Schooners Vindication

Brewed by Schooners Grille & Brewery
Style: Imperial Stout
Antioch, California USA

Tasted at the May Northern California Beer Tasting. This stout pours a deep black color from the bottle. Small to medium sized tan foamy head. The aroma is tart cherry and chocolate. A medium bodied stout. The malts are chocolate and coffee. The hops are earthy. Lots of sour cheery and funk, with some of that nice stout chocolate and roast malts. The sour flavors dominate. Totally unexpected and very nice. Interesting beer. One of two sour stouts during this tasting. Mouthfeel is full. Finish is clean and crisp. Aftertaste is slightly tart and funky.

Man, was this an interesting one! Brewmaster Craig brough this to the NorCal tasting, and everyone was in shock and awe! Pours like a beautiful Impy, with the nose of a sour with funk and cherries, which carry into the flavor perfectly, and to top it off, a slight creamy mouthfeel! Wow, that was a joyride!

Bottle. Mahogony beer with a light brown head. Tart, fruity aroma with a bit of dark malt. Tart, fruity flavor with light dark malt and light roast. Medium body. LIngering tartness, with dark malt, and light dustiness. Very nice. Good complexity.

Courtesy SoLan. Extremely dark amber pour, thin soapy white head. Fantastic aroma - Brett and cherries at first, then as it warms, fresh cut oak. No real defined stout characters, save for a slight roast mixed in with the cherries. The finish contains some remarkable vinous character and combines smoothly with a mild tartness that has just enough edge to it. A great, unique sour. Props, Alan.

Courtesy aspidites. Very dark brown, brown/ruby edges, small off white head. Awesome aroma- roasted malt, sour yeast (barn funk and lactic), cherries, earth, oak, light smoke. Flavor adds chocolate, subtle toffee, more cherry, creamy oak, and subtle white wine. Dry, sour, vinous finish. Medium to medium full body, balanced carbonation. Awesome brew.

Courtesy of SoLan. Poured a reddish brown color, with virtually no head at all. The aroma is mind blowing. Cherries, vanilla, oak, sour funk, the slightest hint of roasted grain. Some dark fruits as well. The flavor is amazing. The wine component really shines in the mid-palate, with a creamy flavor closing it out. A bracing acidity finishes this gem out, absolutely spectacular.

Shared at Cleveland tasting 3/15 Bottle: Pours black with a tan head. Aroma, yeast, chocolate, spice and some coffee. Flavor, fruits, yeast, chocolate, roasted notes, some spice, fruits.

Bottle shared at the Cleveland tasting by me, courtesy of Aspidites! Thanks Mike! This was a VERY unique beer and I am so glad I got to try it. An interesting stout indeed. Dark brown pour with some ruby highlights. Smelled like coffee and chocolate covered cherries. The taste was wild from the start, this was a sweeter stout then I was expecting, with the cherry flavor coming out in the finish. Then it turns a bit sour on the end. Providing a very unique sensation in the mouth. Excellent brew.