Kihei Snow Stout
Caldera Brewing Company

 

 

I love it that Caldera continues to make this beer.

The beer pours a blackish brown color with good head retention and considerable lacing. The nose is prototypical milk stout (if there can be said to be such a thing). I get considerable dark chocolate and vanilla, with an underlying burnt toast, light licorice and roasty aroma. There's also some "other-ish" aroma as well, that I guess you could describe as milk-like. The flavor profile replicates the nose pretty closely, but with a mouthfilling presence on the mid palate that is unusual. The beer is quite smooth, especially considering the burnt toast flavor component. Alcohol is barely an after thought in this well crafted beer.

Couple of thoughts. Not sure what it is about this beer, but every time I order it, my initial reaction is "why in the world did I get this, given all the other options here." Yet as the beer warms in the glass, I find myself warming to it as well, and on most nights, I end up ordering a second glass. Might happen again tonight...

 

 

 

Pours a finger of head on a black body.
The aroma is roasted malt, coffee, vanilla and coconut. Really nice.
The taste is sweet overall, mild roast malt and coffee bitterness.
The texture is smooth with low carbonation.
An excellent brew.

 

Had on tap at Vivo! in Ikebukuro, Tokyo, Japan. Served on tap on a UK pint glass. Lots of roasted coconut and a bit of bitter chocolate in this sweet stout with an alcohol presence to keep you interested. So smooth with just enough thickness for a stout. Absolutely love this brew and would recommend to anyone, particularly to match a dessert.