Black River Gumbo Stout
Peace Tree Brewing Co.

Black River Gumbo StoutBlack River Gumbo Stout
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From:
Peace Tree Brewing Co.
 
Iowa, United States
Style:
American Stout
ABV:
5.5%
Score:
80
Avg:
3.46 | pDev: 12.43%
Reviews:
20
Ratings:
39
Status:
Active
Rated:
Dec 08, 2016
Added:
Dec 22, 2010
Wants:
  5
Gots:
  5
This dark deliciousness is named after the gumbo dirt of the Des Moines River bottom which nourished our Peace Tree and is now used as the surface for Knoxville’s famous Sprint Car track. Instead of using traditional ale yeast required of a stout, a Belgian yeast was used to add complexity. This stout is brewed with high quality pale malt, three roasted malts and two caramel malts. The dark roasted caramel malts contribute to the chocolate and toffee characteristics. Three varieties of hops contribute to the bitterness and aromas of this beer.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by tjslovak77:
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Rated by tjslovak77 from Indiana

4/5  rDev +15.6%

Apr 28, 2012
More User Ratings:
Photo of GuyFawkes
Reviewed by GuyFawkes from Illinois

3.99/5  rDev +15.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Poured from the bottle into a glass.

Pitch black; slight ruby at the edges when held to the light.

Decent dark khaki head; minimal lacing.

Dark chocolate nose; intriguing!

Medium mouthfeel.

Not as bold in the flavor, but pleasant coffee & chocolate notes. Very drinkable.
Dec 08, 2016
 
Rated: 3.87 by dms1767 from Nebraska

Aug 02, 2016
Photo of hoptheology
Reviewed by hoptheology from California

3.47/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Appearance : Pitch black, but comes out looking like Coke in appearance. The head pours 1/2 finger but fizzles and disappears almost immediately. No measurable head to speak of, in fact it looks like a flat soda. Opacity is 90%.

Smell : Dark, syrupy porter smells; lots of sticky anise and licorice. Some sweet sappy malt mixture. Mostly just a very syrupy, sweet, sachharine smell. No detection of hops whatsoever.

Taste : Actually rather sweet for a stout. Those semi-sweet licorice and sugary anise flavors come out immediately, with roasted malts, light smoke (almost smoked meat like a rauchbier) and a touch of hop to offset the sweetness. It's still largely malty, saccharine, and pasty/sugary though. It's for sure not balanced at all, but it's drinkable.

Feel : Medium bodied but too light for a stout, moderate carbonation, a dry and pasty finish.

Overall : A mix between a light bodied stout and a Rauchbier. It tastes overall like an anise cola, which leads to some glaring flaws. It's very out of the box , but if you like sweet stouts, maybe this is your kind of thing. I know I won't be having it again anytime soon.
Oct 02, 2015
 
Rated: 3.5 by ovaltine from Indiana

Apr 22, 2015
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Rated by rbrandt22 from Iowa

2.59/5  rDev -25.1%
look: 3 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5
Was excited about this beer but isn't one that keeps me coming back for the next sip
Mar 18, 2015
 
Rated: 3.5 by Doeden23 from Iowa

Nov 13, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by jzlyo from Iowa

Oct 27, 2014
 
Rated: 3.25 by KAF from Iowa

Oct 07, 2014
 
Rated: 3.98 by bpkrippner from Missouri

Jun 29, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by jadenmiller from Iowa

Jun 16, 2014
 
Rated: 2.5 by Beestin from Iowa

Apr 20, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by zoolou from Iowa

Mar 23, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by DCdevyl78 from Illinois

Mar 17, 2014
Photo of BeerFMAndy
Reviewed by BeerFMAndy from Wisconsin

4.13/5  rDev +19.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
12 oz bottle poured into an imperial stout.
5.5% ABV, "leave sediment in bottle, Serve at 48°F"

A - Clarity is visible through the slow pour giving the otherwise black beer a dark brown hue. It's short tan head vanishes to a ring of foam pretty quickly and leaves little lace left on the pint.

S - Loaded with heavily roasted malts, Black River Gumbo is rich with milk chocolate smoothness trailed by dark chocolate-dipped espresso bean and raisin and finished with toasted wheat bread.

T - Chocolaty and roasted still, the flavor opens up with new complexities but abandons much of the coffee nuance and milk chocolate for a harsher, bitter bakers chocolate and cocoa as well as blackstrap molasses. Burnt brown sugar and subtle Belgian yeast characteristics make it through with raisin and soft spice notes on the finish.

M - Balanced between sweet, rich maltiness and roasted, bitter maltiness, this stout walks a fine line and feels pretty full-bodied for only being a measly 5.5%. Like the rest of Peace Tree beers, Black River Gumbo has lower carbonation but here it works.

O - Belgian yeast, the common link between all the Peace Tree beer's I've tried, is the least noticeable in Black River Gumbo, only adding slight fruity and spicy traits to an otherwise roasted, chocolaty beer. The outcome is one of their best brews, low in alcohol, high in flavor!
Mar 11, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by Whiskeydeez from Kansas

Jan 29, 2014
 
Rated: 3 by Parker9000 from Iowa

Oct 02, 2013
 
Rated: 3.5 by schoon from Iowa

May 24, 2013
 
Rated: 3.5 by RDW from Nebraska

Apr 21, 2013
 
Rated: 3.75 by Herky21 from Iowa

Feb 26, 2013
Black River Gumbo Stout from Peace Tree Brewing Co.
Beer rating: 80 out of 100 with 39 ratings