Northwoods Kellys Stout

Brewed by Northwoods Brew Pub
Style: Stout
Eau Claire, Wisconsin USA

Name: Kelly’s Stout
Date: 09/29/2007
Mode: Bottle
Source: Tasting, Cellar Party

black, fine beige head, streaky lace, roasted aroma with lots of butterscotch sweetness, sweet buttery flavor, touch of chocolate, hint of roasted

Aroma: 3/10; Appearance: 6/10; Flavor: 3/10; Palate: 5/10; Overall: 5/20
Rating: 1.7/5.0
Drinkability: 5/10
Score: 4

Bottle: Pours a nearly opaque dark brown with a thin ring of tan head. Aroma of sweet dark caramel and butterscotch with a faint hint of tartness. Body starts tart at first showing some roastier notes before a thinner, bland bitter finish. Has a lot of diacetyl and infectious tartness. There aren’t many more ways to mess up a beer. At least the aroma’s not bad.

Tap at the brewpub. Chestnut color with a rudy tinge when held to the light. 1/8th inch lid of tiny tan bubbles. Molasses and sorghum aromas with just a touch of toasted cornbread and butter. Standard tap stout feel. Vienna coffee flavors with mild cinnamon and sugar. A nice sweet coffee linger. To me this is more a traditional type porter. Sort of a mix of a twopenney and a mild, with just a touch of black malt. Lots of flavors working in this one.

Sample at the brewpub. Pitch-black with slight head retention...sweet chocolate and hints of licorice in the average nose....roasty, lightly grapy body, medium-to-thin, too much carbonation and sour somewhat salty finish.

On tap at both the Chetek and Eau Claire, WI brewpubs. Pours a dark near opaque brown brew with a small tan head. Aroma of roasted hazelnuts, some dark chocolate, and a hint of licorice. Taste is lightly carbonated, some chocolate but a touch of sour malt. FInish is dry and flat. This brew has character more of a porter than a stout. May be Northwoods best product.

Bottle thanks to Skyview. Poured a clear, ruddy brown with a short cap of beige head. Aroma was airy and unfortunately light with lightly-roasted cheap chocolate sweetness and some detergent.. weird sourness showed up as the brew warmed. Flavor was very far on the sweet side with artificially-sweetened, lightly-roasted chocolate and the same sour notes from the nose.. burnt cocoa powder lingers at the finish for a while... nothing really good in here. Rather lightly-bodied on the palate and highly-carbonated.. sour notes were not so pleasant.. roast was more prominent as it warmed up. This was drinkable, but a poor example of the style.

Near-black color with no head. Roasted malt aroma and a little chocolate. The taste is about the same, but incredibly watery. These guys are close to brewing good beer, but just fall short.

Shared by Skyview from his growler. Light overall. Some oatmeal and a hint of coffee. Quite thin, just a little roasted grain.