Victory Storm King Imperial Stout

Bottled, consumed 02/10/08. Pours a deep, dark brown. The heavier-than-water viscocity is visible as the liquid leaves the bottle. A tan head two fingers high forms like magic a couple of seconds after the pour has finished. It quickly reduces to a thin foamy skin. Roasted chocolate aroma with some clean citrus notes. Thick, slick and velvety as it slides across the palate, the beer has flavors of chocolate and coffee with subtle notes of sour cherry. Minor sweetness offset by a much more substantial, lingering, bitter chocolate/coffee aftertaste. Within spitting distance of my #1 beer of all time, Alesmith Speedway Stout.

A dark black sweet pour, not much fuss. Nice malt aroma, a little bland though. Good for a Russian, but we all know... there’s better.

Victory Storm King Imperial Stout ABV: 9.1% Volume: 12 oz Glass: Okocim .5L curved glass Purchased at: Hopewell Valley Wines Consumed on: 02/08/2008 Consumed on 02/15/2008 A major revision on the 15th. first impression: rich translucent licorice pouring with a thick dark tan head. Racing effect at border of head and liquid. Slight hint of hops and cream. Color at edge is a LED red deep in the smoky confines of the impenetrable black of the stout itself. First touch on the tongue is somewhat smoky and a bit sweet, not exactly to my liking at first, and not very bitter at first, except for espresso edges. Alcohol is very much present, and may intrude on the flavor, but only if you let it. ;). My immediate thought: I bought six of these? Not un-enjoyable, and it tends to grow on you. Visuals -- Color, depth, Belgian lace, legs: Color is a good deep dark stout black with brownish red edges. Fairly common stout presence, but not lean by any means. Olfactory -- Aroma: Aroma is nice and permeating, but does not immediately reveal any strong characteristics - subtlety abounds. Slightly caramel, somewhat coffee, a bit of cream. Hints of hops. It’s mysterious, like any great stout. Taste -- Hoppiness, bite, maltiness, flavor: Almost diluted hard liquor with malt overtones. If it were a shot of Bourbon, it would be welcoming, but as a beer it can overwhelm if you’re not expecting it. Tactile -- weight, mouthfeel: Smooth, a bit sweet on the edges, almost saccharine. Not much bite except for the alcohol, which is heavy. Heavy in the hand, and may remind you of the 10% ABV. second impression: Enough to make you reconsider stouts to be delivered in shots. At that pace it would be quite enjoyable - like a dixie cup sundae, but as a beer, take your time drinking it, unless you love being enveloped by the experience, like so many of us.

Dark black pour with a brown head. Chocolate and roasted malts. Very good example of what an Imp Stout is supposed to be.

Another great imperial stout. They never let you done. Black body, chocolate finish.

Bottle poured into a snifter. Jet black, big head which left a nice lacing. Smelled chocolatey. Taste is roast malt and small amount of hops. The roasted malt is really what made this beer. It is perfectley done in that catagory. It is not to thick, which I like. Alcohol is well hidden. Had a nice chocolate after taste. Good stout. "VICTORY!!!" johnny drama...****UPDATE***** Recently had an 03 and 04, super smooth. Definitely better with some age on it. Practically rolled down my tongue and into my throat.

Jet black not a ray of light shines through. Pours with a 2 finger width head that reduces down to a small coating. Aroma is very roasty with a small hops presence that is really nice. Taste is malty, with coffee notes and a good hops presence that balances nicely. I slight alcohol warmth as it ventures to my stomach. I was expecting it to be a bit heavier on the palate. But overall this is probably one of the most drinkable RIS I’ve had.

Poured black with dark brown ISA head. Nice sweet aroma. Not just a really thick body, but not watery. Very hoppy with nice malts. Pretty good when you are in the mood for grapefruit hops.