Three Floyds Dark Lord Russian Imperial Stout

Hmmmm. I’m a bit torn on this beer. Notes first, then the torn part. Pours blacker than used motor oil with a small thick head that is dark burnt orange / brown. The aroma has big sweet molasseses, vanilla and dark chocolate. The body is thick as sludge with very little carbonation. The taste starts out with lots of dark dried fruits, bitter roasted malt, vanilla beans, dark bitter chocolate and honey. The finish has lots of harsh hoppiness and very bitter chocolate. There are a lot of things going on here - very big bold flavors. I am giving this high marks because it accomplished what it set out to do - over the top beer, over the top flavors and excessive in everything. However, the excessiveness seems to hide many real ’beer’ traits. This is sludge with many interesting flavors, but far from something I could enjoy very often at all. It seems like excess for the sake of being able to do it. While FFF succeeded in what they wanted to do I’ll take a Old Rasputin or Brooklyn Black Chocolate stout over this more times than not.

Appearance: Pours out a thick dark, inky black with a churning, burbling chestnut-brown head. The type of stuff you see seagulls and sealions coated in on the news. Smell: A rich, aggressive aroma greets the nose, unleashing waves of dark-roasted coffee, chocolate-covered cherries, anise, sorghum, and booze. Okay, you got my attention. Taste: Phenomenally flavorful! A complex breadth of tastes that knows no bounds. Cherry-topped Black Forest cake marinated in Sambuca served with espresso with a hint of tobacco tossed in. Roasted bitter, bittersweet finish. Mouthfeel: No question about it, this beer is full-bodied, taking ’chewy’ to a whole new (and frightening) level. There’s a sensational creaminess to it that pairs perfectly with it’s charming warming nature. Drinkability: Exquisite! Truly, a beer to be celebrated.

Rating 100! I believe the hype. The best Imperial Stout I have ever had and will ever have. Courtesy of Matt. Poured jet black with a good sized brown head that last a minute or so. Aroma of chocolate, fruit, coffee, and malt with hints of hops, caramel, and molasses. Taste was mostly the same. Very smoothe and complex. Excellent brew.

Finally I get a bottle of the Lord, extreme Courtesy of Jsquire. This beer is probably all it’s cracked up to be. Aroma was not as strong as anticipated, but of deep cherry and chocolate. Pour was perfect- dark black with a thin one finger cherry head which laced all the way down the glass. Thick and delicious mouthfeel with dark chocolate and caramel in the front. Coffee undertones but this beer is primarily chocolate. No alcohol burn at all. I would love to try this fresh. I have now experienced the legend.

Horizontal of the 06/07. Both poured a dark black with frothy tan heads. If I did a blind comparrison I would not be able to tell you the difference. Both tasted and smelled of chocolate and coffee. Notes of mollasses, caramel, vanilla, and some fermented berries. This is a freaking awesome beer. I think Alesmithe Speedway stout is better, and I dont have to trade an arm and a leg for it.

Bu au Post-Mondial 07. Brune mélasse, mince collet brune. Arome de café forte et sucré d’importe quoi riche. Goût de malte chocolaté sucré, avec des notes de miel, de mélasse et de café chocolaté. Complètement malade cette bière là!

Fantastic beer. 2007, consumed fresh Very well rounded in deep berry and chocolate/coffee malt flavors. A slight touch of alcohol both on the nose and in the beer, but not in a bad way whatsoever. Very oily and full of sediment, this beer finishes bitter, but sweet. Very complex. Very much worth the hype. ---- 2005 Vintage 1/1/2008 Hoppy and a touch hop.. somewhat alcoholic 756315 ----2009 Vintage, consumed fresh---- Aroma is lots of oily, higher alcohols, and dull piny, smooth chocolate, creamy/nutty/milky, touches of heat and red fruit. (wow, what a mess of description) Taste is slightly hoppy bitter, mostly red fruit, sweet, and creamy dense. Finish is cloying, sweet, and long lasting. 858416

Bottle 2007 @ 16th Weekend of Spontaneous Fermentation 2007, Optal. [Thanks to Bager for sharing]. Clear black color with a small creamy virtually none brown head. Aroma is moderate to heavy malty, heavy licorice, notes of prune, raisin, coffee, chocolate, brown sugar. Flavor is heavy sweet and light bitter in a very nice balance with a long duration. Body is full, texture is oily, carbonation is soft, finish feel is light alcoholic. Very nice complex and tasty ;o))