Thunderhead Cornstalker Espresso Stout

Sampled at the brewery while passing Kearney, NE. First off, the question I have is, is this coffee or is this beer? That said Black Sheep Espresso Stout shares a visual characteristic just like coffee. Midnight black with basically no off color in the light or if you tip the glass. Very dark. The smell is as advertised with strong coffee tones and malt backing. Some chocolate hints and black patent. The taste is, as if you couldn’t guess, strongly influenced by coffee. Actually it overpowers the beer. But note that I am not a big coffee drinker. Actually I never drink coffee. So that said, Black Sheep has a great malt backing that’s complex and carries the beer so that the coffee flavor is not as dominate. Strong roasted and chocolate influences are noticeable and as the beer warms black patent comes out too. A slight hop flavor mellows the beer and gives it a dry feel to it. Overall the Black Sheep brings a lot of flavor and complexity. Even though coffee is not something I really enjoy, this beer was still very good.

Sampled at Thunderhead. Poured a thick black color with a nice thick brown head. Strong expresso/coffee aroma. Flavor was very strong, coffee as the main taste. Aftertaste was very malty, although coffee still was present. A solid stout.

Really good, but DAMN, that flavor is strong. Imagine a glass of Guiness with about a cup of espresso powder dumped in. I enjoyed it, but probably wouldn’t drink it again...the flavor is just a little too strong, and that’s saying something for me.

On draft at the Chicken Coop in Grand Island, Nebraska. Came black as French Roast Coffee, with an off-white head. Big nose of coffee and burnt malts. Very creamy mouthfeel. Good finish for a stout. I really enjoyed this bew.

At Yiayia’s in Lincoln-nice color and head. A tad bit sweet for my taste, but a nice coffee flavor. I enjoyed the pint I had, but don’t think I could finish another one.

On tap at Yia Yia’s in Lincoln. Poured black with a light brown head. Aroma is one of the better ones out there: fresh coffee grounds with HUGE roasted notes. It is like smelling coffee beans before you brew it. To be more acurate the coffee aroma reminds me of Folgers. The flavor is heavily roasted with a big coffee taste. Any chocolate in this one was masked by the one two punch of coffee and roast. Solid malt body with a creamy mouthfeel.

Nebraska Craft Brewers Festival: Dark black with a nice solid tan head. Well-rounded flavor reminiscent of chocolate-covered espresso beans. This is an outstanding beer.

[At GABF 2004] An opaque brown beer with a small orange head. The aroma is of roasted coffee - lovely. The flavor is sweet and very coffeeish combined with notes of chocolate, which reminds me of a cappuchino. But the end is dry and roasted - so it is not cappuchino all the way.