Victory Storm King Imperial Stout

Brewed by Victory Brewing Company
Style: Imperial Stout
Downingtown, Pennsylvania USA

I’ve been putting this one off for a while, but glad I finally bought it. Pours black with a dark tan head. Aroma of hops, coffee and alcohol. Very smooth, creamy mouthfeel with a nice roasted coffee taste. Slightly bitter finish with a slight alcohol finish.

Way better than I expected. The amount of complexity between the heavy handed hopping and roasted malts meld really well and leave a surprisingly clean palate. The aroma of this beer is just as complex, starting off with a mild hop aroma that’s quickly overwhelmed by the massive amounts of roasted malts. Initially I was kindof upset I had to buy a whole six pack just to try this, but after drinking it, I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way. To me this is just a notch below expedition, simply because of the quality, value and availability.

The beer pours a deep black with a coffee colored brown head that settles into a film that stays with the beer the whole way down the glass, it has thin but staying lacing. The nose is a deep rich mix of smoke coffee and burn sugar. The nose leads to the taste which doesn’t let down. The taste is smoking mix of coffee and dark fruits. The beer finishes slightly bitter but very pleasing. The finish is some what lasting.

This substantial stout is very robust. My first sense that got a kick was my sense of smell. I smelled a lot of heavenly hops coming from the bottle before I even poured the beer! I think I like it already. Plus a hint of darkly roasted barley. Then I pour this amazing ale into my favorite beer drinking glass. It looks just like a good espresso.... but it’s not, it’s beer! I hold it up to the light... and nothing. I can’t see anything. Dark black all the way through. A beautiful sight for sore eyes. The head is a dark brown sugar color, and it gives off a lot of hop aroma at first then that fades off to a strong barley aroma. It tastes just like it smells. Great! The flavor of hops jumps out first, quickly followed by the onslaught of roasted malts, strong notes of coffee and molasses. Despite all these onslaughts n’ stuff, it’s not overwhelming on the palate. It’s smooth! Even at 9.1% abv it’s not even harsh at all. Smooth on the way down, and it gives a nice warmth. My favorite from the Victory Brewings. The Lord bless the hop harvest.

Delicious, but wow! That hop knocks you back on the first bite. I don’t think I’ll be having more than one of these very often-- er, ever. Maybe a bit hot out this week for this particular beer, but I’m glad I got a case of ’em.

Bottle, pours a deep espresso color, thin tan head that leaves spotty lacing. Smell is roasty, unsweetened chocolate, some lightly fruity yeast character, hop cones. Tastes strongly bitter, partly from hops and partly from acrid roasted barley. Some chickory flavor, a bit of malt sweetness up front but on balance is astringent. Long bitter finish. Alcohol content not very noticeable. A good drink, but needs a bit of time in the bottle to peak.

a clasic favorite, and a vlue at that. love the hop up front. huge ultra roasted malt and coffee with just a bit lacking in the body. nice and dry with several layers.

There is a lot going on in this beer and it is all good. Very complex flavor profile that you need to take time to absorb, not one to rush down...take your time and enjoy..Dont plan on operating any heavy machinery for awhile either.