followed soon by the chocolate and roasted grain, and tailing off with a hint of pine and pepper. Smooth and creamy on the palate with light carbonation and a bit of chewiness. Nicely balanced flavors with the bitterness of the dark roasted grains and Northwest hops beating the molasses sweetness to the long and satisfying finish. Very drinkable and enoyable. If I could get this stuff locally, I would be buying a lot of it.

22oz, props to steve (11026) for this extra. pour black with reddish tan head. nose has loads of baker’s chocolate and smoke. flavor is much of the same, wonderfully balanced baker’s chocolate, oatmeal, and smoke undertones. mouthfeel is creamy and rich. alcohol well hidden. probably the best foreign stout i’ve ever had. very well done.

22oz bomber from Liquid Solutions. Wow, talk about mouthfeel. This baby is pure velvet. Huge viscous black body, almost no head, but with a massive chocolate aroma. Once this one warms up the roastier malts come through. Rich, subtle, and oh so drinkable. Boy, I wish I could get this one all the time.

This is an evil stout, in a good way. Dark as you can get, zero head and the flavor of heath bar meets Folder’s. Tremendous palate feel that doesn’t leave a lingering aftertaste and the booze is almost undetectable. Kudos! Would drink over and over and over again.

Draught pint at Redbones on 12/10/2006. Had it at Redbones in November of 2005 too, but didnt rate it then.
Black with molasses and deep stained oak shades. Light tan head is large, modestly well-retained and laces somewhat. Clarity is medium to medium-low.
Hops seem most dominant at first, though leafy, lightly herbal (mint, wintergreen) and with plenty of juicy citrus. Not overly bitter. Seems like they did a good job not going overboard. Dark chocolate, dry and bitter, with plenty of cocoa, follows, as strong molasses notes keep things quite dry but give a stickiness to break up the otherwise powdery and grainy feel prior. Suggests quite a bit of dryness from the nose and quite strong on the dark malts. Not much in the way of oats breaks through and whlie there is a bit of cherry-like fruitiness, and a hint of some tar and banana esters, it’s tough to throw this in to a style. Medium to medium-high strength of aroma, very clean and sniffable. No warming in the nose from any alcohol.
Very curious flavor. At some times dry, others sweet and definitely sticky and a touch bittersweet to further confuse things. It dosent have the stark dryness matched by a velvety body of a dry stout, nor does it have the succulent malt sugars and creamy oat-like richness of a sweet stout. And going further, there dont appear to be any adjunct sugars and resulting esters (aside from a slight hint of banana)/fusels, nor any strange yeast characteristics. I’d probably just call it a stout. Hops are green, juicy, lightly citric and not overly bitter or involved in the flavor. Chocolate and dry coffee vie for the front seat, while some light vinous notes and moderate fruitiness perks up. Molasses, treacle and light anise, with a hint of tar sit on the finish but enough residual sweetness helps balance it and leaves it sitting on the palate more softly than were it not the case. A decent amount going on. Low amount of carbonation, but quite engaging, with a smooth, almost creamy texture. No alcohol felt in flavor.
From what I’ve read and experienced, Elysian bottles are highly inconsistent. Get this stuff on tap if possible.

This beer is why I think Imperial Stouts aren’t always necessary. The flavour was rich and chocolate with a nice bitter coffee touch without all the alcohol found in the impy stouts. Dry finish with a lasting touch of dark chocolate. This is easy to drink and beckons the drinker back for more.