Whole Foods Old Plowshare Stout

Brewed by North Coast Brewing Company
Style: Dry Stout
Fort Bragg, California USA

THOUGHTS: Lots of flavor. Organic beer is definitely better than gluten-free beer. It could use a little bitterness. Not as good as Old 38, but nice and much better than Guinness. TECHNICAL: Bottle. Poured a clear, dark brown that was red in the light with almost no head. What little there was was off-white and that mostly diminished. The aroma was moderate dark chocolate, mild coffee, cocoa powder, brownies, chocolate milk and lighter roasted malts. The initial flavor was sweet and a little acidic; while the finish was acidic and somewhat bitter with and average duration. There was coffee, chocolate milk, cocoa powder, sour coffee, roasted malt and a little fruit. The medium body was a little syrupy, but more dry with very fizzy carbonation and a lightly astringent and very dry, almost chalky finish.

Smokey Flavor. Pours a dark brown color with a minimal tan head. Roasted coffee and chocolate aromas and flavors. Smooth with a nice aftertaste.

The rich smoky aroma has strong tones of roast coffee and molasses and just a whisper of unsweetened chocolate, demanding a taste. It pours a nearly opaque chocolate brown with a thick, light tan head that hangs around for quite a bit. Flavor is smoky with a strong overtone of fine coffee and touches of caramel, hops and molasses. Texture is this beer’s weakest point - though it is smooth and fizzy, it seems just a little watery. This beer is a winner nonetheless.

pours clear medium brown with a light tan head. aroma of chocolate and some slightly acidic fruit. bittersweet chocolate dominates flavor. medium bodied with a slightly acidic finish

Bottle. The beer pours to a really dark garnet body with a thin tan head that mostly dissipates rather quickly. The aroma is chocolate with some coffee and sweetened condensed milk. The flavor is dry charcoal with chocolate and light coffee and hints of licorice. This is your typical dry stout. A dry roasted palate with a decent medium mouthfeel. Lightly tart

Pours Black with a creamy tan head. Smell is roasted malt, a bit of chalky cocoa and a touch of sweetness. Taste is roasted malt, a bit of chocolate and subtle sweetness, but fairly dry overall, and has a bit of a fruity berry flavor mixed with chocolate in the finish. Medium body and medium carbonation. Best organic beer I’ve had yet, I’d say, and overall was a solid and enjoyable stout.

This is a pretty good organic beer. Pours a dark brown color with a minimal tan head. Roasted coffee and chocolate aromas and flavors. Smooth with a nice aftertaste.

Pours a medium dark brown with a tan head that leaves substantial lacing. Really nice nose with chocolate, vanilla, caramel and molasses. The flavor is quite the same and slightly coffee like bitterness in the finish. A bit thin in body, but overall enjoyable and underrated.