Cottonwood Almond Stout

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

Name: Almond Stout
Date: 07/20/2005
Mode: Bottle
Source: Tasting

black, whispy tan head, big sweet almond aroma, lots of vanilla, dry roasted malt flavor, touch of artificial flavor that shows up more like a tartness, a bit of nutty character that’s nice, just a hint of burnt bitter finish

Aroma: 7/10; Appearance: 5/10; Flavor: 5/10; Palate: 5/10; Overall: 10/20
Rating: 2.8/5.0
Score: *4
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Nearly opaque dark pour with a thin tan head. Sweet, artificially nutty, vanilla aroma has some notes of alcohol. Starts full and carbonated with some dry, mildly bittersweet earthy caramel and roasted malt. Lightly balanced but a bit too over-carbonated and otherwise thin in flavor.

Rerate from fresh bottle from Peace St. Market, Raleigh, NC. Pours super dark brownish black with medium deep tan head. Aroma of dark malt, almonds, walnuts, hazelnuts, chocoff, hops. Perhaps the nuttiest aroma I have ever sensed. Tastes full bodied with hints of chocolate, tons of nuts, and spices. Smooth finish. Nicely done. More nuts than a gay porn gangbang flick. Gets a bit watery as it warms, but a great initial nuttiness.

Poured dark brown with a small tan head. Nice aroma of almonds, vanilla, chocolate, and roasted malt. Reminded me of my favorite candy...marzipan chocolates. Flavor of roasted malt and notes of smoke. Light body. Flavor didn’t compare to the aroma.

Bottle. Pitch black, with but a thin scalp of tan bubbles. Big time coffee aroma, followed up by a big-time coffee flavor ... topped with a sweet nutty complexion, chocolate and sweetness. This is a damn, fine drinkable dark beer. Dedicated to DM. (#3424, 4/15/2008)

Bottle. Pours a very dark brown with an enormous brown head. Has has hints of cocoa, definite nuttiness, although I can’t necessarily discern almonds, and a light hoppiness. Taste is definitely nutty with big almond taste, however, it leans toward artificial. Mild sweetness, and light bitterness along with some more cocoa and roasted notes. Body is a bit fizzy but otherwise moderate. Light bitterness and more almond notes during the finish along with lighter roasted malt notes.

Dark black pour, nice mocha head. Nutty aroma with some butterscotch and sugary accents. Nutty flavor throughout with some coffee hints in the background and some underlying chocolate. The almonds present a weird twang that permeates throughout and dampens my entusiasm for this just a bit. Begins to metalicize near the end. Pretty thin mouthfeel. Surprise find in the back of a refrigerator at a Super Bowl party - host said he got it in one of those beer of the month clubs.

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.