Sea Dog Black Irish Winter Stout

Date: 09/01/1995
Mode: Draft
Source: Brewpub

’95: smooth, creamy, nutty after taste ’97: black, creamy nitro induced tan head, solid lace, roadsted aroma, rich creamy roasted flavor, lasting malt bitterness,

Aroma: 5/10; Appearance: 8/10; Flavor: 5/10; Palate: 5/10; Overall: 10/20
Rating: 2.7/5.0
Score: *4
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The score was calculated based upon the notes and an old scoring system.

Simple, smooth, creamy, and not too much of anything. It’s marginally more complex than guiness, and with a somewhat similar mouthfeel, but not as dry. This was deffinately the more enjoyable of the two beers i had there the other evening. Roast malt flavors and some nice sweet notes. I’m glad i tried it before i read the reviews here...it’s much more enjoyable than they lead you to believe.

This used to be a great beer. After the change of ownership a couple of years ago, I suspect the quality of ingredients and QC went downhill. Now, it varies from good to almost tasteless - as if brewed by a corporation that doesn’t like stout (and doesn’t care).

On tap at pub. Dark black, with nice everlasting off-white head & lace. Coffee aroma with a little hops & some malty sweetness. Flavor is almost so tart & roasty its not a smooth drink, something is out of balance here, but not too too bad of a brew.

On tap at the brew-pub. Pours a deep black color with ruby highlights. Very weak aroma of coffee.Ordinary flavor of coffee and roasted malt with a mild bitter finish.

(Draught) Sampled at the Sea Dog Brewery. Lasting beige head with opaque body. Mild malt and cocoa nose. Tart cocoa flavour. Finishes dry and bitter. Good!

Smooth mouthfeel, bitter aftertaste. Very ’Guinness-like,’ except I thought it was more bitter. (It was a while back that I sampled this; just came across my notes for it.)

Not quite as roasty as I would have liked, but not too hoppy like some other micro stouts I know of. A good beer, even served it with nitrogen off the tap.