Maine Coast Black Irish-Style Stout

Brewed by Maine Coast Brewing Company / Jack Russells Brewpub
Style: Dry Stout
Bar Harbor, Maine USA

Any first impressions?
-A humongous head lingers atop the dense blackness.
-The potentially tart fruitiness of citrus and white grapes blurs the rising roastiness.
-Astringency mars the dry roastiness.
-Unbridled effervescence expands on the mouthfeel.

What if you dig deeper?
-Herbal hop bitterness and roastiness battle the astringency and minerals in an awkward finale.
-The carbonation would fit a Saison perhaps, but not this stout.
-At this stage, this isn’t as problematic as other bottled beers I’ve had from them, but a few weeks and I think it would’ve developed some uvula-spinning iodine nastiness.
-This brewery reminds me more and more of La Barberie; mostly drinkable to good fresh on tap, but really worrying once bottled.

Bottle; no date.

I’m thinking this brewer was looking to Guiness when brewing this one as it was almost a clone of Guiness.

Midnight-black, with darkish creamy head; very Guinness-like as it should be. Very nice aroma; cappuccino, toffee, and vanilla all present, nice and strong. Flavor very good as well, with those aromatics showing up for the most part, as well as a little bitterness; but what is really impressive is the mouthfeel, which might be the creamiest and softest I’ve ever experienced. Perhaps thats not what some of you are looking for in a dry stout, but I just loved it! Definitely one of the top finds from my recent trip to Maine; wish I’d been able to buy more than one bottle of anything.

Black color with a brown hue and a thick foamy light brown head. Aroma and flavor of roasted malt with unpleasant sourness.

En fût. Verre de 12 oz dégusté chez Jack Russell’s Steakhouse & Brewery (Bar Harbor, ME). Arôme: Odeur de café. Apparence: La couleur est noire opaque. Présence d’un moyen col beige mousseux et d’une large dentelle sur le verre. Saveur: Goût de café avec une pointe chocolatée. Durée moyenne de l’arrière goût. Palette: Le corps est moyen avec une texture crémeuse. Faible effervescence en bouche. Légère présence de café en arrière goût. (Rating #2710)

The pour a piceous color with a smallish head that is frothy and tan in color, the resultant lace a fine silk like sheet to smother the glass. Nose is that of finely toasted grain, sweet and refreshing and the start malt laden and somewhat sweet, top is moderate in its feel to the palate. Finish is biting in its acidity, the hops pleasingly spicy, aftertaste bittersweet and somewhat dry, a fine drinking stout me thinks.

Pours a brown, five-finger+ head that goes slowly and leaves a chunks of lace. Black color. Explosive carbonation and light bodied. Roasted coffee nose. Starts and finishes dry (the only part that is "Irish style") almost watery but with a good roasted coffee flavor. $2.13 for a 12oz bottle from Bayside Liquors Bar Harbor, Me.

Black w/ huge almost uncontrolable head, though it didn’t last long.Roasted coffee flavour w/ notes of chocolate & fruit. Soft, medium, creamy mouthfeel. Burnt coffee & chocolate flavours w/ some fruitiness. Dry, bitter, somewhat sour finish.