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Stone / Ken Schmidt / Iron Fist Mint Chocolate Imperial Stout
Stone Brewing
- From:
- Stone Brewing
- California, United States
- Style:
- American Imperial Stout
- ABV:
- 9.6%
- Score:
- 91
- Avg:
- 4.08 | pDev: 12.01%
- Reviews:
- 211
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Feb 04, 2023
- Added:
- Sep 22, 2012
- Wants:
- 107
- Gots:
- 99
A zing of fresh peppermint on a foundation of cocoa on the front of the palate, followed by dark roasted coffee/cocoa malt flavors and those wonderful esters we so lovingly associated with beer. The mint and cocoa retain their presence throughout the palate, which finishes nicely with pleasing bitterness and a slight dryness. The balance of chocolate, mint and Imperial Stout flavors is amazing…the flavors meld together fantastically!
Collaboration with Iron Fist Brewing
Collaboration with Iron Fist Brewing
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by BigE90:
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by Treyliff from West Virginia
4.32/5 rDev +5.9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
4.32/5 rDev +5.9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
12oz bottle poured into a tulip
Bottled 2012
A- pours jet black in color with a one-finger creamy light khaki head that retains forever and leaves some lacing behind
S- as expected, the mint has to have faded over the years, but it's still there ,giving an Andes thin mint note. The base beer gives plenty of charred malt undertones, along with dark chocolate, fig, molasses & caramel
T- surprisingly the mint is still prominent as it comes across as authentic, not toothpaste-like. Mid-palate has some similarities to Stone IRS; charred malt, dark chocolate, figs & a hint of anise. The finish gives more mint that sticks around on the linger
M- thick and heavy body with moderate carbonation leads to a thick and creamy mouthfeel that continues into a velvety finish
O- I didn't have high expectations given the age, but the mint is still there and perfectly balances with the base beer that has held up well, barely any oxidation detected
Feb 04, 2023Bottled 2012
A- pours jet black in color with a one-finger creamy light khaki head that retains forever and leaves some lacing behind
S- as expected, the mint has to have faded over the years, but it's still there ,giving an Andes thin mint note. The base beer gives plenty of charred malt undertones, along with dark chocolate, fig, molasses & caramel
T- surprisingly the mint is still prominent as it comes across as authentic, not toothpaste-like. Mid-palate has some similarities to Stone IRS; charred malt, dark chocolate, figs & a hint of anise. The finish gives more mint that sticks around on the linger
M- thick and heavy body with moderate carbonation leads to a thick and creamy mouthfeel that continues into a velvety finish
O- I didn't have high expectations given the age, but the mint is still there and perfectly balances with the base beer that has held up well, barely any oxidation detected
Reviewed by EmperorBevis from England
4.12/5 rDev +1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
4.12/5 rDev +1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Bottled and a gift from a much missed and sadly departed friend that I miss
Pours a jet black body with splatterings of tan head
Aroma is after dinner thin mints
Flavour is full on chock mint
I needed more body though not much more
Feb 03, 2023Pours a jet black body with splatterings of tan head
Aroma is after dinner thin mints
Flavour is full on chock mint
I needed more body though not much more
Reviewed by Msp004 from New York
4.22/5 rDev +3.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
4.22/5 rDev +3.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
One of two bottles left. Has quite a bit of age on it. Black pour with a four finger head that disappears quickly. Not an overwhelming mint or chocolate nose but subtle. Very refreshing mouth. Drinks like a much lighter beer. Higher AC is not noticeable. Very enjoyable. Great job Ken.
Dec 25, 2017Reviewed by woodychandler from Pennsylvania
4.51/5 rDev +10.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
4.51/5 rDev +10.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
I received this in a locally conducted trade with Lee Marren, a Stone rep, a few years back and set it aside as part of the Chez Woody Bottle Backlog until now. The dominoes are beginning to fall ...
From the bottle: "Stone Collaborations 2012"; "Collaboration n ([phonetic pronunciation]) A celebration of the community and culture of craft brewing."; "If you're like me, you probably can't count the number of times you've found yourself, beer in one hand with your other hand busy high fiving, thinking, 'Man, I could really go for some awesome mint chocolate right now, but lack the third hand to do so!' Fear not! A confluence of awesomeness has been drawn together to solve your confectionary conundrum!"; "The Ken Schmidt/Iron Fist/Stone Mint Chocolate Imperial Stout is here! No longer will anyone have to choose between the sweet frothiness of beer, the sexiness of mint chocolate, or the excitement of an activity that requires a free hand. Wait, that sounded better in my head ..."; "Moving swiftly on, the divine nectar you're currently holding is truly one-of-a-kind. The aromas and flavors are unmistakably evocative of a pillow mint you would find carefully placed on your pillow upon returning to your room after a strenuous day of relaxation at a fancy hotel. I was very excited when I received the news that I had been chosen to collaborate with the distinguished company of Ken Schmidt and Stone Brewing to bring Ken's amazing homebrew to the thirsty masses. If you're in the mood for a truly unique and delicious experience, grab a bottle and some friends and let the good times roll! [undersigned] Brandon Sieminski, Brewmaster, Iron Fist Brewing May 2012".
I Pop!ped the cap and positioned the awaiting glass for one of the gentlest pours that I have conducted in recent memory. I could not see any lees, but I was not taking any chances, either. It poured with a viscosity that would have made any of the old heavy, winter-weight motor oils proud. Once I had decanted a sufficient amount from the bottle into the glass, I employed the Server's Trick of using a stirrer to raise a finger of dense, deep-brown head with decent retention. Color was Black/Opaque (SRM = 44) with garnet highlights at the edges. The mintiness was quite evident on the nose. I do not know how it was initially/originally, but the beer evidenced a minty, dark chocolate smell, not unlike the York Peppermint Patties that I dispensed on Monday & which inspired me to finally pull this one out. Mouthfeel was big, thick & creamy, like a dollop of ice cream had been laid on my tongue. The taste was utterly decadent! I am not always/usually/generally a fan of AD/ISs because I find them too roasty and resultingly bitter to go along with their already high ABV. Here, the chocolate taste was not as bitter as dark chocolate, nor was it as sweet as milk chocolate, somehow finding a medium that I found highly palatable. In the midst of this semi-sweetness was a frosty coolness
born(e) of/by the mint. Out of curiosity, I pulled out one of the York Peppermint Patties that I had held in abeyance for this occasion and bit in, just to see how one measured against the other. The peppermint flavor of the candy was sharper than in the beer, so either the brewers employed something other than peppermint or a blend of mints or time had aged away some of the inherent mintiness. Still, returning to the beer, there was no way of missing that blast of cool in the midst of the chocolate and alcohol. I was put in mind of the Bessemer Process, in which a blast of cold air into a cauldron of molten iron ore would cause the impurities to wick away in the production of steel. I was really enjoying this beer, but I think that my enjoyment would have been diminished if it were not for the inclusion and presence of mint. Now, to attempt to quantify the finish - it was not sweet at all, nor was it truly dry. The chocolate of the malt had a light bitterness, negating "sweet", but the mint was not so prevalent as to make it "dry". I am going to say semi-dry, especially with the cool aftertaste of mint. I got the sensation!
Nov 02, 2016From the bottle: "Stone Collaborations 2012"; "Collaboration n ([phonetic pronunciation]) A celebration of the community and culture of craft brewing."; "If you're like me, you probably can't count the number of times you've found yourself, beer in one hand with your other hand busy high fiving, thinking, 'Man, I could really go for some awesome mint chocolate right now, but lack the third hand to do so!' Fear not! A confluence of awesomeness has been drawn together to solve your confectionary conundrum!"; "The Ken Schmidt/Iron Fist/Stone Mint Chocolate Imperial Stout is here! No longer will anyone have to choose between the sweet frothiness of beer, the sexiness of mint chocolate, or the excitement of an activity that requires a free hand. Wait, that sounded better in my head ..."; "Moving swiftly on, the divine nectar you're currently holding is truly one-of-a-kind. The aromas and flavors are unmistakably evocative of a pillow mint you would find carefully placed on your pillow upon returning to your room after a strenuous day of relaxation at a fancy hotel. I was very excited when I received the news that I had been chosen to collaborate with the distinguished company of Ken Schmidt and Stone Brewing to bring Ken's amazing homebrew to the thirsty masses. If you're in the mood for a truly unique and delicious experience, grab a bottle and some friends and let the good times roll! [undersigned] Brandon Sieminski, Brewmaster, Iron Fist Brewing May 2012".
I Pop!ped the cap and positioned the awaiting glass for one of the gentlest pours that I have conducted in recent memory. I could not see any lees, but I was not taking any chances, either. It poured with a viscosity that would have made any of the old heavy, winter-weight motor oils proud. Once I had decanted a sufficient amount from the bottle into the glass, I employed the Server's Trick of using a stirrer to raise a finger of dense, deep-brown head with decent retention. Color was Black/Opaque (SRM = 44) with garnet highlights at the edges. The mintiness was quite evident on the nose. I do not know how it was initially/originally, but the beer evidenced a minty, dark chocolate smell, not unlike the York Peppermint Patties that I dispensed on Monday & which inspired me to finally pull this one out. Mouthfeel was big, thick & creamy, like a dollop of ice cream had been laid on my tongue. The taste was utterly decadent! I am not always/usually/generally a fan of AD/ISs because I find them too roasty and resultingly bitter to go along with their already high ABV. Here, the chocolate taste was not as bitter as dark chocolate, nor was it as sweet as milk chocolate, somehow finding a medium that I found highly palatable. In the midst of this semi-sweetness was a frosty coolness
born(e) of/by the mint. Out of curiosity, I pulled out one of the York Peppermint Patties that I had held in abeyance for this occasion and bit in, just to see how one measured against the other. The peppermint flavor of the candy was sharper than in the beer, so either the brewers employed something other than peppermint or a blend of mints or time had aged away some of the inherent mintiness. Still, returning to the beer, there was no way of missing that blast of cool in the midst of the chocolate and alcohol. I was put in mind of the Bessemer Process, in which a blast of cold air into a cauldron of molten iron ore would cause the impurities to wick away in the production of steel. I was really enjoying this beer, but I think that my enjoyment would have been diminished if it were not for the inclusion and presence of mint. Now, to attempt to quantify the finish - it was not sweet at all, nor was it truly dry. The chocolate of the malt had a light bitterness, negating "sweet", but the mint was not so prevalent as to make it "dry". I am going to say semi-dry, especially with the cool aftertaste of mint. I got the sensation!
Reviewed by rodbeermunch from Nevada
4.03/5 rDev -1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
4.03/5 rDev -1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Dark brown pour, fractional beige head on the top. A little more than a hint of mint, but far from being anywhere near the 'big' label.
Taste was minty, but without adding sweetness. The dark chocolate and mint are not sweet. They did a good job keeping this dry, fermenting out sugars. Still delivers bitterness, drinks way lighter than almost 10%.
Dec 27, 2015Taste was minty, but without adding sweetness. The dark chocolate and mint are not sweet. They did a good job keeping this dry, fermenting out sugars. Still delivers bitterness, drinks way lighter than almost 10%.
Reviewed by chinchill from South Carolina
4.01/5 rDev -1.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
4.01/5 rDev -1.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
12 oz bottle poured into St. Bernardus snifter.
Appearance: Pours nearly black with a short, dark tan head that soon faded into a thin collar and few, bubbly ’islands’.
Aroma: Dark roasted malts, mint (mainly peppermint) and chocolate dominate. Some black licorice and alcohol esters too.
Flavor: The mint is there at a nice level: fairly obvious but not overpowering the rich, dark roasted malts or even the notes of dark chocolate and hints of dark, dried fruits. Bitter dark chocolate, light spearmint and faint coffee in the mildly bitter finish. Given the mint and other flavor components, this has excellent bitter/sweet balance.
Feel: Full, smooth body with light carbonation and light warming. A faint bite from the mint and alcohol.
Overall: Perhaps not as good as I was hoping for from Stone, but given that this is a chocolate mint RIS it is certainly well done and roughly as expected. The high ABV is well hidden. Although the mint treatment was conservative, I’d probably like even less in an ale as good as the base Stone RIS.
Oct 09, 2015Appearance: Pours nearly black with a short, dark tan head that soon faded into a thin collar and few, bubbly ’islands’.
Aroma: Dark roasted malts, mint (mainly peppermint) and chocolate dominate. Some black licorice and alcohol esters too.
Flavor: The mint is there at a nice level: fairly obvious but not overpowering the rich, dark roasted malts or even the notes of dark chocolate and hints of dark, dried fruits. Bitter dark chocolate, light spearmint and faint coffee in the mildly bitter finish. Given the mint and other flavor components, this has excellent bitter/sweet balance.
Feel: Full, smooth body with light carbonation and light warming. A faint bite from the mint and alcohol.
Overall: Perhaps not as good as I was hoping for from Stone, but given that this is a chocolate mint RIS it is certainly well done and roughly as expected. The high ABV is well hidden. Although the mint treatment was conservative, I’d probably like even less in an ale as good as the base Stone RIS.
Reviewed by Davepoolesque from Massachusetts
4.07/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.07/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Like a bitter, semi sweet chocolate thin mint. Medium to thin mouthfeel. Dry finish. I would say it's a step below Perennials 17. It's still pretty good. Holding up well.
Sep 24, 2015
Stone / Ken Schmidt / Iron Fist Mint Chocolate Imperial Stout from Stone Brewing
Beer rating:
91 out of
100 with
738 ratings
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