Town Hall Chocolate Raspberry Bourbon Stout

@ Arborfest 2008, on draft. Chocolate, malty, Whoppers-esque aroma. Black and opaque appearance. Bright, dry, snap raspberry taste on front of tongue with mellow chocolate aftertaste on the back. Amazing combination!

Draft. Arborfest. Aroma is a very pleasant mix of bitter and sweet chocolate. Raspberry concentrate. Dark roasted malt, some toasted wood and German Chocolate Cake. Pours a thick, dark brown with a dense khaki head. Flavor is like drinking raspberry chocolate cake. Plenty of rich chocolate, charred wood and a pleasant (but unexpected) orange rind hop bitterness. Creamy texture with a tad too much carbonation for this style.

Wintefest 2008. Excellent belend of chocolate, bourbon, and raspberries in the malty nose. Still body wtih an excellent finish.

On draught during the Winterfest 2008 in downtown St. Paul, Minnesota. Pours an opaque dark brown brew with a creamy tan head that slowly dissipates to a tan ring and film top. Aroma of fruity raspberries, sweet bourbon, roasted dark malt and a touch of chocolate. Taste is full bodied, no carbonation with a healthy flavor of thick dark chocolate and raspberries, some bourbon, and a touch of vanilla. Finish is alcohol warmth with some metallic character with a lasting flavor of chocolate and raspberries that really made this a terrific dessert beer.

Draft at Winterfest 2008. First beer of the evening (with tennisjoel) and deserving of it’s best of show award despite many worthy opponents. As it generally the case with Town Hall brews, served very cold (I prefer it that way because you can always warm the glass with your hands, but never the other way around!) Chocolate and raspberries in the nose. Could pass for chocolate and cherries. Some bourbon notes. Opaque black body with a brown ring of head. Not much lace. Chocolate covered raspberries is the primary impression. Doesn’t taste overly strong, but strength comes out as it warms. Excellent dessert beer. Decadent. Lovely. Could be considered among the best fruit beers ever. Bourbon aspect is most noticeable at the front of the tongue, something you might not notice if you beer bong it. So don’t do that.