BYOB: Beers You Oughta Buy - Victory Storm King

Welcome to a new feature on beerphilosopher.com, called "BYOB" or "Beers You Outta Buy" - this feature highlights various beers that I think everyone outta know about in a brief review format. I'll also include contact information for the brewery, and other relevant stats, of course. This feature is designed to give you a quick look at some of our favorite beers.


Storm King Imperial Stout - Victory Brewing Company


Style: Russian Imperial Stout ABV: 9.10% Release: Winter


This is a cellared bottle of Storm King from 2003 - The slightly dusty bottle decants an impressive pitch black color with a nice cocoa head that dissipates fairly quickly. There is beautiful lacing in the oversized wine glass as the head deteriorates. The nose is glorious ... rich, sweet malts, baker's chocolate and espresso dominate with a slight floral hop aroma in the background. The palate is an attack of flavor up front. This stout is still aggressively hopped despite having been cellared for well over four years now, and the hop presence is alive and well upfront. Bitter chocolate, espresso and floral hops notes are enormous - coating the palate in a complex of strong flavors. The mouthfeel is velvety and rich, as age has tones this stout down just a bit, I'd imagine. Good carbonation remains, and the finish is dry and hoppy. This is a very good stout when it is fresh, but cellaring has imparted a nice element of "roundedness" (is that a word?) to the beer. In a word - luxurious.