As you know, I am usually not a fan of these “donut stouts” but it’s the first stout I’ve seen in a while.
Ahnapee S’mores Stout
August 23, 2023
review ahnapee, beer, black ale, chocolate, craftbeer, green bay, review, s'mores, stout, Untappd Leave a comment
Central Waters Cassian Stout Reserve.
June 8, 2023
review central Waters, chocolate, craftbeer, green bay, imperial stout, roast, stout Leave a comment
Seen the Reserve Cassian Stout on tap at my favorite place. I ordered me up a snifter of this 11.7% imperial stout by Central Waters Brewing. A semi local brewery that has some impressive stuff.
Definite black black. Funny looking tan head. Like bubbling pancake batter. It disappears right away though, but it being barrel aged so that’s fine. Dont see anything for carbonation up the sides but those big bubbles on the head says there should be something.
Chocolate, nutty, vanilla aroma. Don’t get much for bourbon in the nose, but does have a boozy note. Every time I take a wiff there is something else happening. Late pruney or lite raisin starting to peak out, but it far in the back.
The taste is definitely barrel aged. Both bourbon and oaky tannins. Lite chocolate and that vanilla again. After taste shows cinnamon and something nutty like a hazelnut.
It’s got so much happening I didn’t even notice any roast until I went looking for it. But what it does have for roast is a coffeeish roast barley. It really is buried behind everything else.
As boozy as this tastes like, it does have some body to it. Does have legs on the swirl.
Cannot tell if it is the carbonation or hops that give a tongue bitter. But it’s right where it should be. I do think the posted 27 IBU is wrong. As it does have a bitter that cuts through all of the flavor layers.
Wow.. this was quite a ride. Big flavors, big booze. But it was smooth all around.
You should know by now I look for straight style beers, and not into the added flavors or gimmicks, but this one is good. It’s has a little of everything.
So I’m going quite high on this one
4.75/5.
Edmund Fitzgerald Porter
May 9, 2023
Porter beer, chocolate, craftbeer, great lakes, green bay, Porter, review, roast, Wisconsin Leave a comment
Today we are going to be drinking an old favorite… Edmund Fitzgerald Porter by the Great lakes Brewing Company.
A couple of quick stats here, 37 IBU and 6% abv.
Poured from a 12oz bottle, Fitz drops a big light tan head that lingers for quite a while. The body is very dark brown, but staying short of black. Ruby or reddish edges where light makes it through.
Even upon pouring the aromas of chocolate, light roast and grainyness hit you. There is something in there that’s giving the impression that it should be sweet along with a faint old school earthy/citrus hop aroma as well. Don’t see this much any more, but reminds me of cascade. There really is quite a bit happening already and we didn’t even taste it yet.
Oddly, with all of that stuff going on in the nose, the first taste I get is that grainy backbone. Then comes the roasted barley, dark chocolate with caramel on back end. Quite a bit of a smooth hop taste as well. All of these points are bold, but not overpowering. Noticably minerally. Could be the water?
Thankfully it is not as sweet as I thought it was going to be.
Somewhat dry and well received roasty finish, but a decent roasty beer should have this. Would’nt say this is a thin body, but it is thinner than your eyes think it should be. But could be some of that bitterness and carbonation tricking you as well.
There is good roast, and solid bittering, with thise hops really wanting to stand out. Everything about this screams old school. So it’s solid, balanced, big but subtle. Most importantly, smoothly drinkable.
I am sure glad these older beers are making another run to show today’s drinkers and brewers what can be done when not over playing any part and just letting things play together.
Easily 4.5/5. I recommend this if you can get it.
Stoutmaker.beer 