Dark Intrigue
Victory Brewing Company - Downingtown

Dark IntrigueDark Intrigue
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From:
Victory Brewing Company - Downingtown
 
Pennsylvania, United States
Style:
Russian Imperial Stout
ABV:
9.1%
Score:
87
Avg:
3.87 | pDev: 13.7%
Reviews:
306
Ratings:
740
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Feb 06, 2023
Added:
Nov 25, 2010
Wants:
  65
Gots:
  278
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Leftfield00:
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Rated by Leftfield00 from Connecticut

4.5/5  rDev +16.3%

Jun 30, 2012
More User Ratings:
Photo of stevoj
Reviewed by stevoj from Idaho

3.88/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Sampled at Boise’s Imperial Stout get together, over 120 bottles to choose from. Inky black pour, ring of beige head. Roasty aroma, coffee, chocolate.
Feb 06, 2023
 
Rated: 3.44 by DVMin98 from North Carolina

Apr 26, 2021
Photo of SABERG
Reviewed by SABERG from Massachusetts

3.94/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Poured from a 750 ml cage and cork bottle dated 11/20/2011 into the small tulip glass
A - Dark and intriguing for certain, a quick top off creates a 1" off white cap. Throughout the experience lacing clings in cirrus patterns to the glass.
S - Even with 7 years on it, the bourbon jumps off the cap, followed by bitter chocolate, toffee, cinnamon, black tea and some fig.
T - Well, all the bourbon barrel elements are in play, but softer, Vanilla, toffee, toasted oak, then the base beer adds Bakers chocolate, some fudge brownie, a bit of black pepper.
M - Full in body, a bit slick, the alcohol is less hot and acts as a nice vaporizer, the linger is cocoa driven and semi sweet
O - Wow, a big offering that aged quite gracefully, as this is the only old bottle I have, it will be a long shared experience.
Mar 03, 2018
 
Rated: 4.06 by DaPan from Canada (ON)

Jan 14, 2018
 
Rated: 4 by Beerbuddha from Florida

Jan 14, 2018
Photo of AgentMunky
Reviewed by AgentMunky from New York

4.33/5  rDev +11.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Poured from 750mL bottle into a St Bernardus goblet. Bottled 10 November 2011. Best by November 2016.
4/4.75/4.25/4/4.25
A: Light cream-colored head with cola-black body.
S: Intoxicating. Boozy and ensorcelling. Whisky, licorice, a whiff of oxidation.
T: Comes in roasted and sweet, heavy on the malted barley, toothsome with molasses and bourbon. Spicy, and very oaky. Aggressively woody and tannic.
M: Not as thin as feared. Actually quite robust.
O: A solid whisky-aged stout. I'm still not sold on cellaring, but this isn't hot at all. Quite nice.
Dec 25, 2017
 
Rated: 4.02 by Bunuelian from Minnesota

Feb 23, 2017
Photo of nebula1999
Reviewed by nebula1999 from Connecticut

3.81/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Bottled Nov 10, 2011. Too dry, too boozy. Too much wood, too much bourbon. If this were young it'd be undrinkable. Tone that down it'd be okay. Might try again. Maybe not.
Feb 15, 2017
 
Rated: 4.09 by liquorpig from Massachusetts

Dec 11, 2016
 
Rated: 4.29 by sposter4 from Pennsylvania

Nov 23, 2016
Photo of Boto
Reviewed by Boto from Connecticut

4.19/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
750ml bomber: 2011 bottle, been sitting in the fridge for a long time. This one pours an inky black color. There was a small tan head on it. Nice nose. Lots of different aromas. Some bourbon, chocolate, vanilla, molasses, roasted malts and fruits. The taste is superb! Just a hint of the bourbon, very smooth texture. Hope they make this one again!
Nov 20, 2016
 
Rated: 3.9 by doremite from Vermont

Oct 06, 2016
Photo of gopens44
Reviewed by gopens44 from Virginia

4.21/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
My bottle was aged for four years and six days, yielding very impressive results.

Beautiful looking beer, great foamy head that sticks around and deposits sticky lacing all about.

Nose is a cacophony of aroma with leather, currant, molasses and caramel with a little sweet candy sugar for good measure.

Taste is initially bitter but quickly presents that same dark fruit, currant taste that was in the aroma with an addition of oak until that sugary sweet pulls in with a touch of baker's chocolate, and with it is the slow moving heat. Little alcohol taste but nothing overwhelming.

Very little heat or sweetness lingers, but there's enough there to compel another swig for sure.

Really wish they kept making this, or that I at least would have bought more, as this turned out very well.
Nov 17, 2015
 
Rated: 3.75 by SkiBum22 from New York

Nov 08, 2015
 
Rated: 4.17 by jams1220 from New Jersey

Nov 03, 2015
Photo of TheManiacalOne
Reviewed by TheManiacalOne from Rhode Island

3.84/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Poured from a 750ml bottle into an imperial pint glass. Bottled on date of 11/10/2011.

A: The beer is a very deep black color with a short dense brown head that fades slowly and leaves a thick lace on the glass.

S: The aroma contains bourbon, chocolate, roasted malts, licorice and a faint touch of hops.

T: The taste starts out with strong bite of bourbon and alcohol. Then some flavors of chocolate, licorice and coffee come in along with a hearty roasted malt character and a faint touch of smokiness. The hops presence is very mild as you would expect but it provides a decent balance. The after-taste is slightly sweet.

M: Crisp and a little smooth, medium-to-heavy body, medium carbonation, finish is slightly sticky.

O: Flavorful, goes down ok, slightly filling, strong kick, good representation of style, it’s a decent beer but definitely not as good as the regular version of Storm King.
Oct 22, 2015
Photo of Jadjunk
Reviewed by Jadjunk from Georgia

3.41/5  rDev -11.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
"Since it's 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 an exploration, involving Storm King Stout aged in oak barrels that once matured Kentucky bourbon. Blended to perfection, this one is surely dark and intriguing!" Brewed in the style of a Russian Imperial Stout aged in Bourbon Barrels. Available as a limited release in 750ml. bottles and on limited draft.

Poured from a 750ml. bottle to a snifter glass. Served above 57 degrees Fahrenheit.

(Appearance) Pours a frothy foam head of a toasted chocolate brown color over a near jet black body. Retention is good and lacing is light and spotty. 4

(Smell) Moderate acidity, tangy fruits, smooth undertones of chocolate and roasted grain, little to no bourbon character nor any discernible alcohol. More funk than roast, smells indicative of potential infection. 3

(Taste) The flavor is more accurate of expectations, very smooth chocolate and moderate roast forward, light oak and faint bourbon, alcohol is very well concealed. Tangy and tart fruit characters are still noticeable but more in check in the flavor. Finishes smooth and very dry. 3.5

(Mouthfeel) Texture is slick, residual, smooth and very dry. Carbonation is light, generating a modest frothiness and a lightly crisp finish. Body is shy of medium for the style, medium/heavy overall. Balance is slightly tart and tangy over sweet. Alcohol presence is light and there is a higher than expected wild fruit presence in this beer, indicative of potential infection, although it is not severe, adding more to the beer than it takes away. 3.5

(Overall) My greatest criticism of Dark Intrigue is the overall docility of the Russian Imperial Stout flavors, with delicate roast, chocolate and especially bourbon barrel character. To this effect, Dark Intrigue allows potential infection flavors of tangy fruits to creep in and be ever-noticeable. I'd like to give this beer another shot if it were to be brewed again, but as the freshest bottles approach 5 years of age, I advise against purchasing any of even the latest vintage, unless it is to expect the unexpected. 3.5

Victory Brewing Company's
Dark Intrigue
3.41/5.00
Jun 23, 2015
 
Rated: 3.75 by BColton1 from Rhode Island

Mar 23, 2015
 
Rated: 3.5 by jfstilling from South Carolina

Feb 24, 2015
Dark Intrigue from Victory Brewing Company - Downingtown
Beer rating: 87 out of 100 with 740 ratings