Beverage Dynamics is the largest national business magazine devoted exclusively to the needs of off-premise beverage alcohol retailers, from single liquor stores to big box chains, through coverage of the latest trends in wine, beer and spirits.
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/675795
www.beveragedynamics.com May/June 2016 • Beverage Dynamics 45 FIVE STARS (97) Ballast Point Victory at Sea Imperial Porter. An imperial coffee porter with vanilla. This beer is basically porter perfection. Pours a nice, dark, thick black with a beautiful tan head. The aroma hits you with nice roasted coffee and toasted malt, while in the background lin- gers a subtle vanilla. Taste basically mimics the nose: roasted coffee and smoky malt, plus the vanilla hangs around in the fi nish perfectly, not too sweet or cloying on the tongue. For such a big beer, the 10% ABV is hidden perfectly. This beer is a true beauty and a perfect end to any evening. 60 IBU's. (96) Oskar Blues "Ten FIDY" Russian Impe- rial Stout. Black/opaque appearance; 1.5-fi n- ger, frothy, dark brown, well-constructed lacing.10.5% ABV, 98 IBU's. Roasted coffee notes in the aroma with a faint hint of choc- olate-covered cherry. Tastes of malty good- ness, well balanced with plenty of hoppy bitterness; alcohol well hidden; dangerously easy to drink. Huge texture in the mouthfeel; rich, silky, creamy; meal in a pint glass; a real mouthful. Excellent price-to-value ratio. Super balance. Layers of fl avors. Just an outstanding beer. 10.5% ABV, 98 IBU's. (96) 100 Bell's Expedition Stout. A Russian Imperial stout, pours black with a viscosity a motorhead could be proud of. Malty, 10.5% ABV, with very little to no hop notes, a very slight hint of chocolate, a pleasant velvety smooth feel, a slight bitterness right at the end. (95) Founders Porter. Solid porter from start to fi nish. Pour is opaque black with a thick tan head. Flavors of rich chocolate malt are bal- anced with just the right amount of hops and a warming alcohol content. Finish is slightly sweet and lingering. 6.5% ABV, 45 IBU's. (93) Weyerbacher's Sunday Morning Stout. A bourbon barrel-aged imperial stout with cof- fee added. Pours black with a light brown head. Strong aromas of coffee, bourbon and vanilla. Medium mouth feel. Chocolate, coffee and bourbon, not too boozy. 11.3% ABV. FOUR STARS (92) Terrapin Beer Company's Wake-n-Bake. Oatmeal stout with coffee added. Pours black with a dark brown head. Coffee aromas domi- nate. Medium mouth feel. Sweet chocolate, but very coffee-forward. 9.4% ABV. (91) Huge Arker Anderson Valley Brewing Imperial Stout. Aged in Wild Turkey bourbon barrels for six months. Pours dark brown with a thin brown head. This beer is big, boozy and full bodied. 13.5% ABV. (91) Allagash Brewing St. Klippenstein. Bourbon barrel-aged stout. It is fermented with a Trappist yeast to give it a Belgian fl air and then aged for three months in bourbon bar- rels. Pours dark brown with a medium brown head. Roasted malt and bourbon aromas. Full bodied, roasted malt-forward with a bourbon fi nish. 9% ABV. (91) Brooklyn Black Ops. This year's Black Ops stout comes in at 11.6 % ABV and I al- most want to apologize for rating it a four-star, because every other year this is a fi ve-star beer. Aged in bourbon barrels, it still pours a great black thick beautiful pour, still has great oak chocolate and malt. Beautiful mouth feel ★★★★★ Five Stars (93-100) A top-flight beer. Superior in taste and char- acter, providing an outstanding price/value relationship. ★★★★ Four Stars (86-92) A very good beer at an excellent value. A beer for which customers will keep coming back. ★★★ Three Stars (80-85) An above-average beer at a reasonable price point, which many consumers will enjoy. RATING SYSTEM BEER SELECTIONS R E TA I L E R DRINK THE DARK SIDE FOR OUR LATEST ROUND OF NATIONAL RETAILER BEER PANEL reviews, we asked panelists to taste stouts and porters. These reviews include brief tasting notes and a rating. If you're a retail or off-premise professional who would like to learn more about participating in our panel, please contact Kyle Swartz at (203) 855-8499 ext. 2225 or kswartz@epgmediallc.com. The Beverage Dynamics National Retailer Beer Panel explores stouts and porters.