Do we finally find a coffee stout worth drinking?

November 23, 2021

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Coffee beers have always been a thorn in my side. I probably drink more coffee in one day, than the average family does in a month.. but put it in a beer, and its crap.

I dunno if it’s a chemical thing or some voodoo stuff, but it never works out.
Yet I will always try a new one.

Such as this Ahnapee Breakfast Drip.


Billed as a session stout (arrrg, this love/hate thing today with descriptions).
Well, on with the show…

The tap poured pint came with very little, if any head at all. But as with most coffee stouts or coffee beers in general that I’ve had, this is pretty normal. The oils from the coffee really mess with the head retention.

The black beer looks quite tasty, though not opaque black. No signs of carbonation bubbles.

First two things I get from this beer are chocolate. Lots of chocolate or coco aroma here. In a good way. And second is what I was fearing.. the dreaded soured coffee aroma. But luckily.. it’s not as bad or strong as it usually seems to be.
Other than a slight bit of roast,, the chocolate dominates everything. No hops no yeast esters.

Pleasantly surprised at the first taste because I was expecting to get a blast of that sour coffee,, but it’s not there. The first taste is roast.. and it should if it’s a stout. There is coffee there,, but it’s secondary to the actual stout. A very good stout in fact.

The coffee notes are bold, but not over powering. And more like green coffee beans, not heavily burnt or roasted beans and I think that’s whats keeping them from getting that sour, oxidized taste.

I’d say the body is just shy of medium. Fits in with this style of probably dry stout. Very little hop taste, but a good bittering.
Carbonation is fairly high for a stout, but they may be trying to work the low head retention. But even this high it seems to work quite well.

I must say I am impressed with this coffee stout. I was full prepared to not like it. But it did things right. It showed off the stout first, then let the coffee do it’s thing behind it.

I can and will have more of this for sure. And honestly is the best coffee beer I ever had.
4.5/5

Bridge Out Stout- Titletown Brewing

March 8, 2021

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The local..Bridge Out Stout. Titletown Brewing’s seasonal oatmeal nitro stout.

I watched the short cascade show play out before I started with this beer. Nice tan nitro style head, but does drop rather quick. But, oatmeal stout a sometimes do that I guess. I guess I would call this black,, but not opaque black. Nice ruby points.

Even through that nitro head is a nice chocolaty roasty aroma. Very nice. No hops,, but a bit of sweetness. But nothing much for dark roasts.

The chocolate follows thru to the taste. Not over powering or anything.. but is definitely the main component. The roast peaks thru a bit now but very relaxed and behind a bit of that sweetness. And just for a flash I get an oatmeal note. And now that it’s warming a bit and the head is thinning I get oatmeal in the aroma now as well.

The body is full and smooth. Good balance there. That usual slick feeling of the oats is there as well. The nitro really hides how heavy this beer is. I would love to drink a couple of these.. but not sure I could because it is very filling.

A middle ground of 6.5% will is not overpowering and the 45 IBU which is really in Pale ale territory is virtually undetectable due to the sweetness. Another great balance in this.

I have had this a few times before, and it has definitely changed for the better. Which is great because I do like my oatmeal stouts.

Now, if they would only make a non nitro version.  Ah well. Take your 4 out of 5. 

Saugatuck Blueberry Maple Stout

February 19, 2021

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I love blueberries. Just not in my beer…any beer. But I keep trying them. So I seen this one today, and gave it  go.

Todays tastings are out in the garage. i do alot of them out here, but today.. its -2F out here. The beer is not,, just me and everything else is.

As I crack the 12oz can open I already get a whiff of blueberry before I even pour. And I’m already not sure if that is good or bad. Blueberries are not usually overpowering like this.

As I pour it into my frozen sample glass, there is more of the blueberry and a sweet candylike aroma. Is that supposed to be maple? Could be. Maybe the blueberry is just overstepping it.
But even with those two big aromas up front, there is the slightest bit of roast there too.

The tan head shows up about 10 seconds after the pour in a nice little cascade show, which is always nice to see. Plus it sticks around quite a while, but that may be because of the -2F.

As expected, the first taste is blueberry. Except… while I determine that its indeed blueberry,, its the fakest blueberry fake job that has ever been faked. But,, damn it. I kinda like it.

Now that sweet candy thing does taste a bit like maple. but also in a fake way. But again,, I like it. Its got a familiar taste to it that I just cant grasp.

The smooth roast is more in the Black Malt realm,, not like roast barley, but it does just a hint of the coffee in there. And peeking thru all the rest of the stuff, is the faintest bit of hop,, almost wanna say, like an EKG hop.

Bam! now I know what it tastes like. Waffelos cereal,, from the 80’s. Yea thats it. Like you squeeed a box of it into your glass.

6% will keep you around for a little while, but it is kinda sweet and heavy. Heavy, or full body for sure, but not sryupy. Out here in the cold its perfect, but indoors, one or two would fill you up pretty quick I think.

I was sure I wasnt gonna like this beer because of the blueberries,, but they are so fake tasting that.. I do! I loved that cereal and this is a dead ringer for it. So it makes sense.

I think I’m gonna go back today and get more of this.
Take your 4.5/5

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