5 Seasons North Dark Star Stout

Kind of disappointing, pours a deep dark black. Some bready toasty notes, with a bit of dried cocoa powder, and some roasted coffee beans. Quite dry on the palate, but smooth and creamy, but kind of non - descript.

Tap. Dark brown, almost black. This is really good considering this is my least favorite stout style. Aroma is toasty and full of molasses, cocoa and some coffee. Flavor is fuller than most dry stouts, but it is dry. Lots of toasted malt and molasses. And a good dose of medium roast coffee with some chocolate. Good beer.

Tap. Pours brownish black, with small brown head. Aroma of roasted malt, chocolate, sweetness. Taste is roasty, though not over the top, with chocolate, coffee. Some sweet fruit as well. Mouth is medium and the finish is relatively smooth. Overall, a decent stout.
Earlier Rating: 6/15/2009 Total Score: 2.9
On tap. Poured black and translucent, small white head. Aroma is of roasted malt, sweetness, some slightly sour notes as well. Taste is roasted but also a little sour and bitter. Not very appealing notes surround this roasty dry stout. Mouth is dry and fairly full. Overall, an okay brew that has some good notes and some bad.

on tap-pours a brown head and black color. Aroma is dark malt-anise/molasses, oat creaminess. Taste is dark malt-anise/molasses, oat creaminess. Dryish. Medium body. Soft carbonation.

On tap at the brewpub. Pours a dark chocolate brown with light showing through as mahogany around the edges. The head is small and tan, dissipating very quickly and leaving no lacing. The aroma fairly straight forward with lots of roasted malts with hints of both dark chocolate and coffee. The taste follows the aroma pretty closely and has the requisite dark roasted malts and semi-sweet chocolate. There is also the faintest hint of fruity sweetness in the background but this is quickly forgotten with a very dry finish. The mouthfeel is light to medium bodied but still very creamy and with minimal carbonation. This is a solid and extremely drinkable example of an Irish stout. Nothing really stands out about, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing.

Pours black. Aroma is burnt grain and coffee. Flavor follows aroma - dark coffee, nice roast, subtle earthiness. Mouthfeel is surprisingly full for an Irish-style stout. Overall, a tasty and very drinkable stout.

This is a very aggressive dry stout. Dry stout often means bland, but this has a ton of roast and a bit of that ashy flavor that some coffee stouts end up with, but only a touch. Very tasty stout.

On tap. Pours fairly black with a nice head. We’ve got an oaty, dense nose with suggestions of chocolate, light coffee, and a tiny ashiness. The body is surprisingly creamy and smooth. I get bitter ash, velvety chocolate, oatmeal, and coffee. The finish is dry with an almost sour twinge. Very well done. What a delightful take on a session beer like this.