Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8
Growler share with Doug.
My portion was poured into a mug.
The appearance was a muddy semi-dark brown color with a finger’s worth of off-white foamy head that left some moderate lacing.
The aroma had a huge amount of milk chocolate closing down on a sly roasty coffee bean sweet to almost acceptable acidic tang to it. Light earthiness. Some sweet cream.
The flavor wraps together the previously mentioned aromas together. Acidity isn’t really found in the flavor which is a good thing. Coffee and chocolate are the leaders but a super light nuttiness is there. Sweet chocolate to coffee aftertaste running into the finish.
On the palate, this one sat about a light to medium on the body with a fair sessionable feel about it. Moderate carbonation. Good ABV. Coffee beans seem to pounce on the malts leveling out the feel all around, smooth yet having a good harshness.
Overall, pretty good brown ale mixing in the coffee and the chocolate to enliven a style that doesn’t draw in a huge crowd.
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 6.5
Growler share with Doug.
My portion was poured into an English pint glass.
The appearance was a dark orange close to brown color with a good foamy thick finger’s worth of white head. Mild thick lace.
The aroma starts off with the Scottish styled malts with some ash and then opens up into the spruce/piney freshness. And then some citrus.
The flavor seems to try and blend all of these previously mentioned aromas but seems to leave out the so called sour that is supposed to be there (which is good, in my opinion, since I can’t really see that any sour effects would actually make this good). Lingering ashy aftertaste with a wet finish.
On the palate, this one sat about a light to medium on the body with a fair sessionability about it. Spruce seems a bit tamer and doesn’t produce any bitter harshness. Sour harshness isn’t there. ABV feels fine.
Overall, interesting idea for a Scottish ale, the Scottish ale qualities seem there, and I like the idea of the spruce integration, but probably should leave out the sour part. It didn’t even come across anyways.
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7.5
Thanks Doug!
I poured mine into a nonic pint glass.
The appearance was a dark brown color close to black with a thin white finger’s worth of foamy head. Lingering sly sticky lace.
The aroma starts off with a sweet oaty/graininess. And then opens up with a rugged grainy malt. Dark fruits, not necessarily like raisin but definitely a blend all around. Some coffee and then some milk chocolate. Mild roast.
The flavor takes the previously mentioned aromas to blend decently. More of the stout seems to come out in the aftertaste and finish.
On the palate, this one sat about a light to medium on the body with a fair sessionability about it. Good carbonation. ABV feels fine. Oats seem to smooth things out.
Overall, is this supposed to be an oatmeal stout with what the brewer says is raisin in this? Interesting, if anything, I dig the concept. I would have this again.