Spinnakers Chai Vanilla Stout

Brewed by Spinnakers Brewpub
Style: Sweet Stout
Victoria, Canada

(Cask) Pint. Sampled at Spinnakers Brewpub during their Recession Ales evening of February 12, 2009.. Pours a lasting, frothy, small head with an opaque body. Nose is mildly spiced with all spice, cinnamon, nutmeg and fresh carnation flower buds. A tad thin on the palate but the Chai Tea definitely comes to the forefront and doesn’t hide in the background. I’m amazed that they claim this as an infused Tsarist Imperial Stout as there is little evidence with the thin texture, slight malt base and underwhelming roasted tones. Or perhaps the Chai is just too strong and diluting of the big, bold stout bully. Its interesting. Its imaginative. Its good. A great addition by Rob Monk to the Recession Ale series. I still would like to see the reappearance of Iceberg Pale Ale on the taps... And Blue Bridge, the weaker double IPA big sister, to bid adieu to the Spinnakers main line-up. 7/3/7/3/14