Ithaca Excelsior! Eleven

Brewed by Ithaca Beer Company
Style: Stout
Ithaca, New York USA

Poured from 750ml bottle / This might be what I would call "A tale of two stouts." One side is burnt, ashtray, garbage coffee; and the other side is a rich, smooth, creamy flavor. It’s the Waffle House coffee with cream stout! But damn’ed if I don’t like it. Rater "Notalush" (see below) is right on with his comment: "they must have used some seriously crappy coffee in this..." The label claims using "locally roasted Sumatra Coffee," but this is a highly dubious statement. The creamy finish--with the burnt coffee still there--is what redeems this stout for me.

Near black in color. Large, beige head that leaves ample lace on the glass. No light shines through the glass, even on the edge. Deep dark chocolate and earthy nose. No coffee smell at all. The flavor continues the aroma profile except drier but with an essence of dried fruit, like raspberries and sour cherries. Lots of burnt toast! On the tongue, there’s a strong bitterness that is similar to coffee grounds--very surprising. Not at all creamy or sweet. Long lasting, black patent malt aftertaste. Overall, a very different stout with extraordinary burnt malt flavors.

750ml Bottle (Batch E!016): Aroma of coffee, wood, chocolate, oak, roasting, ash, Oreo cookie crumbles, coffee grinds, and cream or milk. Poured dark brown in color with a medium-sized, loose, rocky, brown head that diminished but lasted throughout. Cloudy and opaque. Lightly sparkling. Full of medium-sized particles throughout. Flavor is light to medium bitter and slightly sweet. Tastes of coffee, roasting, chocolate, wood, ash, Oreo cookie crumbles, coffee grinds, light lactose, and a hint of cream. Medium body. SLightly dry, slightly chalky texture. Average carbonation. Coffee, ash, light chocolate, Oreo cookie finish is slightly dry and slightly chalky. AVB, whatever it is, is not noticeable.

(bottle - 750 ml) Dark black with a thin brown head. Aroma is lots of coffee with some very mild chocolate flavor. Smells like a cup of coffee. Flavor is a lot of roasted malts and coffee grounds with a light chocolate and caramel undertone. Some slightly nutty notes as well. Lingering bitter aftertaste. A bit thin, but I liked it.

In short: A cold cup of black coffee with bubbles. Thin. Boring.
How: Tap at Sunset Grill, Boston
The look: Very dark brown body topped by a little beige ring of foam
In long: Nose of a cold cup of black coffee. Taste is a cold cup of black coffee, bunt malts with nutty chocolaty fudge in the back. Body was very much on the thin side of felt a bit lifeless. Strong black coffee bitterness in the back. I can enjoy simple coffee stouts when they have body, roastiness and a roasted coffee beans flavour but this beer just tasted like a cold cup of black coffee. Very basic and bland. I was really bored at the end of my glass. I’ll try it again because I usually like that brewery. I’m working through my backlog, I had that beer on tap late july 2009 when it was just released. Maybe it needs a little time to develop and I had it too fresh, or to quote my girlfriend in bed: “… too soon ...”.

sample from the pitcher at GABF on 9/26/09... dark black with tan head... big coffee notes on the nose.... tons of coffee! thin body... more coffee on the finish... If you like coffee, you’ll most likely enjoy this... however it is a bit one dimensional.

Had this on tap at GABF. This is damn good. Pours black with a medium tan head and good lacing. Amazing aroma of coffee, roast, chocolate, and hints of dark fruit. Flavor is coffee and cream, vanilla, roasted malt, burnt notes, mild smoke, and berries. Finish is a bit dry yet palate is smooth. Just a bit watery for the style. Overall a great beer.