Coronado Mocha Joes Imperial Stout

(Draft: O’Brien’s in San Diego, CA) I like stouts and porters brewed with coffee, but I think there comes a point where it can become too much of a good thing. This beer is just massive coffee and roast, but it’s very dry, and so the prominent bitterness in the finish is a bit out of balance. And the strong notes of green pepper just aren’t terribly enjoyable. The nose is also straight black coffee, with some spice and green pepper. Medium to full bodied, so it could use a bit more viscosity. Very dark brown color and fully opaque except at the edges. Light brown head fades away to nothing very quickly. Not a bad brew, but below average for Imperial Stouts.

Pours a deep brown/black hue with a halo of a tan head. Aromas of coffee, vanilla. Very light . Flavors of soap, light floral, a little of the typical coffee, chocolate.

Pours with a black body with little head and some lacing. It’s slightly sweet yet bitter and roasty with nice coffee notes and a touch of chocolate. Full bodied, dry and slighlty tingly.

This beer was had on tap at Obriens brewpub in San Diego. This beer pours a brownish color with hints of blackness to it, a thin tanned head whcih dissipated rather quickly, and a small sheath of lacing. The aroma is coffee, mocha, chocolate and other roasty hints. The flavor likewise, is full-bodied, thick and dry. Grainy chocolates, vanilla, cocoa, and mocha make up the flavor...sweet dominated, but trust me this isnt a bad thing! Very coffee-ish and trust me, I love coffee. Almost caffienated to some extent. My only knock is the excessively dry finish and the fact that mocha stouts are hard to finish...they get monotonous after the first 8-10 ounces. Overall though very nice.

On tap at the brewpub. Coffee-like aroma. Thin for this style. Black in color. Roasted flavor, but just not thick enough for this style. I’m a little concerned that the server mixed this one up with the porter.

Black with a solid brown head on it. Has a candyish chocolate feel to the aroma. Has kind of a plastic chocolate vebe to it and possibly some hops which seem sort of out of place. Regardless, this is a solid imperial stout, nice work.

dark colored with a dark tan head...dark chocolate, raisin, salt and a tad coffee in the aroma...deep dark chocolate fudge flavors with tangy coffee bean and hazelnut..its got a deep darkness to it..which is impressive for a brewpub, oh yes...a tad oxidized in the finish..but no biggie..still quite impressive Yo!

Visited the Coronado Brewpub for the first time and had the beer sampler. The "special" beer was their Imperial Stout. The waiter said it was a new brew. The color is black as night with a wonderful milk chocolate colored head and good lacing. Aroma is roasted, coffee, and chocolate. The flavor is coffee, chocolate, and roasted malt in excellent proportions. Nice medium dry and bitter finish. A very good Imperial Stout. Took home a growler.