Ken Schmidt / Iron Fist / Stone Mint Chocolate Imperial Stout

Aroma: 9 | Appearance: 10 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 9 | Overall: 9

Rated in Dec. 2012. Poured up on tap at Papago with a deep dark body supporting a full firm mocha colored head of foam that leaves behind near sheet lacing. Good looking beer. The aroma is fabulous and offers up a great mix of dark roasted to nearly burnt maltiness and chocolate that blends into a pleasing mint sensation. The taste is just as wonderful with rich vibrant thick dark roasted malty notes, some burnt malts and then into both dark chocolate and a modest degree of mint. The taste is rich and flavorfully intoxicating. The roastiness takes the lead and the chocolate and mint come in at just the right level to really enhance the experience. Well crafted beer. Damn!

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 8

Bottle from @BellaPrimeaux. Burnt black pour with a very tight and short tan head, syrupy lacing. Hint o' mint right up front in the nose then dark chocolates, near-burnt molasses, a hint of mint, earthy hops. Taste is just enough mint, rich deep dark chocolates, roasted malts, hint of burnt molasses. Liquid Über Andes Mint goodness. Near burnt minty chocolate linger which is welcome. Thanks Aimee for this very interesting and tasty stout.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 7

Hesitant to try another mint stout, I couldn't pass up the chance for a $2 draft pour. Heard great things about this concoction as well, so I had a feeling I wouldn't be let down. Dark opaque body with a lasting brown head and splotches of lacing surrounding the glass. Bitter chocolate followed by fresh mint are both carried throughout the aroma and taste. Nutty with hints of vanilla and toast. Not overly roasty for a stout, thus allowing the two key players to do their thing. Medium bodied, and not very robust.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 9 | Mouthfeel: 9 | Flavor: 9 | Overall: 9

Pittsburgh didn't get a large allotment of this so I snatched up two bottles gleefully. Bottle into a snifter is pitch black with a beautiful mohagany head that caps nicely. Aromas of cocoa and roasted malts are touched lightly with faint mint. Smooth and creamy mouthfeel makes this a joy to drink, and I enjoyed this most around cellar temperature. Favors of bittersweet chocolate, milk chocolate, and cooling mint are present. The mint is done in such a way that it's massively refreshing and enjoyable and just works. This is superb. My only flaw would be that the buttering hops are perhaps a touch too prevalent and detract a tad from the chocolate/mint - but that's being nitpicky. A truly wonderfull brew.

Aroma: 10 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 9 | Overall: 9

A tar blackness in color. Big frothy textured brown head rises robustly above. There's good hang time on the head. Settles eventually into a thick ringlet and film. Cocoa dark chocolate in the nose. Bitter, roasty, dark chocolateLet it warm a bit and the mint comes through. Who'd dunk a beer could be a dessert. Full bodied and creamy.

Aroma: 9 | Appearance: 9 | Mouthfeel: 9 | Flavor: 9 | Overall: 9

#3600! Not sure what role Iron Fist played with this beer. Nobody who had this last night likes that brewery much, but we all love Stone and Ken as well, so we went into this with sky high expectations, espcially given the style and ingredients. We were not disappointed. For some reason a couple of us got the mint right of the bat, and a couple (like me) needed a minute or 5 for the beer to open up, but man did it pop when it did. Decadent without being the slightest bit overly sweet or cloying. Near perfect balance between the mint (think Andes), cark chocolate, roasted malts and a touch of bitterness. Goes does ridiculously easy for nearly 10%. Can't wait to have this as dessert in a couple days, all on it's own. We followed a huge chocolate porter with this. I'm wondering if I could like it any more as a standalone. Phenomenal either way. LOVE the combo of these flavors. Great idea, and well made!