Blue Ridge (MD) Steeple Stout

Brewed by Wild Goose LLC (Flying Dog)
Style: Dry Stout
Frederick, Maryland USA

Name: Blue Ridge Steeple Stout
Date: 07/23/1996
Mode: Bottle
Source: Chevy Chase, DC

black, no head, not much carbonation, rich sweet chocolate aroma, roasted chocolate flavor, roasted aftertaste

Aroma: 8/10; Appearance: 5/10; Flavor: 5/10; Palate: 5/10; Overall: 10/20
Rating: 2.9/5.0
Score: *4
-------- /> The score was calculated based upon the notes and an old scoring system.

Very dark brown; burnt toffee aroma with nuts, toast. Interesting toffee palate; complex maltiness. Low roast factor - a bit porterish (this after an alt that was also porterish...bloody hell).

(12oz bottle) Clear red-black body topped by a small off-white head. Aroma is medium sweet, coffee, roast, some chocolate. Taste is medium sweet, coffee, roast, some cherry, chocolate, light grape. Syrupy medium-full body.

Closing on black color, a rather effervescent stout, producing a mostly fizzy light brown head that mostly fades. High attenuation level, despite the malt flavors abundance, the palate remains rather dry and this without the use of overly agressive roastiness. It does hint at coffee, but otherwise remain a competent blend between chocolatey and herbal, still green hops. Active carbonation may apparently shorten the flavors, at the same time contributing to bringing a sweet licorice/vanilla kiss after swallowing and unfortunately gathering coke-like sweet rootiness peaks. Well balanced offering.

Draft... This beer rocks!... Pitch black brew. I’m in a pub/eatery, so there’s no bright light to which I can hold this beer up and see through... so it’s just black! Small, creamy, deeply- tanned head with tight, thick lacework. The aroma is of cocoa, vanilla and rich coffee (Jamaican Blue Mountain). The flavor is of licorice, dark chocolate and espresso up front. Balanced nicely with a grassy and moderately bitter hop presence on the backside. Medium-bodied with a watery mouthfeel and lively carbonation. Lengthy, bone-dry, very lightly pungent and crisp finish with a touch of tin and grass at the very end. World class stout!

Pours a nearly opaque dark brown with a thick light cream-colored head that has some thin lacing. Aroma boasts barrels of sweet caramel malt dripping with milk chocolate and sprinkled with coffee beans. Starts with great malty sweetness and lots of chocolate flavor, turning more dry and roasty toward the finish. Body could be thicker, but that’s about the only thing I can find wrong with this enjoyable brew. Thanks to hopscotch for this!

Pours dark brown with a light brown head. Smells of roasted malt, spice, some sweet chocolate hints. Tastes dry and earthy with a roasty finish.

Bottle from State Line. Had this over Memorial Day with the family. Deep black pour with dark tan head. Aroma of dark malt, chocoff, some licorice, oak, and bourbon. Tastes rich, chocoffy, roasty malty, with some licorice and anise at the finish. Dry finish. Very good beer!