Sand Creek In-House Stout

Bottle.

Glad to try this rarity; thank you to the trader who sent it to me. Pours dark as expected with a shy tan head. Smoky, ashy aroma and a flavor to match (wet french roast grouds!); my wife describes it as drinking a cigarette and there’s more truth to that than would be ideal. The flavor and mouthfeel alike are otherwise on the thin side as well. Some acidity, little sweetness beyond a sugar-in-the-milk superficiality. Not awful by any stretch, but not exceptional either.

Bottle... VBWT2008... Pours dark and sits black in my glass with a small, creamy, lightly tanned head. Great retention. Big chocolate-milk with fractions of coffee and caramel in the nose. Barely medium-bodied and watery with medium carbonation. Sweetness and bitterness are evenly matched with a whisper of acidity thrown into the fusion. Finishes crisp and well-roasted. CaptainCougar supplied the bottle!

Courtesy hopscotch. Pours black with a smaller, creamy, light brown head. Smells of fresh coffee grounds, syrupy malts, light chocolate, and mild roast. The flavor is mostly coffee with a big malt presence. The body is a little watery for what it looks like. Very creamy texture, the finish is lightly bitter, with a big dose of the coffee. Smells better than it tastes because of its thin body, but still not a bad overall brew.

Bottle from CaptainCougar on 10/28/07. Big head of medium bubbles on initial pour despite a gentle pour and very cold beer. Settles over 10 minutes to a dense creamy small bubble layer on the surface. Can’t help but wonder if they are trying imitate nitrogenization. Whatever it looks pretty good. Aroma is super chocolatey, but not sweet. A hint of roast. Flavor is decent, again more chocolate, but way to dry for my tastes.

Pours to a black-brown body with a lasting tan head. The aroma is heavily chocolate and oatmeal with some coffee. The flavor is deep chocolate, black malt, and coffee. Acetic coffee palate. Creamy oatmeal.