South Shore Coffee Mint Stout (Bourbon Barrel)

Brewed by South Shore Brewery/Wilmarths Deepwater Grille
Style: Sweet Stout
Ashland, Wisconsin USA

Oily black pour with a nose of fresh mint and java. Flavors follow pretty much a straight line...mint, coffee, chocolate, touch of the bourbon barrel. Just OK.

This was a treat from an unknown member of the Flossmoor Station Mug Club who brought a growler to last night’s tapping, forming an interesting contrast to the DIPA being consumed. It looked almost black in the glass, showing some brown around the edges, and had a smallish tan head. The aroma was of Frango Mints, chocolatey and minty, and brought back bad memories of Christmas shopping in days of yore. Only a light touch of Bourbon came through in the flavor. It was mainly Peppermint Patties (better memories here) with some coffee and dark caramel. A bit thin, over all. Not bad, but also not a brew that I would want a steady diet of.

Poured from a growler at the Flossmoor Tapping (Flossmoor, IL). Pours a pitch black syrupy pour, a bit brown around the edges, largey opaque, with small brownish head that dissipates to nearly nothing. Aromas are minty, lighter than full blown gum with chocolatey frango mints underneath, dark chocolate, coffee grounds, and very faint warming alcohol. Not really bourbony. Initial coats a bit but doesn’t necessarily finish extremely strong, with mint, touch of smoke, coffee grounds, and frango mint dark chocolate. This is nice, a touch of warming alcohol (faint bourbon? I’m not really sure..). Finish is a bit empty, but the mouth coating helps cover up that flaw. Thinner, but tasty. Cheers.

(Draught) Pours a black body with a small tan head. Aroma of chocolate, coffee, peppermint, caramel, and some vanilla. Flavor of mint, coffee, chocolate, and light bourbon.

Autumn Brew Review 2008. Very happy to find that this was coming out! Black color with a very thin head. Big mint aroma. Bombastic mint taste. A light chocolate and coffee flavor, rounded out with roasted malt. The bourbon doesn’t scream out, but I did pick up some vanilla. The mint almost turns to spearmint towards the finish. Excellent!

ABR 2008. Complex aroma of mint, coffee, chocolate, and bourbon. Nice palate and very smooth.

On tap at GTMW. Poured deep brown with a light cap of deep beige head. The aroma was sweet with Andes candies as the most accurate descriptor (hefty mint and sweeter chocolates).. the barrel impression was light and just left a little vanilla and sweet bourbon in there. The flavor had sweet chocolates again at the core with tangy bourbon and oak surrounding.. warmth brought out a whole bunch of mint and finally a little of the promised coffee (the java was surprisingly light in this brew).. the odd components worked surprisingly well in here. Medium-bodied with a creamy, smooth feel on the palate.. long, refreshing impression on the finish. Tasty.

Wow! That was my initial reaction- incredibly tastey. Makes you want to lick the entire glass inside and out after you are finished. Poured a very dark, thick black colour with a reddish tint. Head was finger sized, brown and sticky. Creamy mouthfeel is an understatement. Minty, dark chocolate and coffee notes. Faint but noticeable oak and whiskey spirit underlining the taste of this beer. Awesome!