Dogfish Head World Wide Stout

Last released in December 2007, Dogfish Head's World Wide Stout is a highly coveted, legendary beer of epic proportions. Bigger. Bolder. Richer. At 372 calories per 12 ounce serving and reaching heights of 18%+ alcohol, it is a dessert and a sleeping aid in itself. It claims to have more in common with a fine port than a cheap, mass-marketed beer...And, I couldn't possibly agree more. Although it probably has more in common with "Purple Drank (aka Lean)" than it does with Budweiser.

From Wikipedia:

Purple drank is a slang term for a recreational drug popular in the hip-hop community of the southern United States. Its main ingredient is prescription-strength cough syrup containing codeine and promethazine.

The purplish hue of purple drank comes from dyes in the cough syrup. Recently, the term has expanded to cover mixtures including over-the-counter cough syrup. There are numerous other slang terms for purple drank, including sizzurp, lean, syrup, drank, barre, purple jelly, and purple stuff.

There are great similarities in the effects of both the World Wide Stout and Purple Drank. Proceed with caution.

The World Wide Stout pours jet black. I would also describe the color as Ronald Reagan's hair. The brew is so dark, it is hard to believe. Its head is furry, tan and thick. By the way, I am referring to the beer now. Aromas of black chocolate, licorice, raisins, roasted almonds and alcohol. The mouthfeel is thick and syrupy. On the palate, this stout is black forest chocolate cake, Italian roast coffee, fig and whipped cream. It is extremely coating and goes down silky like a glass of Nestle Quick made with whole milk. The finish just hangs around in your mouth like a chocolately fog. Absolutely delicious.

With it being so potent, you really need to savor it slowly. Otherwise, you'll feel like you just did a few shots of Nyquil and chased it with some "Purple Drank." This world-class beer is well worth seeking out. If Budweiser thinks of itself as "The King of Beers," then Dogfish Head World Wide Stout should proclaim itself as "The Exalted Imperial Emperor of the Universe of Beers." That would be fair.