Twisted Pine Cream Style Stout

Brewed by Twisted Pine Brewing
Style: Stout
Boulder, Colorado USA

Draft at the brewpub. A pitch black beer with a big brown head. The aroma is sweet malty with strong notes of chocolate as well as notes of roasted malt and coffee. The flavor is sweet malty with strongnotes of chocolate as well as lighter notes of roasted malt and bread, leading to a dry and slightly roasted finish where the chocolate note lingers.

12oz bottle acquired in trade with Kevin (thanks!). Poured a dark brown color with a smaller sized off white head. Some floaters. Aromas of roast, chocolate, yeast, and some coffee. Tastes of roast, some dark fruits, chocolate, and a light coffee finish.

on tap-pours a creamy tan head that laces and black color. Aroma is chocolate/coffee-dark malt. Taste is chocolate/coffee-dark malt, some acidic/bitterness.

Draft at the pub. Deep black (low light) with a tan head. Heavy burnt milk and roast in the nose. Cream flavor but a little bit abrasive and astringent on the palate. Scores points by being fresh and also for a slight milk chocolate candy sweetness. Not bad fresh on tap.

2006 bottling. Head is initially average sized, frothy, brown, mostly lasting. Body is black (almost opaque). Aroma is moderately malty (roasted/burnt grain, dark chocolate, husks), lightly hoppy (resin), lightly yeasty (dough), light note of tar. Flavor is moderately sweet, lightly acidic, lightly to moderately bitter. Finish is lightly to moderately sweet, lightly acidic, moderately bitter. Medium body, velvety/creamy texture, lively carbonation. Improved a bit over the first couple times I’ve had it...still a bit raw/rough (more so in the nose than mouth), but pretty good. Not as acidic as it once was, which is good. Great appearance.

650 ML bottle from Ernest and served in my Stone IRS snifter: Pours a deep brown (almost black) hue topped by a fading frothy tan head and okay lace. The aroma is like Bells Double Cream except a bit weaker. Noticeable coffee, chocolate, hint of smoke and molasses, some aromatic as well as PNW hops vapors with a light dash of plum and rose hips.

The taste is roasty and supported by an combination of charred and hop driven bitterness. A fair amount of coffee flavor towards the finish. Comes off more dry stout than the sweet stout I was expecting. (I therefore am glad it is not classified as a sweet stout). What I do not detect is any sourness noted by Ernest (perhaps it is time for a re-rate?). Finally there is a light but ever present smoky dryness about the finish which I am digging! What I am drinking does not equal what has been rated in the past, likely a factor of either a fresher beer or a change in recipe?

All told, I really enjoyed this brew.
Is it among the pantheon of stouts, well no.
Is it beergeek worthy, well YES.

Bomber poured a translucent brownish black with a small diminishing brown head. Aromas of roasted malt, dark chocolate, a bit of espresso and a hint of vanilla. Palate was medium bodied and smooth. Flavors of roasted malt, espresso, bitter chocolate and some smokiness with a smooth sweet finish.

Draught. Pours black with an average, creamy dark brown head, mostly lasting with good lacing. Aroma is heavy malt (molasses, chocolate, coffee), light hop (herbs), average yeast (leather) with notes of prune and paper. Medium bodied, creamy texture, soft carbonation, and a chalky finish. Average duration, moderate sweetness, light acidity and bitterness.