Hickory Stick Stout
Amos Howard's Brew Pub

Beer Geek Stats | Print Shelf Talker
From:
Amos Howard's Brew Pub
 
North Carolina, United States
Style:
American Stout
ABV:
5.8%
Score:
88
Avg:
3.96 | pDev: 6.06%
Reviews:
19
Ratings:
20
Status:
Active
Rated:
Jan 02, 2012
Added:
May 07, 2003
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  0
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by barleyman:
Photo of barleyman
Reviewed by barleyman from Georgia

3.88/5  rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured from a 5 Liter Mini-keg into my straight sided tumbler, the beer displayed a brief, very dark head. Aromas of malt, bread and yeast predominate. Taste is of chocolate malt, with little hop bitterness. The mouthfeel is very pronounced, with a bit of alcohol burn at the beginning. Drinkability is very good, could use a bit more hop bite. Just a thought,

barleyman
Nov 27, 2006
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.5 by whartontallboy from New York

Jan 02, 2012
Photo of beer2day
Reviewed by beer2day from North Carolina

3.88/5  rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours completely black with a nice tan head. Decent lacing and head retention, leaving a nice moustache.

Slightly roasted nose and flavor profile. Roast malt comes through for me the most here.

Thin feel, but appropriate.

Nice bitter finish. Good way to end the day at a pretty good pub.
Jul 03, 2009
Photo of mikesgroove
Reviewed by mikesgroove from South Carolina

4/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Sampled on tap at the Brewgrass festival in Asheville, North Carolina. Consumed on 09/20/2008 and reviewed from notes taken at the time.

I approached this tent with great anxiousness as I heard some really good things had been coming out of here lately. I grabbed a hold of this stout first and foremost. Poured a deep, dark brown with a very nice opacity that blocked out essentially all light from coming through on it. A very nice light tan head then rose up from the bottom of the glass to a height of around an inch and a half before settling down into a very nice looking layer of chocolate brown that lasted throughout the session dropping a nice amount of lace along the way.

The aroma was rich and sweet. Lots of cocoa and sweet chocolate notes were rippling in throughout this one. Nice touches of vanilla and a bit of a smoky peat like smell coming through on this one as well. The flavor, well lets go first with the feel. Very well done here. Not a hint of weakness or lightness to it, there was a good rich, and creamy profile about it that was really just top notch as far as I was concerned. This was not an imperial stout, rather it was a nice 6% stout that really became quite session able. Smoked caramel like malts were the first flavor that I picked up on here. Really quite nicely done with hints of chocolate and tobacco like flavors mixed in. Sweet middle profile as some of the lactose was easily apparent before switching over to a roasted and smoked out finish that became a touch bitter and dry towards the end.

Overall this was one of the better single stouts I tried on this day. It does not hold up to the big boys, but it was not meant to, this was straight up just a damn fine beer that I would have no issue with trying any day.
Sep 23, 2008
Photo of Georgiabeer
Reviewed by Georgiabeer from Georgia

4/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours dark brown, almost black. Short head but good lacing. The smell is lightly roasted grain and pleasant cherry note. The taste is slightly smokey with additional notes of tobacco, toasted grain, and more cherry. A little unusual and quite nice. Medium bodied and quite drinkable. This was my favorite product from this brewery, and an indication of how deep the brewing scene in North Carolina has become.
Jul 02, 2007
Photo of ncvbc
Reviewed by ncvbc from North Carolina

4/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
This is most likely my favorite beer they offer consistently. I try it nearly every time I come to the Taproom. Very dark, basically black in color. Frothy, tan head with good retention. I love the taste of this stout. Creamy smooth with good chocolate and some coffee hidden beneath. There is a little addition of hops that adds to the roast bite at the end. Preferred mouthfeel as it is medium bodied and not too overbearing. Just right. As I said, I have this almost every time I go to the Taproom. Highly drinkable stout that I recommend if you're in the area or if you're seeking a growler.
Mar 26, 2007
Photo of nriech
Reviewed by nriech from Virginia

3.95/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Appearance: On tap. Pretty dark with dark ruby highlights at the edge. Tan head, medium height.

Smell: Cocoa, hops, lots of roasty malts.

Taste: Spicy hoppiness with malt aftertaste. Kind of opposite of what I thought it was going to be. Chocolate flavors also come through with a good balance of carbonation and mouthfeel but a tad thin. Actually pretty good and would drink more if was distributed in my area.
Feb 05, 2007
Photo of barleywinebrewer
Reviewed by barleywinebrewer from New Hampshire

3.3/5  rDev -16.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Got this via trade. many thanks! This one was tough to review. I understand there are ABV laws in NC that this fits within. The growler was really this cool 1.3 gallon keg can. The description on the side calls it a russian imperial stout. I reviewed it based on that style. The BA site calls it an American Stout which I think is more apt.

A - First the can. Sharing with friends in NH, this was a neat conversation piece. The beer: Black but at the edges the light turns a ruby red. The head is huge, billowy and tan.
S - Lightly roasted grains, espresso, mild malt, mild hops.
T - Takes the aromas and steps it up a couple of notches. Really nicely balanced coffee and roasted grain flavors intertwine with a light hop presence for a tasty brew.
M - light to medium bodied. I had a hard time on this score. For a RIS, it's way to light. For an american stout it's average. Dang ABV laws.
D - the keg was a hit. A nice gateway stout for my friends who are not big stout drinkers.

Went great with super bowl sunday grub. Complimentary and easy to drink as a party session beer.
Feb 05, 2007
Photo of russpowell
Reviewed by russpowell from Arkansas

4.03/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Had this at home backin late July at Hickory Tavern

Poured black with a 2 fingers deep tan head. Goo head retention & lacing

S: Slight grainyness & toasted malt

T: Rich malt & roasty malt flavors followed by choclate. finishes dry & slightlty fruitty

MF: Rich & a hint of creamyness, good carbonation & balance

Drinks pretty easy, one of the better ales on offer from Old Hickory, er amos howard's
Oct 15, 2006
Photo of veech
Reviewed by veech from Tennessee

4/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
On tap in a standard 16 oz pint glass from the Sunspot, Knoxville TN. A: Dark ebony, impervious to light with a light tan head with strong lacing S: Unsweetened cocoa, almonds and caramel T: Very substantial nutiness for a stout with milder chocolate and toffee tones, tasty but filling. There's something unique about this stout that I'm calling nutiness for want of a better descriptor M: Stick to your ribs (and mouth) body that lingers after every sip D: If you are a fan of the style then moderate to good drinkability. If you're more of a hophead pale ale fan, probably low. I need to sample more of Olde Hickory's wares as rumor has it that their brewmaster spent a good deal of time in Knoxville, and I try to support locals past and present when possible. Quite a good stout and one I will seek out when possible.
Aug 01, 2006
Photo of Enola
Reviewed by Enola from North Carolina

4.06/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Served at room temp. This beer was a beer I had been looking forward to trying on cask for a good while. It is still pretty bitter but at the same time it is smoothed out a good deal. There is a creaminess in the mouthfeel. This beer was not changed as much by being cask conditioned but still it was a treat to try. I would have it again and again. One of the best offerings from this brewer.
Mar 26, 2006
Photo of rodrot
Reviewed by rodrot from North Carolina

4.2/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Hickory Stick pours a jet black color with a 1 inch tan head that sticks to the side of the glass. The aroma is of roasted malts, coffee, hops and a little spicy smell too. Taste is of espresso, chocolate and hops. There is a nice spicy, hop bitterness present in the finish. This beer has always reminded me of SN Stout due to it's powerful hop flavor. The brewery has always billed this beer as it's version of an Imperial stout, which is strange at only 5.8%. Hopefully, since the cap has been raised to 15%, Olde Hickory Brewery can do this beer justice and brew it as a real RIS. Regardless, it's a great tasting stout that is recommended.
Mar 03, 2006
Photo of SaCkErZ9
Reviewed by SaCkErZ9 from South Carolina

3.58/5  rDev -9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4
Pours an opaque black color with a very nice tan head of about one and one half fingers in size.

Smell is mostly chocolate. Cinnamon as well. Never smelled cinammon in a stout before. I like that.

Taste is big time chocolate with cinammon as well. Toss in some coffee flavors and some slight hoppiness. Tastes almost like a holiday stout of some sort. However, I could drink this beer all year long.

Typical mouthfeel and a nice drinkability. Pretty light in body for a stout. Could use a little more ooomph. I took of growler of this with me on the road and will enjoy this as I stay yet another night in a hotel.
Jan 25, 2006
Photo of wcudwight
Reviewed by wcudwight from North Carolina

4.14/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
As black as an overcast night in the woods with no light. Thick creamy, milky, tan head. The head thins, but doesn't go away. Very mild odor. A little sweetness in the odor. That's it.
Taste is a little sweet with a nice bitter bite at the end. Very well rounded and balanced. Also roasted and a little coffee like, but no coffee in the smell.
Feels thick and carbonated. Mouthfeel is good but nothing special.
Beer is drinkable. Again good but nothing special.
Worth a growler pick up and many refills hereafter.
Sep 12, 2005
Photo of Backer2004
Reviewed by Backer2004 from North Carolina

4.12/5  rDev +4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Okay, unlike what the menu says, this is not an Imperial Stout. Regardless, it's a very good choice and my personal favorite from Olde Hickory Brewery. Great combination of sweet malts, cinnamon, chocolate, caramel, and brown sugar. Almost opaque. Easy to drink.
Jun 12, 2005
Photo of OldFrothingSlosh
Reviewed by OldFrothingSlosh from Pennsylvania

4.13/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
1/2 gallon growler courtesy of AKSmokedPorter.

Everbody likes surprises now and then. For me, Hickory's Stick Stout was indeed a pleasant surprise. A satisfying "pffft" was heard when opening the screw top and this baby poured a near-opaque dark blackish-brown with a massivley thick and long-lasting tan-colored head. Barely any unlaced glass as I consumed the first of many pints. Aromas are a soothing combination of bitter chocolate, earthen hops, some caramel, some toasted malt, and a definite note of "smoky" character. Flavor carries this onward. Combination of baking chocolate, coffee, caramel, and the smoke flavor dance on the tastebuds. Flavor seemed to pick up more later in the taste, and the finish is dry, with a more asserted hop bitterness. Mouthfeel could use a boost, but certainly nothing to complain about. Drinkability is stellar. A very complex flavor profile that manages to not overwhelm you at the end and leaves you reaching for another glass. I shudder to think what the brewers could do to this *WHEN* North Carolina "pops the cap" on ABV limits. Well done.
Mar 01, 2005
Photo of coasterfreak75
Reviewed by coasterfreak75 from Kentucky

4.4/5  rDev +11.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
The pour was pitch black with a two finger choppy beige head. The head was very slow to dissapate and left a nice lace on the glass.

The smell was strange, for a stout. The front of the nose was pronounced chocolate, coffee, and toffee. But hidden in the rear of the nose was a quite noticable kick of hops.

The start of the drink was the standard stout chewey chocolate, the middle was where this one took off. In the middle was a quite noticeable kick of hops. The finish was lingering hops and coffee.

This is one of the best stouts I've ever had. It is not only quite drinkable, but quite tasty also.
Jan 14, 2005
Photo of brentk56
Reviewed by brentk56 from North Carolina

4.08/5  rDev +3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Appearance: Blackish-brown body with a nice light tan head on top; considerable lacing

Smell: Roasted malt nose with just a touch of hops

Taste: Roasted malt backbone dominates the first taste but is quickly supplanted by the grapefruit hoppiness

Mouthfeel: Medium body and carbonation

Drinkability: The hop profile creates a very different stout from what others brew in these parts. Very drinkable. Nice effort from the Olde Hickory Brewpub.
Oct 25, 2004
Photo of Loki
Reviewed by Loki from North Carolina

4.01/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Growler jug

Pours a used motor oil black, with a large, thick, creamy chocolate colored head. The head is full of crags and holes. Each sip or swirl leaves tracings all around the glass.

The aroma sends off scents of coffee, chocolate, burnt malt, and some hops. The smell is not as dominant as should be for the style and the ABV limitations keeps the ethal smells from presenting at all. There should also be a little more hop aroma. The chocolate is very predominant and very inviting.

The taste starts with bitter chocolate, burnt malt, and espresso which leads the way for nice bitter and green hops flavors that balance the sweetness and the smokiness superbly. There is a bit of a warming, but not the alcohol punch or pressence that the style demands. While a wonderful stout as previously noted, this is not an Imperial Stout, nor could it be with the 6% ABV limitation.

No matter what label you put on this beer it is a great stout and one of the gems of the NC beer scene.
Oct 28, 2003
Photo of tavernjef
Reviewed by tavernjef from Minnesota

3.89/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Growler jug: Color is motor oil black with a mega huge head of light brown hued foam. The head is super lumpy and has big divets laying across its landscape, looks alot like a sponge, I kid you not, and the lacing is reminisent of thickly applied glue. Amazing sight to behold!
It has a very soft, faint aroma of sweet roasted malts and definate hop notes located in bigger wiffs.
Taste is a hard one to nail down, but here goes...its sort of split in two, the front or start is airy smooth and not much of anything in flavor, everything gets going from the middle to mostly the back, which is nicely roasted dark malt, flavors are of sweetly tanged malts and espresso-like. Fairly deep and strong, but mellow enough as not to overwhelm. Its a bit uneven, could be heavier and bolder. There's a bit of a smokey taste and feel very late in the back as well. Feel is medium bodied and moderately thinning a bit throughout.
I'll tout this stout any Ol' time.
Thanks to Loki, aka Kipp for the trade!
May 07, 2003
Hickory Stick Stout from Amos Howard's Brew Pub
Beer rating: 88 out of 100 with 20 ratings