Victory Storm King Imperial Stout

 Victory Storm King Imperial Stout.

Here’s one I go way back with, way, way back. I haven’t seen it in a very long time, and never in cans. I probably took my first notes on it well over 20 years ago but I’m not going to dig those up, instead I’ll write fresh ones from fresh cans. I bought 2 6-packs and saved can #12 for just this purpose. 

9.1 % ABV, Victory Brewing, Downington, PA. 

Thoroughly black appearance, absolutely opaque, tan head, leaving lace. 

In the nose: chocolate, caramel, toffee. Anise and ash. Rich Corinthian leather. Mahogany bound hardcover books. Basically, Ricardo Montanan’s study. 

In the mouth: Full, thick, viscous. Bitter, malty, hoppy and flush with flavor. Malt bomb, da bomb, boom goes the dynamite. Tobacco and smoke. Fudge and ash. Touch of dark fruit. Figs and cherries, all this and more. Some of these in a minor key, some in a high-blown tone, but it all comes together as one of the OG Big Bad Daddies. 

A thundering hop presence collides with massive espresso and dark chocolate flavors in our dense and full-bodied imperial.