Three Floyds Dark Lord Russian Imperial Stout

650mL bomber at our KW group tasting thanks to Matt! 2008 vintage with black wax. We busted this one out early in the tasting so we would be able to enjoy it more. I got the dregs of the bottle with all the sludge, I like sludge, but this was kind of ridiculous sludge. The most viscous opaque brown I’ve ever seen, with legs and it smells oddly of beef jerky? Interesting. More chocolate and toffee than anything else other than this weird beef jerky aspect I seem to get. Smells nice though. The flavour is just insane, instantly hitting all corners of the mouth. Coffee, toffee, extremely full mouth-feel, very impressive! Same meaty aspect I mentioned. Yeasty too. Wow. I’m glad I wasn’t underwhelmed by this one! I wouldn’t call it ’drinkable’ but it goes down surprisingly well for the ABV. I’m really glad to have been able to try this so big thanks to Matt!

2006 Vintage Courtesy of OTH Tony. Pours dark brown with a slight tan head. Nose is depth galore: cinnamon, licorice, chocolate, coffee, vanilla, maple, bourbon, oak notes, toasted currants, and alcohol. Flavor is same with chocolate and bourbon throughout and vanilla dancing around looking for attention. This beer reminds me of Abyss without as many hops, or GIBCS without overpowering bourbon. Amazing and silky mouthfeel- very unique. If you look up when you open the bottle, there is a slight eclipse.

2008 bottle:
Pours black with no head. Aroma is sweet and has notes of liquorice, coffee, dark fruits and vanilla. Thick mouthfeel. Flavour is dry and roasty with notes of coffee, smoked ham and liquorice. Long bitter after taste with hints of warming alcohol. The first sips didn’t really impress me, but this beer really grows on you.

From memory: draught from DLD 2008: Well worth the wait and the travel, the consistency is about the same as heavy cream. The feel is similar to a Werther’s candy. Rich and complex. Very low heat from alcohol.

Flavourwise somewhat straightforward big brew with a bigger body and amount of flavour rather than different flavours. It’s burnt, sweet, thick with allot of molasses, dark chocolate and sirup in the flavour alongside deeply burried fruit. The finish is hot and everlasting. Great dessert beer but not complex enough to entertain me when I want to sit down and enjoy a multidimensional imperial stout. Really impressive body and appearance.

Wow. I got to try this with the gents below, last sip of the bottle. Justin, you are awesome. I even got to keep the bottle. It lives on as the only beer bottle on my fridge. I still sniff it from time to time, it still smells like chocolate and happiness. I’m beginning to plan a drive up to Indiana to get a hold of this somehow. Wow some more. Wow.

Got a sip thanks to Justin. One word for it ...Delicious!!! Very thick and viscous, dark tan head, and slight flavors of cherry and vanilla. God I hope to get to try this again.

Got to try a few sips of this masterpiece. All the hype is true. It was the greatest craft beer experience of my short lived life. I hope I get to try it again but if I don’t then I can die a happy man.