Notes of a Beer Nerd: Dogfish Head World Wide Stout

World Wide Stout: The cognac of beer. 18% and insanely complex!

Enjoyed on 11/23/2009

Brewery: Dogfish Head Craft Brewed Ales

Location: Milton, DE

Beer: World Wide Stout

Web:
http://www.dogfish.com

Presentation: 12 Fl. Oz. (355 ML) – Brown Glass Bottle

Vintage: 2008

Style: Imperial Stout

Barrel: N/A

ABV: 18%

IBU: 70

Hops: N/A

Malt: N/A

Vessel: Snifter

Recommended Serving Temp: 55 degrees

Notes from the bottle: “A very dark beer brewed with a ridiculous amount of barley.”

Bottled on: 11/14/2008

Flavor will continue to develop for some time to come.

Food Pairings: Smoked meat, game

Cheese Pairings: Brie, Gouda, Havarti, Swiss

Beer Advocate: A-

Rate Beer: 100 (4.15)

Timperialstout’s Notes:

Pours a darkness so intense the lights in the room flickered with fear.  The head was tan/brown and fleeting, but small blotches of white foam lingered throughout my enjoyment, much like the foam on a pool of ocean water.  The moment my nose got close enough to the opening of the snifter to gather in a whiff, it became ever so clear that this beer was expertly crafted.  Would we expect anything else from Mr. Sam Calagione?   This masterpiece was apparently brewed using 7 different yeast strains… yeah that sounds like Sam.  This beer is very much like a port or a fine cognac.  The deep complexity and minimal carbonation play a large hand in my reminiscing of such distinguished libations.  Let’s get into the scent… oh so sublime.  Chocolate covered coffee beans and cherries come to mind.  The sweetness is no doubt a product of the “ridiculous amount of barley” found here, deeply roasted barley that is.  And booziness, well it’s not all entirely missing in the nose, but really only present enough to further inspire thoughts that this is so nearly a spirit.  I really feel for the yeast here, those little guys must have worked so hard, yet so much sugar remains.  The un-fermented wort must have tasted like a thick chocolate syrup built to top an ice cream sunday.  Coats the mouth like a slick oil, and the insides with warmth.  Roasty and caramelly in the flavor indeed, with some mild acidity coming through and an altogether different aftertaste, like rum chocolate truffles.  a faint booze heat can be felt on the post-swallow exhale, but truly subtle.  How?  A bewildering brew made by one of America’s finest.

If you like World Wide Stout, you should try…

Great Divide Brewing – Yeti

Stone Brewing – Imperial Russian Stout

Avery Brewing – The Czar

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