Leinenkugel’s Creamy Dark

December 17, 2019

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Leinenkuges Creamy Dark- Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company.

Now I know this isnt what you would call a Stout or a Porter. Linnie’s calls it an American Dark Lager. Not even sure what that is really,, but this beer is a gateway to the dark side for many people. I have lost count of how many of these I have drank, especially this time of year.

Just opening the twist off cap you get a nice whiff of chocolate. Not much for roast though. There is a very appealing sweetness that mingles with a grainy bit, almost like one of those choclate no-bake cookies.

Before I even get to a sip the thin head dissapears completely. But in that sip you get nearly what had in the nose, powdered coco with just a mild sweetness. You do get some roast in the taste, but it is very much a background thing. I hate to say its got “lager characteristics” But it really does. Its clean, nothing as far as a yeast profile, and nearly nothing in the way of hop contribution.

The light sweetness and light coco, low bittered with middle of the road carbonation mixed with a nice finish and light body makes this beer quite refreshing really. You want to have another right away.

As much as coco or chocolate was mentioned here, I would in no way call this a dessert beer. If you blindfolded someone, I bet they would say this is a blonde ale or a light lager with hints of that chocolate. Solid beer here, and always a good choice to hand to someone who is a bit leary yet of dark beers.

This beer hits all of my buttons. I wish they made bombers of this. The manbuns would be all over it. 4.5/5

Deschutes Obsidian

December 15, 2019

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Obsidian. I thought I have posted this one before, but I guess not. I have had it multiple times, but never did a review. So lets do it!

Deschutes Obsidian Stout

55 IBU 6.4 abv. Right from the pour the roast hits you. There is no doubt you have a stout. Black. Very black with a tan head. Along with the roast, there is a decent hop aroma. More of the noble-ish variety, no citrus. Light grainy, but mostly the black malts. Lesser so the roast barley, but it is there.

Taking that first sip you get almost what you were in the nose. The same black roast and a nice firm hop bitterness. Not as much hop flavors as you would think from the aromas but that’s probably because that roast is big. After we get a bit of warming I start to get a bit of chocolate, but very low. Nothing as far as any yeast goes, but again that roast is all up front, but not astringent at all.

The medium body makes this stout very easy drinking even with the 55 IBU behind it. The 6.4 abv is mostly hidden, but you can see it in the swirling.

Big roast, firm bitterness, hoppy nose. This is a very good stout. Its what I think of when you say stout. This is going to be my beer for over Xmas for sure.

Go grab some, you will thank me. 4.5/5

Surly- Darkness 2018

December 13, 2019

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Surly- Darkness 2018

Since we are coming up to Xmas and not sure whether our Wednesday beer tasting group is going to be able to meet next week, I broke out my bomber of Darkness that I’ve been holding on to since January.

I always hear people talking about this beer like it’s some magical potion or something, so am curious as to what it’s really like.

Our tasting and review today will be a mix of opinions from our little 4 person panel. So let’s get to it.

After we pryed off the fancy wax/plastic dip we poured in to our 4 glasses. And just from the pouring the aromas were striking.

Plums, raisins, chocolate, sweet grain, with a bit of a noble hop intermingled with a very full black malt base. All very pronounced, but stopping short of too much of anything. Definitely an impressive aroma profile here.

As we move to getting our tastings the first thing we all mention is the sweetness level. It about as close to my tolerance level of powdered sugar-like sweet as you can get with out being distracting.

The other main flavor no doubt is prunes. Max was pretty convinced that this was a beer mixed generously with prune juice. While I don’t think that’s the case,, I could definitely see how that could actually be.

At this point in tasting, I’m beginning to starting to wonder where the imperial stout part is.

The roast level in this “imperial” stout is very low (surprising considering the aromas it was throwing). but I guess if your trying to cover your base audience you probably want it about where it is. Low chocolate, and maybe some light coffee notes. Now that it’s warming up a bit more, Marachino cherries? Yea, far back there though.

Could use a decent amount more bittering to cut some of the sweet,, but this medium to almost light body with the moderate carbination does keeps it from feeling too heavy and quite easy to drink.

On a scale of imperial stouts, this would probably fit in the furthest side of light, easy going imperials. Almost no where in this beer was there much or any hop character.

Its pretty easy to see the point was to keep things very subdued for a specific genre of people. And doing that made for a candy like drink that disappointed after that awesome aroma in the beginning.

This is not a bad beer by any stretch. I like it. I would say… Misleading. An imperial stout named Darkness should have some balls behind it. It’s a stout for Pete’s sake, not a donut. This is something I would buy at a cotton candy stand at the kiddie carnival.

I would certainly drink this beer when ever offered, but not so sure I would actively look for it.

It was not worth the wait. 2.5/5

Good City Porter

December 7, 2019

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I was out picking up a 6 pack of something for the Friday, and I was shocked at how hard it is now days to find just a regular beer. I don’t want raspberry this or coconut that. Just a beer please.

It took a while, but I found this Goodcity Brewing’s Detail Porter.

goodcity

For something that’s named Detail,, there arn’t many details about it. Its a 5.4% porter style in a can. That’s all of the info there is. Ok, lets drink this.

Cracking open the can I was a bit surprised at almost no action. In fact, I was a bit worried, but when actually pouring the beer into my glass it was quite lively. Not exactly a cascade but definite carbonation bubbling and forming a light tan head on the very dark brown body.

The Dark roast aroma is not heavy, but in good amounts. I would say more of the black malts than roasted barley. Then right behind comes light chocolate. But not a sweet chocolate, more like a grainy brownie chocolate. If you search hard enough you can just pick out the faintest of faint hop,, but its nearly hidden.

Going in for the first taste. Much different than the aromas. Much more up front roast here. Then chocolate is much further behind it, but there is an instant coffee crystals thing now. And it fits nicely. More hops in the flavor as well, but not of the citrusy or piney varieties. More like Goldings or such. Nothing in the way of a yeast though, so would assume an American strain. Good stuff here.

The body is lighter, but still in the medium range. With the standard carbonation, the bittering is noticeable, but minimal… but perfect level this beer.

If I was going to make a porter right now, this is pretty close to what I would be looking for. Simple. But having just enough of everything, and not having to need a gimmick to be good.

I’m going to go grab another of this Detail Porter. 3.75/5

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