Three Floyds Dark Lord Russian Imperial Stout

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

220z bottle compliments of Duffmansw. He got it from Punkrkr27. Shared with mspindler as well. Dark motor oil color. Not very biter. Hint of raisins, prunes, and molasses. Freaking awesome!

At a tasting, 2008 bottle, many thanks DSG! The pour is extremely viscous, like an engine oil, almost no head, opaque dark chocolaty brown, aromas of medium roasted coffee, hay, indian spices, milk chocolate and date. Flavours of moka, medium roasted coffee and dark chocolate. Big bodied but exquisitly smooth and has a great balance, lovely long roasted aftertaste happily lingered in my mouth, a lovely delicate beer. I sat staring at the glass long after the brew was gone, the glass stayed brown, as though chocolate was smothered all over it, and the most amazing intense aroma of porcini mushrooms was shooting out. The hype is justified.

100th rating and couldn’t imagine much better than a vertical tasting of 08 and 09 though having 04-07 would have been great too. My rating will be based on 08 since it is the superior of the two at this time. 08- Pours thick thick black with a thin mocha head which dissipates quickly leaving a dark brown hue at the rim of the snifter. The lacing on the glass can’t really be called lacing as it is more of a brown sediment which coats the sides. Aroma is extremely complex - dark dark chocolate, dark fruits cherries and raisins, espresso, smoky soy sauce, vanilla, even bourbon. Flavor follows through with the great aroma - bittersweet chocolate and dark cherries dominate, molasses, vanilla, espresso, soy sauce, and hops and bitter roasts in the finish. Extremely thick and chewy mouthfeel. This beer is an experience - not as good as the oak aged version but close. 09- Pours jet black with similar head, thinner than 08 with not near the amount of sediment on the glass or the brown hue at riim. Aroma is tons more boozy than 08, but dark chocolate and cherries still present, almost has a rum quality to the aroma. Taste is dark chocolate and cherries, much more alcohol warmth and not near the complexity. Much thinner mouthfeel as well. Put this one back a few years. 08 very enjoyable now though.

Final at a tasting, Many thanks DSG for sharing this one, for 2 days I am running in my mind the experience of tasting the Dark Lord, although I have tasted less than 200 beers so far I know this one is exquisite, I am sure that brewing a good beer is a complicated mission but combining the flavors into that presented in the Dard Lord is a work of art. As a coffee & chocolate lover (or even liver), finding a beer that combines these two with a beer in such an obvious way made me sip the 50ml slowly, very slowly verrry verrrry sloooowly. OK. It pours total black with medium milk chocolate head, aroma is powerful and pleasant, with some nicely roasted coffee beans, nice dark chocolate and dried fruits like risians, nuts could be sensed as well. Flavor is very deep, dark chocolate, well blended coffee, dried fruits, cherry liquer, balanced with low bitterness and acidity and finishes with some spices like cinnamon and clove. Texture is extraordinary, smooth and thick. Amazing beer, want it again, now! :-)

Bottle sample at a tasting. 2008 bottle. Huge thanks to archmik for giving me this one! Completely black color with a dark brown head. Aroma of tons of dark bitter chocolate and lots of roasted coffee. Bittersweet chocolatey flavor with some herbal notes, espresso, cocoa, some raisins, a bit of other dark fruits, light spicy hints, some alcohol, and some hops in the finish. A really thick mouthfeel - so full-bodied! Pretty amazing. I was waiting to be disappointed by this one, but now I just want more of it!

Pours completely black and thick with no head at all. The viscosity of this beer is so incredible it could double as motor oil. Aromas of coffee, liqourice, rummy molassesnotes, chocolate and some spicy vanilla notes burst from the glass. On the palate it is silky smooth with a massive full body; an iron fist in a velvet glove to use a cliché. Finishes off with warmth from the alcohol. Could use a bit more carbonation, but definately a great beer.

Inverted crosses are struck into their heart
Our Lord Satan delivers us from good
He slashes his veins to give us his essence
To my kind it’s power, to the weak it’s venom
We drink the devil’s blood

-Deathspell Omega

I slashed the wax off the bottle and poured this devil’s blood into a snifter. As ludicrously black as the deepest crevices of hell with a frothy head the hue of brown earth crumbling before Satan’s insidious footsteps.

Aromas of death and destruction coated in brownie batter, coffee as roasted as the souls of the damned, and ashen notes like those wafting from the scorched path Lucifer forges through the underworld.

Flavors of chocolate liqueur, raisins, prunes, cocoa, and the charred remains of unrepentant sinners.

So oily and viscous it pervades the palate like Beelzebub’s relentless tendrils of influence snaking through the minds of men, gravid with darkness and power.

:immortal:

Review #666, 08 vintage, courtesy of ucusty.

Bottle 2009 500th rating Pours a Deep purplish black witha thin tan head that leaves very quickly.Has a light lacing but is a thick residue. The aroma is all over the room. It is of vanilla, alcohol, chocolate, and lightly broasted coffee. The carbonation was light. Mouthfeel is excellent. The flavors are complex but keep your tongue thriving for more. This is blended very well. The alcohol is well hidden. All this going on leads to a wonderful finish with an aftertaste that makes you never want to finish. This one has a syripy texture, very think. I waited a long time to get one of these and it was worth the wait. I may have to get out to the DLD next year or every year if possible. Very well done.