Cottonwood Almond Stout

Brewed by Carolina Beer Company
Style: Sweet Stout
Mooresville, North Carolina USA

Bottle. Pours quite dark. This is blacker than the average sweet stout, though still discernably ruby in the light. The head was brown and looked pretty nice for the short time that it lasted. Aroma is nice with almonds, chocolate cake, some mild coffee notes. Unfortunately, the flavor, the most crucial part, is where this brew falls apart. The almond presence somehow seems artificial and causes this stout to really remind me of a soda. The strange, syrupy sweetness fades to a more pleasing note of port wine with a lingering almond flavor. After having a sip, the nose begins to seem more artificial. Probably just my brain linking the two experiences together, but I think we can all agree that the nose and mouth work together as a team. This gets less enjoyable as the glass drags on, becoming more cloying with each sip. I certainly would not willingly drink more than one of these. It’s not awful, but it definitely falls into that half-sweet-stout-half-soda category.

A nice rich mohagony head fro, the pour. Unfortunately, a poor flavor followed. Really though, this stout was less a stout than it was a dark bock with strong malt flavor but weak on the almond/nut flavor. Somewhat bitter taste on the finish. Very thin and empty for a stout, IMO. I used the remaining half to prepare a stout/walnut/maple syrup roasted chicken dinner. Used Cottonwood’s Hazlenut Stout as a supplement to the dinner and it was an appropriate/lucky choice on my part. This is a nice stout to cook with. Maybe I’m just an asshole who knows nothing. Either way....meh.

From notes 12/9/04: A rough pour gives this one an enormous billowing tan head. The retention is stellar making me wait and wait and wait to take a sip and receive more than just a foamy mustache. Patchy webs of lace cling. When it reduces to where I can take a sip (how I love giving a rough and tumble pour) a cap of tan cream sits proud. Deep dark molten brown crayon color that is virtually impenetrable to light. Nutty and hoppy aromas to the brew. A zippy hop air to it. Slight roastiness to the flavor; your required roasted coffee and bitter chocolate are here in this stout. Sweet almond, leaning towards an extract, lurks underneath. As this beer warms, the almond notes become more pronounced. Can almost be too sweet for some, I would surmise. Moderate mouthfeel; this is not an overbearing heavy stout. Drinkable? Sure. Not really a "session stout" as the sweet almond can grow weary after multiple bottles, but for that one and done evening beer...this is a nice way to go.

Pitch black with thin head that dissipates quickly. No lacing. Very sweet smell. Sugary, nutty and a hint of caramel malt. Suprisingly little nut flavor. Mostly sweet malt with slight hop balance. Good full feel with tingly sweet palate. I might pick this one up again... might not...

Draught. Opaque black color with thick brown head. Distinct, sweet almond aroma with vanilla and brown sugar undertones. Prominent alomond flavor, slightly sweet with a bitter roasty finish. A real roller coaster ride.

Bottle. Pours black with amber edges and a fading tan head. The aroma is dry almonds, vanilla, a bit of sweet wood, and a touch of coffee. The flavor has quite a bit of coffee and almond, along with vanilla and grain notes. The hops are quite subdued. There is an oily wood taste in the finish and some chocolate in the aftertaste. The mouthfeel is a bit thin, though. Still, not bad.

bottle. A decent offering, thou it sounds better than it delivers. Real low bitterness, very smooth. Does get watery toward the end. Enjoyable all and all, and the variety is nice. draft- Much better impression than from the bottle. Notes of an easy whiskey make it past the nose to the tounge. Choc. coffee middle, and nut finish. Extreme difference over bottle.

Pours dark brown with a little tan head. Nuts and vanilla in the aroma. Very little almond in the flavor with some roasted malts as well. Quite thin on the palate for a sweet stout.