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 #1,481
Avg:
4.28 | pDev: 14.25%
Reviews:
1,361
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 StonedTrippin:
Photo of StonedTrippin
Reviewed by StonedTrippin from Colorado

4.23/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
this is one of the highest rated beers that i have not been able to get my hands on until now. i feel like ive been hearing about this darn beer forever now, and its amazing to have a buddy bring it over this weekend, although i have to say, the hype and the wait are not warranted or worth it, and as tasty as this is, its for one past its prime and for two not that amazing. maybe it was when it came out back in the day, but the rest of the field has risen. this is a 2011 ediiton, and may have been best a year or so ago. i smell slight oxidation, but after that, its held up well enough i imagine. shiny black chocolate syrup color and texture to it, actually a decent little head on the pour but it has no persistence at all. the nose here is great, i guess i never realized it had all these other ingredients in it, whatever coffee was here has faded a lot from nose and taste. the vanilla is there pretty prominently still though, and its certainly sweet, my goodness, its about as sugary as those bruery anniversary releases, and just as strong although the booze isnt over the top for its strength and doesnt bother me in the least, even when it warms up. lots of molasses in the flavor, and it really just doesnt taste as dark as it looks to me. i still get some deeply roasted malts, but its more sweetness and extra fermentables than it is grain, and the leftover sugar is a problem after awhile for me. glad we were sharing this bottle three ways. it sucks to think the cellar time may have been too much, but i find it hard to believe people would freak out the way they do over the beer if it tastes like this fresher. its still good, but its nothing overly special i dont think, aside of course from its rarity. the sugar and the stillness bother me a little, and the coffee doesnt add what i hoped it would. if you like them sweet and huge, dig on this, but i am now real keen to try a fresher version to see what the real story is. fun to crack with some friends but not what i had it built up to be in my head, not by a long shot...
May 17, 2016
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