Santa Fe Imperial Java Stout

The Dirt
If you don't like coffee, well...wait, how did you survive college?! Anyway, this beer isn't for you. But if you do like the "other" brew (or require it), then this beer was made for you.

I think Santa Fe's Imperial Java Stout is a married couple between an iced mocha coffee and a bad ass imperial stout. In fact, it might have a bit too much of the bean to consume on a regular basis, but awesome if coffee + stout is what you're looking for. But be careful, this is definitely an imperial stout. This fact is well hidden by the coffee profile. It also has a hint of creamy on the back end, which is the stout's way of saying it's still there. Let it get too warm though and it will start to get a bit heavy going down.

Worth it?
This is under $10 for a 6-pack! That's a yes if you're scoring at home. It's actually almost too much of a deal really. They should probably do a 4-pack. Though I'm actually aging a couple right now to see how they turn out.

Also, it's worth a purchase at least once for the can's design. Look at that thing...awesome.

The Final Word

Central Waters Bourbon Barrel Stout

The Dirt
I've been eagerly waiting for the day to write this review. Quite possibly one of the best beers I've ever had, Central Waters' Bourbon Barrel Stout is what I measure all other bourbon barrel stouts against. It's basically the beer lover's dessert, with a silky dark chocolate and bourbon profile that is smooth as a baby's bottom from start to finish. It gets this silky smooth profile by not having much carbonation, which makes the dark chocolate and bourbon all that more easy to savor. Heck, it's still absolutely smooth and delicious if you let it warm up a bit, though the bourbon will become more pronounced (oops...darn).

Although the bourbon is certainly noticeable no matter what the temp, it's not overpowering in my opinion. It provides a perfect sweetness and a bit of booze to go with the tart dark chocolate elements. Honestly, I wish this beer would never end. Any more of any single element would throw off the delicate balance this beer has, and what it has is perfect.

Worth it?
To me this beer would be worth it at any price. Amazingly, it's like $7 for a 4-pack. It doesn't get much more awesome than that folks. Sadly it is only available in Wisconsin (and maybe neighboring states). Road trip anyone?

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Dogfish Head Chicory Stout

The Dirt
Chicory is a stout is made with Mexican coffee, but it operated much more like a black lager to me. It had nice earthy notes on the front half, with slight tastes of coffee combined with a small bite (not really spicy, but sharp). There were slight smokey notes as well, but not really smoked.

I say the beer seemed more like a black lager because the flavor profile subsides dramatically after about half of the way through your sip. This is a characteristic I have experienced with many black lagers, and why some people do not like them as much compared to a stout, porter, or even a brown. Although in this case, there is a small hint of coffee that remains. You do get the coffee and some chocolate notes to be more present when you "slurp" it more, thus releasing more of the profile (kind of like wine tasting). But in the end, I would have liked to see a bit more bite (hops, alcohol, etc.). That said, still an enjoyable beer, just not one of my favorites from Dogfish.

Worth it?
I wouldn't buy a 4-pack of this (I bought a single for under $2), and probably won't purchase again. But if you have more of a nose for coffee, you might get more flavor out of this than I did. And if you're a fan of Dogfish, buying a single of this is worth a try.

The Final Word

Rockyard Bourbon Strike Stout

The Dirt
Ever wondered what a spiked oatmeal chocolate chip cookie would be like? Me neither, but that's what this guy reminded me of, and it was delicious. The combination of an oatmeal stout and aging in bourbon barrels made for a unique flavor profile, which at times almost tasted like toffee as well. The front end displays more of the stout, followed by the bourbon, but then quickly balanced by a sweet and oaty-ness of the oatmeal. It then finishes with a caramel bourbon flavor when it's all said and done. With all that flavor, it's certainly a dessert time beer, although it's not as heavy as you might expect which makes it rather drinkable. It could have used a little more alcohol to cut some of the sweetness, but overall was a very delicious experience.

Worth it?
Indeed it was. Not something I would drink too often, but will look forward to having it every once in a while.

The Final Word

Deschutes Obsidian Stout

The Dirt
Typically I'm more of a fan of the big flavor, semi-sweet, and alcohol packed stouts and imperial stouts. But Deschutes' Obsidian Stout has managed to win my heart from a different angle: a dry stout. With a very dry and bitter dark chocolate roast profile paired with a medium body, this stout is fantastic when not looking for rum cake in a bottle. Actually, this is a great anytime stout. Want a dark beer? It's got flavor and warmth. Want something not too heavy? The dryness and body keep from overwhelming your system. It's a stout I could drink multiple of in a evening without feeling like I ate a whole box of chocolate fudge brownies awash in bourbon - which would be awesome by the way. Putting brownies on my grocery list...

Worth it?
Oh yeah. I love my big profile stouts, but the Obsidian gives me the flavor I want along, but with drinkability. Deschutes is on sale often in my area, but it's worth it regardless. I look forward to it being a staple in my winter beer lineup.

The Final Word

SPECIAL REVIEW: Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout (AGED: 1.5 years - bottle)

The Dirt
Another accidentally aged beer! And a Russian Imperial Stout no less. I've had one of these un-aged and it was tasty, but like the Stone Russian, the aging mellowed it out. This guy has a little more spicy dark chocolate tone right up front, but smooths out and has great body. As noted, it has become more velvety in texture with age.

Worth it?
The couple of times I've bought this at Spec's it was on sale for like $5 or $6 for a 4-pack. Both times I got the last pack on the shelf. I would have bought more if they were there. If I were forced to pick only one between the Stone and the Brooklyn, I'd have to narrowly pick the Stone. But this guy is definitely worth it, on sale or not.

The Final Word

SPECIAL REVIEW: Stone Imperial Russian Stout (AGED: 2 years - bottle)

The Dirt
Aging beer is fun, but tough. It's not about keeping it in the right conditions or anything like that. It's tough because the beers that are best for aging...are the most difficult to put away and avoid drinking for years. Fortunately I hid this one in my wine fridge, and completely forgot about it until 2 years later. Boy did it pay off.

I don't think I've had this beer straight from the store, and I'm sure it would be great, but aging 2 years hit the ball out of the park. It poured dark and thick, which got me excited from the start. At first it had heavy dark chocolate tones and a silky disappearance that left you excited for the next sip. As it warmed up, the beer got a bit more complex, with a mocha dry back end, great malt and roastiness, and eventually a little spice in the middle. But overall it was very smooth and you could tell it mellowed a bit with the aging.

Worth it?
I have no idea what I paid for the 22oz. bomber, probably like $6, and it was more than worth it. And as tough as it was to let it sit, that was WELL worth the wait as well. This may be one of the best beers I've ever had. It had it all, from start to finish, and from cold to warmed. I couldn't get over the smoothness and flavor profiles, as they were intense, but perfectly balanced. I'm going to have to buy a case of this next time and try them over different aging periods...if I can hold myself off from them over time.

The Final Word