Dark Lord
3 Floyds Brewing Co.

Dark LordDark Lord
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From:
3 Floyds Brewing Co.
 
Indiana, United States
Style:
Russian Imperial Stout
Ranked #102
ABV:
15%
Score:
95
Ranked #1,475
Avg:
4.28 | pDev: 14.25%
Reviews:
1,362
Ratings:
4,527
Status:
Active
Rated:
Dec 29, 2023
Added:
Dec 13, 2002
Wants:
  3,236
Gots:
  2,144
A demonic Russian-Style Imperial Stout brewed with coffee, Mexican vanilla, and Indian sugar, this beer defies description. Available one day a year, in April at the brewery: Dark Lord Day.

Vintage guide:
Red wax = 2004
Orange wax = 2005
Gold wax = 2006
Silver wax = 2007
Black wax = 2008
White wax = 2009
Green wax = 2010 - 15% ABV
Yellow wax = 2011 - 15% ABV
Red wax = 2012 - 15% ABV
Orange wax = 2013 - New Label 15% ABV
Blue wax = 2014 - 15% ABV
Maroon wax = 2015 15% ABV
Black with glitter flecks wax = 2016
Green with silver glitter = 2017 - New Label
Silver wax = 2018
Magenta with glitter = 2019
Black wax wrapped label = 2020
Light blue wax = 2021
Yellow wax w/blue glitter =2022
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Quaffer:
Photo of Quaffer
Reviewed by Quaffer from Missouri

4.48/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4
Appearance: I poured this into a pitcher so I could dispense it in one pour. I had heard that this was a good idea since there was apt to be quite a bit of sediment on the bottom of the bottle. It came out black, plain and simple. It was very viscous and almost oozed into the pitcher. A thick, dark brown head rose up and stuck around like it owned the place. I went ahead and poured two glasses (Bruiser81 helped me tame this beast) while there was still quite a bit of head, and the foam seemed to flow. If the glass was swirled, the bubbles coated the glass in a solid sheet and stuck there for awhile before gently sliding back into the ebony liquid from whence it came.

After the head had completely dissipated, the pure black liquid could really be admired. When the glass was swirled at this point, it left a ruddy brown sheen on the glass, acting not unlike a high alcohol wine.

There was a ton of sediment left in the bottom of the bottle. I stopped pouring when the beer turned muddy and there was still about three inches of liquid left in the bottle. We poured this into the pitcher when we had finished the "clean" stuff, and it looked like what is left over in the bottom of my brewpot when I make beer. Neither one of us was brave enough to sample this muck.

Smell: There was a lot going on in the aroma. Very vinuous and chock full of dark fruit. This combined with chocolate, bitter coffee and bitter chocolate, smoke, and a bunch of burnt or charred stuff. Nice. The sludge on the bottom produced an aroma with a lot more hop character. However, as it sat it just became rude.

Mouthfeel: Unbelievable. Thick, viscous, creamy, and mouth coating. Full-bodied to the point of being ridiculous.

Taste: Nothing surprising here after the aroma. Very vinuous, full of sour cherries and plums. There was chocolate, smoke, and charred wood. A little bit of hops came through on the finish. Absolutely none of the 13% alcohol came through in the flavor. I was stunned to learn it was that high after I had drank the beer.

The one thing that amazed me about this beer was how smooth it was. The amount and intensity of the flavors was huge, but there was no harshness or biting quality. Also, the flavor seemed to build through the finish and beyond. Long after the beer had left the mouth, it continued to intensify until about 20 seconds later I found myself smacking my lips and wondering if it could become any stronger. I'm telling you, this thing lingered.

A great beer. Every aspect of it was over-the-top huge. The mouthfeel and appearance were totally unique and blew me away. As far as aroma and taste, they were wonderful and crazy big, but nothing unique when it comes to imperial stouts. To me, this was just like a Sam Smith's Imperial that goes to 11.
Dec 03, 2004
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.44 by MjBrewhouse from Idaho

Dec 29, 2023
 
Rated: 4.25 by Stengelfoot from California

Dec 17, 2023
 
Rated: 5 by Nyoder

Nov 26, 2023
 
Rated: 4.4 by Chuckg93 from Oregon

Nov 03, 2023
Photo of WunderLlama
Reviewed by WunderLlama from Massachusetts

4.43/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Ba beer #2300

Brewers Notes: A demonic Russian-Style Imperial Stout brewed with coffee, Mexican vanilla, and Indian sugar, this beer defies description. Available one day a year, in April at the brewery: Dark Lord Day.

Vintage guide: Black wax wrapped label = 2020

Bottle received in bif17 courtesy of @ovaltine

Room temperature bottle poured into a pretentious beer glass. Dark cola brown liquid, little foam , settles to a ring

Aroma is coffee,molasses, brown sugar, tobacco

Taste is coffee, dark fruits, raisins, tobacco, char , port wine

Sudsy mouthfeel, lighter than I expected , boozy

Good beer, reminds me more of a barley wine than a RIS
Jun 03, 2023
Photo of augustgarage
Reviewed by augustgarage from California

4.27/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
2009 vintage. Poured from a bomber into a snifter.

Impenetrable seal brown/bistre liquid with a faint almond event horizon. Vague collar, never quite awakens. Thick sheets of legs.

Molasses, port, cherries, cocoa, and char in the nose. More fruit as the ale warms.

Prunes, cherries, and port are forward on the palate. Vinous quality persists with a background of dark malt, black licorice, and faint chocolate. Blackberries, violets, dulce de leche, ash, clay, and figs. Some oxidation is leading this into Old Ale territory, but no cardboard or other off notes. Low bitterness, medium-sweet, linear finish.

Oily, slick, carbonation has faded though there is some life left.

After 14 years, this has evolved into something difficult to categorize, and in some ways closer to a fortified dessert wine than a RIS.
May 26, 2023
 
Rated: 4.18 by KevinL from Michigan

Mar 27, 2023
Photo of kitch
Reviewed by kitch from Hong Kong

4.36/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
A 22 fl. oz. bomber, 2015 vintage, very nicely maroon waxed, poured into a snifter glass.

Appearance: Black in colour with only a thin brown head and sparse spotty lacing.

Aroma: Coffee, dark fruit, plum, prunes, fig, molasses, oak, chocolate, light roast.

Taste: Sweet, dark fruit, charred notes, plum, prunes, fig, cherries, brown sugar, molasses, chocolate, coffee, burnt sugar.

Mouthfeel: Full bodied with soft carbonation.

Overall: A nice warming sipper. Maybe approaching too sweet, but the charred and burnt notes do sort of keep it in line.
Mar 07, 2023
 
Rated: 4.11 by SayBoom from Ukraine

Feb 24, 2023
 
Rated: 4.4 by emptyglassagain from Massachusetts

Feb 23, 2023
 
Rated: 4.36 by RalphStanley34 from French Polynesia

Feb 17, 2023
 
Rated: 4.25 by bruindre from Massachusetts

Feb 08, 2023
Photo of Beersnake
Reviewed by Beersnake from California

4.32/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
2014 Dark Lord. Zero carbonation on the pour. Thick. Nose is roasted malts, black licorice, a touch of soy sauce, some nice dark fruit (cherries, plums), and some toffee. The taste is fantastic. No soy sauce here. Big roasted malts, sweet toffee, chocolate, licorice, maple, oak, tons of dark fruit - blackberries, raisins, plums. Sticky and creamy. Just lovely. Definitely going to sip on this for a long time.
Feb 03, 2023
 
Rated: 4.17 by sisterofba from Maryland

Jan 04, 2023
 
Rated: 5 by pootietom from Minnesota

Dec 27, 2022
Photo of thebeers
Reviewed by thebeers from Pennsylvania

4.14/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Pours a viscous-looking garnet-hued black with a fat finger of dark khaki head that settles into a lasting crown and leaves no lacing.

Umami, chocolate, red wine and toffee in the nose.

Sweet and vinous tasting up front. Vanilla and fig in there, too. Loads of umami and some bakers cocoa balance that right out. A kiss of warming alcohol in the backend.

Thick and chewy feel.

Well crafted and smooth. 2019 bottling.
Nov 24, 2022
 
Rated: 4.5 by akopczyk from Ohio

Nov 18, 2022
 
Rated: 4.66 by loch8534 from Illinois

Sep 25, 2022
 
Rated: 4.5 by GFK from Michigan

Sep 02, 2022
Dark Lord from 3 Floyds Brewing Co.
Beer rating: 95 out of 100 with 4527 ratings