Three Floyds Dark Lord Russian Imperial Stout

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

This is worth the hype for sure. I’m now glad that it took me so long to get my hands on one (2007 bottle) because it gave me plenty of time to try most of the other highly rated stouts. What really impressed me about this was: (where to begin...) - palate - had a great, thick mouthfeel that really set it apart (I guess oily maybe). Flavors - has all of them, it seems, yet nothing too overpowering. Chocolate, nutty, fruity, coffee, licorice, on and on. Every sip I would notice another flavor. Seemed like that more lasting flavor at the end was licorice but early on it is cocoa/coffee/nutty. Update on 2009 bottling - tried one of those bad boys the weekend after DLD. It was cloyingly sweet and syrupy. Definitely needs to age quite a bit. I’ll let the rest of mine sit for about a year. I couldn’t finish the bomber. Most of the other DL’s I’ve had from other years have been aged for some time, so I’ll know better in the future to avoid drinking it fresh.

Bottle. Black colour with a brown head. Aroma is alcohol, licorice, roasted, smoked, coffee. Flavour is coffee, licorice, alcohol, hop, smoked, coffee. Very nice beer which need a long time to drink and enjoy because of the rich flavours.

Ya, I know. This beer is a badass. Not only does it contain every ingrediant under the sun, and maybe some from the underworld, that I enjoy in a stout, but it seems like I can pick out any flavor I want at any time or just let them all blend together to make a fine brew. Like the wizard of beers all I say is, "there is no thing like a cherry stout" and I take a sip. Bam, a top notch cherry stout flavor. Can do that with so many flavors its unbelievable. Fantastic beer. I would say it is worth the hype, but there is no hype over this beer, just fact.

I had to wait in line a long time for this one. I was hoping for something really good, but I don’t see how this is much better than Guinness as it is rather sludgy.

2007 bottle. Thanks to Lamunche for sharing this one. First off probably the best beer I’ve ever had. perfect beer for my 100th rating. color is dark brown and looks like dirty motor oil. has the consistency of motor oil as well. very complex flavor of fruit, chocolate, carmel, coffee, and vanilla. it tasted different every sip I took. I can’t wait for DarkLord Day!

2006 Bottle from apoptosis: Pours a very deep black with a creamy brown head. Sweet on the nose with aromas of burnt fruit, molasses, chocolate, carmel, coffee, roast, and vanilla. Body is very heavy with taste of fruit up front. Heavy molasses flavor. Then fade to sweet chocolate, carmel, and roast. Finish has alot of hops to it.

2006 bomber with gold wax on top... the almighty Dark Lord.... well it lives up to the hype and high rating.... it is quite amazing. pours a thick black oil consistency... strong aromas of licorice, currants, dark fruits and a touch of alcohol... the licorice really shines through the most for me across the palate. this is followed by faint tones of plums and raisins. a near perfect palate with a soft velvet approach, while offering the tip of the tongue some numbness. It flows down the back of the throat with excellence, finishing with a blast of licorice and a touch of alcohol. overall, this beer is definitely one of the best available in the world... what a great way to ring in my birthday...

this beer is like black blood pouring into a glass. Myself and a good friend enjoyed this for breakfast the day we saw Down play New Orleans. A very thick, malty beer with a strong aftertaste. Very bocky. Bock with huge nuts. We split a double deuce and it woke me up. It gets a perfect rating because I’ve never had anything as extremely evil and awesome as this.