Three Floyds Dark Lord Russian Imperial Stout

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.

bottle/draft at dld 2008. In my opinion- worth the hype. what an amazing beer. 2008 bottle at dld 2009. unbelievably smooth, choclatety, rich, thick, molasses. This beer was just about perfect. sweeter with a year on it. what a treat. 2009 white wax bottle- pours motor oil black with brown tint on the edge. sweet, dark chocolate, coffee, some booze. very smooth, the alcohol is a nice compliment. vanilla. smooth, sticky mouthfeel. big full bodied beer. warming. A nice monster stout. nice

A: I peeled back the wax and popped this bad boy open. I swear I saw smoke coming from inside the bottle, was I imagining this or was there really smoke? This is the absolute darkest beer known to man.... Period! Black does not start to describe this beers color. That being said as I swirl the glass I see hints of red popping thru. It pours with the consistency of 10W40 motor oil with a nice two finger espresso colored head that settles down nicely. I see some mud at the bottom of the glass, can’t wait to consume that, I may pour it over ice cream. There is no lacing, but the glass appears to have been dipped into oil. The contents of this bottle may be the remains of the Exxon Valdez spill as there is an oily film left behind as the contents disappear. S: Very complex. You really have to concentrate to pick out the aromas. I smell dark espresso, vanilla, prunes, raisins, and a hint of alcohol, port wine maybe? Pure goodness in a bottle. T: Ah yeeeessss. I really like this one. Some of the finest malts on earth must have been used to brew this stuff. I can confrim it is not the remains of the Exxon Valdez what it is though is one great beer. The first thing that comes to my mind here is rich creamy chocolate cake. There is an overload of chocolate at first. As it oozes down my throat and believe me it oozes there are notes of cherries, plums, raisins, currents, and a hint of smoke. This is one complex brew. Danger Will Robinson I am in Sensory Overload. M: You could chew this one, put it in a pan and bake it and you would have Fudge. In all honesty this is a thick brew but it is so rich, creamy and smooth. BRAVO! D: Obviously at 13% ABV and the cost this is a one bottle brew. But it is one of the most enjoyable bottles of beer you will ever consume. Overall: Move over Slimfast we now have a meal in a bottle instead of a can. This one is so ever filling. It leaves your belly so full and your insides warm and tingly. After consuming this beer you will forget all about calories. As for the hype related to this beer; what hype? This beer lives up to the billing. 3 Floyd’s takes great care in making this beer and it is deserving of its own day for release. I realize the whole Dark Lord Day may have grown a little out of hand, but the hoopla helps to make this beer even more special than your every day or seasonal beer.

Darker and thicker than any other beer. Ever. Can be a bit difficult to drink after awhile, especially at 13% Still an extraordinary beer, with molasses and licorice undertones. Probably a tad too much licorice for me, as it was a dominant factor in the aftertaste. Id imagine another year or two would do wonders for this one (mine was less than a year old.)

Possibly the most viscous beer Ive ever seen. Pours coal black wth almost no head. Aromas of molasses brown sugar tobacco coffee and others. Taste is much the same with a vey smooth palate. Finishes a bit bitter, but nonetheless, fantastic.

Bottle (2008) with a special cheer for coyotehunter. Pours a thick black with very little head. Aromas are incredibly complex... soapy fruit, molasses, brown sugar, coffee and so on. Flavor is a bit on the cloying side with a lot of dark fruit and molasses. A little bit of a soapy edge to it with fruit. Finish is extremely bitter.

07. Poured jet black with a fluffy brown head. Great lacing. Aroma of chocolate, fruit, coffee, and malt with some caramel. Taste was mostly the same. Very smooth. Some age did wonders. Calmed it down.

2005 vintage bottle shared by CaptainCougar. Pretty much solid black with a brown head. Dark chocolate, dried fruit, super malty and roasty, light alcohol, all nicely mellowed with age, adding a light oxidized touch to the nose. The flavor is intensely coffee packed, dark chocolate laden, and fruit filled, while also being hoppy and pretty bitter. This stuff is just so thick, I can’t even describe it. Definitely the thickest beer I’ve ever had. Honestly, the verdict is out on whether beer should even be this thick, but I have to give it a 5 just for accomplishing that. Definitely unique and intense stuff. It is hugely rich and sweet, yet seems to pull off a pretty good balancing act. Big thanks to Tom for pulling this out. A great way to end my time in DC. (4.3) Rerate: 2009 bottle thanks to kp on the RBSG09 bus. This was way hotter and more bitter than the aged version that I first had, and seemed more syrupy in its sweetness. I was actually surprised at how messy it was. Still pretty good, but not as moving as my first experience, and i wouldn’t want to drink much of this fresh stuff.