Stay In Stout
Founders Brewing Company

From a 4 pack I bought when fresh. The pour is still top notch; stout black with a light brown head that left copious amounts of lacing, 2 years on.
The taste has chicory notes, or nuts and coffee. Lots of chocolate but no discernible hazelnut. Still very tasty.
The feel is lightly viscous, nice for the style.
OA, probably better fresh, but still quite good, just less sweet.

From a 12oz bottle bottled on 11/27/23

Slight hiss upon opening the bottle. As I was expecting, this is a pitch black pouring beer with no chance of any light shining through the glass. There's a nice thick 2 finger brown head with great head retention. There's a bit of lacing on the glass as the head dissipates.
Aroma is so rich smelling. So much chocolate in it. There's a huge coffee hit in the aroma with a bit of a nutty element to it. I am not getting too much barrel in the aroma.
Taste - The front is where the coffee hits. It is somewhat light tasting, but has a nice hit of bitterness forward with a hint of nuttiness. The back is full on chocolate It is slightly dark chocolate tasting right away, but this turns full on sweet chocolate to me, almost like chocolate fudge. Like the nose, I am getting no barrel in this beer at all.
This is one thick beer. It is very smooth and creamy feeling. It is a full bodied beer and has no burn to it at all.
Well, if there were barrel aromas and flavor in it, it would be a higher rated beer. It is very delicious, and I'm glad I got to try it.

 

 

From a brown bottle, this beer is utterly black. The head is a thick tan color...rocky, lasting, and dense. The aroma is intensely chocolate...like rich fudge brownies. Underneath the chocolate are some roasted grain scents....and espresso-like coffee smells. The taste is intense. Dark chocolate, more coffee, nutty flavors, and a firm bitterness. The ABV brings a warming sensation to the beer. The finish is lingering and the body is thick and mouth-enveloping. This is incredible.

12oz bottle. Label includes 'Bottled On: 11.27.23'.
Black colored body, with a bourbon brown back lit edge. One finger of mocha brown colored head, which retreats to a lighter cap and ring. Leaves behind a majority of its lacing webs on the drinking side of the glass.
Aroma has big notes of nuts, fudge chocolate, and coffee. Bourbon barrel vapors, plus vanilla.
Taste is supported by the bourbon barrel, with flavors of chocolate, nuts, and mocha dark roast with milk. Lingering aftertaste of chocolate, nuts, and vanilla.
More than medium mouthfeel. Sticky and silky. Has a chalky feel after repeated sips. Low carbonation.
Nose is more dramatic and appealing than the flavor.

Bottle. Light tan head. Dark caramel hued brown.

It’s an okay BA stout, but it tastes chalky/artificial with some of the flavors. Lots of coffee and fudge. Hazelnut comes through. A bit of roast. Warming barrel, but I do appreciate the lower abv compared to how most stouts are being made. Vanilla, chocolate, bourbon in the finish.

Pours deep dark chocolate brown with a thick light tan head. Spotty lacing. Aroma is first and foremost fudge, smaller amounts of vanilla, bourbon and cinnamon. Flavor follows the nose; the fudge again is most prominent. Feel is rather light for a stout. Overall, another home run from the folks at Founders.

 

 

Black in color with minimal light penetration. There’s a fingernail of khaki brown around the rim and covering half of the top. The aroma is of fudge, chocolate, coffee, bourbon, and hazelnut. I’m tasting hazelnut, chocolate, coffee, and fudge. The mouth is lightly oily and dry.

 

Poured from a bottle into a snifter
Appearance – The beer pours a very dark brown, nearing black color with a small head of tan colored foam. The head has a good level of retention, fading slowly over time and leaving a small amount of foamy lace on the sides of the glass.
Smell – The aroma is massive of a roasted and toasted malt smell mixed with big notes of milk chocolate and coffee. Along with these smells comes a strong showing of vanilla and hazelnut as well as some notes of caramel and molasses. Other aromas of sweet crème and a bit of raisin are there as well, giving a nice dark and rich smell overall.
Taste – The taste begins with a very roasty malt flavor mixed with a good showing of coffee and a bit of char. There is a nice sweetness of toffee and brown sugar upfront, with other flavors of vanilla and creme joining in quickly after the initial taste hits the tastebuds. Right from the start the hazelnut is strong, with it fading a touch as the taste advances, but remaining rather pronounced. Some of the sweeter brown sugar and toffee fad a bit as the taste advances, being replaced by some cola flavors. All the while the roast and char get stronger, along with a bit good showing of bourbon and wood joining in. With some notes of earth and a bit of chalkiness coming right at the end, one is left with a nice roasty and warming cocoa hazelnut taste to linger on the tongue.
Mouthfeel – The body of the brew is chewy and thick with a moderate carbonation level. For the style and tastes the feel is good and makes for a nice slow and warming sipper.
Overall – A rich and robust hazelnut cocoa stout. Heavier for sure, but a nice one for a cool winter night and certainly worth a try.

Pours about as black as you can get with a thin layer of foam. Aroma is fudge, chocolate and vanilla. Taste is coffee, chocolate and a bit of cinnamon. Hazelnut is present and in just the right amount. Mouthfeel is lighter than expected, as this brew is on the lighter side of medium. ABV is definitely present but doesn't distract unduly. A nice brew.

 

 

 

Pours very dark. Tan foam. Rich coffee aroma. Bitter chocolate coffee body. Lightly sweet finish. Syrupy mouth feel. Light alcohol taste. Good flavor. Easier drinking than you would think. Another great stout from Founders.

 

**
02/23/24

bottle to snifter

look: black, but not pitch....some light comes through
aroma: nice coffee, hazelnut, cocoa
taste: cocoa, coffee......slight off metallic taste in finish, but otherwise sweet and tasty.
feel: a touch under full body. ok carbonation. smooth sipper.

**