Victory Dark Intrigue
Since its arrival in 1997, our Storm King Stout has enticed folks to “discover the dark intrigue” as its label suggests. While enjoying that great imperial stout, we have been intrigued by the myriad of flavors it exhibits, and encouraged to test the limits of perception and pleasure by adding to the rich experience of Storm King Stout. So here you have such a exploration, involving Storm King Stout aged in oak barrels that once matured Kentucky bourbon. Blended to perfection, this one is surely dark and intriguing!
3.9
340 reviews
Downingtown, United States
Community reviews
[bottle from Stowe liquors; 2011 edition (purchased in June, 2014)]
Butterscotch and vanilla oak aroma is strong, but supported by spicy pine hops and some chocolate-hazelnut. Opaque, oily black under a light brown cover with lace and considerable persistence for the style and age. The flavour begins sweet with oaky hazelnut, vanilla and slight chocolate and develops into sweet, boozy ethanol and a roasted barley flavour and bitterness. Sherry-like nuttiness from cellaring is apparent and works well with the oak character. Hops presence is appreciable and mostly bitter pine but does have some grapefruit peel. Full body; chewy, warming, moderate carbonation.
2013-01-18 - with blankboy, jercraigs & mabel - 750ml bottle c/o J&K. Clear borderline opaque ruby-black with a minimal frothy beige head. Tons of dry roast in the aroma, a little cream with coffee, treacle and alcohol (8-). Taste of oak (not much bourbon, mostly wood), roasty and only vaguely sweet, which is nice, mid-level alcohol - really well done. Slick, mild carbonation at best, finishes fairly quick, a little herbal, some building booziness; "sophisticated, nice, pleasant ---- not amaaaaazing"
750 ml bottle pours a black color with a nice tan head. Aromas of bourbon, coffee, dark roasted malt. Very good
Black with a silky head. Big boozy aroma with a sweet smooth vanilla, oaky. Hints of roast
Sampled at Boise’s Imperial Stout get together, over 120 bottles to choose from. Going with the flow on this rating.
Bottle; Pour is murky dark brown with a modest fine bubbled khaki head into this glass. It retains on the average/below average side, with some spotting present here. The nose is cracker crust, light marshmallow, caramel and chocolate, with mild bourbon presence. The flavor profile has a medium body for the style - it begins with modest chicory, graham cracker, moving to a hint of vanilla here. Chocolate and roast rear their heads here, and it moves to the barrel presence near the finish, but it is modest. Bittering notes near the finish - In some ways, it underwhelms, but overall, a nice enough attempt.
Pours tar black with a creamy tan head. Aroma of bourbon, vanilla, chocolate, and roasted malt. Outstanding flavor with vanilla, chocolate, notes along with subtle bourbon and some hop bitterness. Very nice beer!
Opaque black, thin mocha head. Wood, chocolate, bourbon, and little coffee. Light sweetness, bitterness in the back, and oaky dryness. Smooth, full bodied, and moderate booziness.
Odense catch-up from the cellar. Black with a small tan head. Aroma of licorice and bourbon with dark chocolate notes. Sweetish oaky and licorice flavour with plenty of dark chocolate flavour
Pour is black with a large bubbly tan head. Good lacing. Aroma is of dark chocolate, roasted malts, prunes, plums, and oak. Flavor has vanilla, semi-sweet chocolate, wood, milk, and nuts. Finish is a bit thin and boozy. Low carbonation.
2011 bottle. Pitch black body, large khaki head, soapy lacing. Big bourbon nose with chocolate, licorice, coffee, roast, and earth. Full bodied, moderate carbonation, silky, lingering finish with a touch of heat and earthy bitterness. I think age has treated this well.
750ml bottle, purchased from Dilly Cafe for $11. Bottled 11/10/2011. Corked. Shared with friends. Dark, very dark brown color. Near-black. Thin light brown head. Couple bits of lace. Nice smoky, roast malt, big dark chocolate aroma. Light bit of vanulla, hint of wood tannin, hint of dark fruit - nice complex aroma, and good, more bitter taste. Like storm king, this stout definitely has more bitter, pronounced hops than average. Good earthy hop. Dan H says he thinks it smells like a port. Coconut, coffee and chocolate, hea says. "Cognacy barrel woody taste", he says. Moderate to bigger bitter taste, little sweet. Just a light hint of the alcohol, very pleasant overall. Gets awesome as it gets to room temperature. Nice and creamy, never gets too sweet. Great stuff. Better than expected. This held up just fine, drinking great at 2 years old.
750 ML bottle purchased @ Nikki’s Liquor’s in R.I. Bottled Nov, 20 2011. Nose is spicy rye bourbon with chocolate and dark fruit. Flavor is spicy bourbon up front with coffee, raisins, chocolate and a decent amount of hops for such an old bottle. The mouthfeel is medium bodied with smooth/ low carbonation. Moderately lingering bitterness in the finish. Alcohol is completely hidden and is easy to drink. Texture is on the oily side. Body is on the full side yet doesn’t fill you up or bloat the stomach. Overall, really great imperial stout.
Bottle to glass. 2011 vintage. Pours a deep black with subtle rose color and a decent beige head. Aroma is roasted malts, coffee, bourbon, vanilla. Flavor is heavy roasted malts and bourbon, with hints of vanilla sweetness. Full body with a punch. Slight alcohol burn. Excellent beer, but I think I still give it to Storm King.
Pours black with a decent sized beige head that recedes quickly leaving some clumps of lacing.
Lots of oak in the aroma. Good charred oak notes along with bourbon vanilla and roasted malts. A few dark fruits peak in as well with an earthy hop presence. The barrel really stands out on the aroma.
..and on the flavor. Flavor follows closely with a good roasty malt profile along with some earthy hops. Tons more charred oak, vanilla and a good smooth bourbon profile alongside.
Medium to thick bodied with a good creaminess. Carbonation is a bit higher than most BA stouts, but it works well with the hops.
A very nice surprised and bummed to hear they don’t make this anymore. Never been a big fan of non-lager Victory stuff, but this was one of my favorites of the night. I usually prefer my BA stouts, bourbon heavy. It’s present here, but let’s the good charred oak steal the show.
Sampled at 4 Hands. Very dark with red. A nose of whiskey and must. Big whiskey flavor, too. Vanilla and huge malts. A lot to like here.
750ml bottle. Pours a deep black color with a mocha two finger head that lingers with light lace. Aroma is heavy chocolate up front with some big wood notes and earthiness. Also some bourbon, vanilla, and hints of roasty coffee. Taste is very woody with hints of hoppiness and roastiness. some bourbon and vanilla notes and a heavy chocolate presence. Medium body, creamy mouth feel, and light carbonation.
Bottled Nov. 10th, 2011 so not quite 2 years on it. Bomber poured into snifter glass, opaque black with tan head. Aroma of roasted malt, booze, chocolate, coffee, dark dried fruits (plums mainly, some raisin), some oak and bourbon. Taste is the normal Storm King notes (well minus heavy hops) with dark fruit notes (almost like a quad) and bourbon/oak notes in the back. Heavy body, low carbonation, thick, rich, creamy with roasty finish. Interesting beast, I know it’s Storm King but it tastes so different without the hop punch. The barrel aging seems less about the bourbon/oak influence and instead adds dark dried fruity notes. Very good, too bad this is all I’ll ever have :(
6th June 2013
Craft Clerkenwell. Martin T tasting. Opaque black - brown beer. Big tan head. Light airy palate, a little soft and semi dry. Mellow dark malt, rich but not heavy and a little creamy. Mildly tangy bourbon. Well integrated vanilla and dark chocolate. Whisper of cherry. Dark chocolate aftertaste. Nice!
Bottle
Appearance: Opaque black, offwhite head
Aroma: Booze, dark malts, coffee
Taste: Slightly sweet vanilla, semisweet chocolate
Palate: Medium body, coating mouthfeel. Decent carbonation.
Overall: Slightly thinner than expected, bourbon comes through with nice flavor and a good heat on the finish.
[5076-20130118] 750 bottle. Roasted grain malt aroma. Black body with a medium-lasting creamy tan head. Roasted sweet malt grain flavour has a great bitter bite. Full body is fairly bitter. Delicious. (7/4/8/4-16) 3.9
(w/ blankboy, HogTownHarry, jercraigs)
Nov. 11 bottle enjoyed in 6/13. Deep dark brown with some reddish translucent edges. Pillowy but fading head. Nose of some roast coffee, bourbon, and wood. Taste follows, with some nice lingering dark chocolate and ash. Pretty straightforward, but enjoyable for sure.
Bottle split at the Martin T tasting, CBC, 06/06/13 - big thanks to Jack for liberating this one across the pond.
Extremely dark mahogony brown with a light tan head.
Nose is light roast, wood, bourbon notes, dark chocolate, treacle toffee.
The flavours in this one were a little thin for a BA impy, chocolate, dark fruits, booze, woody notes, raisens.
Full bodied, fine carbonation, some warming alcohol in the finale.
Ok stuff, the booze is a little on the harsh side and could have been better integrated. Drinkable but not a great - would find a bomber of this on my own a bit of a chore I think!?!
2011 Bomber. Pitch black pour with mocha head. Nose of coffee, roast, chocolate and a touch of bourbon. Taste follows in the coffee and roast side. Surprisingly very bitter and not from hops. Also quite sour. Bad bottle perhaps.
Bottle aged 1 year by redpooba. Pours black with a tan head. Chocolate and plum aroma. Flavour includes sweet, bitter fruit, chocolate, bourbon and alcohol. Goes down creamy with a nice bite.
Bottle shared by bhensonb. Pours dark brown with a very attractive light brown head and a treacle and alcohol aroma. There is a chocolate, coffee, treacle and dark fruity flavor with and oak finish and a bourbon trail. Very complex.
750 c&c from timfoolery. Thanks guy! Pours black with a creamy/foamy tan head. Aroma is quite bourbon, oaky, dark fruity, treacle, chocolate. Med + body. Flavor is very nice chocolate/cacao, bourbon, vanilla, wood/oak. Finish is towards, but not reaching, dry with lots and lots of flavor. Fantastic beer.
Pours a black brown from the bottle with no real head or lacing. Aroma of vanilla from the oak and booze. Taste was sweet bourbon barrel aged goodness, dark but thin. I suppose for a bba malt liquor this was pretty solid.
2011. Very smooth palate, reminiscent of CCB 110k+OT, batch 2. Aroma is a bit soy saucy. Pretty hoppy still. Carafa special + burnt toast.
February 2012. Rated from my backlog. 750 ml. corked bottle. Poured black with a tan head. The added oak is not over done as you can experience in so many similar beers. This one is a keeper.