Naked Stout
Moon Hill Brewing Co. / Gardner Ale House

 

 

 

 

 

Had a pint on-tap at the Gardner Ale House.

Appearance-
Very hazy, almost muddy. Like most of us, I care most about the taste and smell, but this one is particularly cloudy so worth mentioning.

Smell-
Weird, but good: dark coffee with a strong sulfur smell, much like you get from a French roast. A little dark chocolate too.

Taste-
A classic Imperial stout. No sweetness, but I get a hint of that chocolate right after the swallow that is quite pleasant. I agree with others that it would go well with smoked cheeses or meats.

Mouthfeel-
A little bitter for me, but a long-lingering aftertaste of roasted malt.

Drinkability-
I put this into the same category for drinkability as a rauchbier or lambic in that it has an interesting flavor, but is a little too odd to have more than a pint at a sitting.

Dark brown color where no light shines through. Very nice head and lace left on the glass.

Strong coffee ground aroma--no sweetness.

The body is thin. After a mild start, a heavily roasted malt flavor shows up in the swallow--lots of black patent malt. A very dry stout and bitter from the burnt elements.

Poured into my Imp Pint, one-handed with the baby in the other. Head rises a mighty 2" looking like that on rootbeer float, brew is dark as night. Aroma is rich with cocoa and a light hint of coffee.

This one hits the palate with a ripple of carbonation and dives right into dark chocolate and light cofee notes. Just a layer of hops to be found on top of all of that roasty goodness.

This is quite nice and easy drinking. Thanks ppoitras.

Screw-cap growler filled at the brewpub.

Poured into an imperial pint glass, formed a 1/4" dark brown head over the opaque dark brown/black brew. Head is down to a layer of tiny bubbles pretty quick, with heavy dark lacing. Aroma is roasty maltiness. Taste starts with a depth of roasted barley as if you had put a handful of grain between your cheek and gum. Goes lightly hoppy in the middle, and closes clean with a bit of coffee bitterness. Mouthfeel is wow creamy and smooth, and drinkability is excellent. Session stout, anyone?

Had this at NERAX 2007 Wed night

Deep dark blackness brushed by a bare spume on top.
Dark smoky, malt aroma.
Medium-heavy body with a rich smoky maltiness and hints of coffee and roast grain bitterness. Little finish.
A gorgeous stout from top to bottom.

This might've been the standout star of the evening for me at this year's NERAX, at least among the dark beers I tried. It pours a deep umber/black with dark brown head. The aroma is absolutely incredible! Deeply toasty and malty, dry tinges of chocolate and toffee made for just a terrificly complex smell. One of the few beers I've ever wanted to sit around and smell for a while instead of just start sippin'. Of course, the taste is great too, with many of the same aspects coming through but a bit more pungent roasty/burnt flavor. Very low bitterness for an "Irish" stout, but certainly dry and drinkable. Awesome session stout.

[NERAX 2007]

Brewpub chalkboard said this was at 3.9%. Review from notes.

Pours an onyx black with a one finger caramel head. Thin fuzz of retention with stick thick lacing down the glass. Coffee bean twang from the outset. Nice sweet chocolate aroma. Airy cappuccino toffee-esque notes.

Coffee bean flavors that sport a smooth creaminess. Creaminess transforms quickly into a nice bitterness that lasts well into the aftertaste. Roasty malt notes give this brew a robust mouthfeel. Lighter to medium bodied however keeps this beer in check as a sessionable breakfast stout. Dry finish with those coffee bean bitters. Extremely drinkable. Make the trip to Gardner for this brew. One of Dave's better ones.

On tap at Gardner Ale House.

Body is opaque black with a creamy tan head which leaves panels of lace after falling.

Scent is a mild earthy roasted coffee and bitter chocolate.

Taste is warm roasty bitter chocolate. Very dry and crisp. Chocolate taste lingers nicely and there is the slightest hint of citric hops at the end.

Mouth feel is very crisp and clean, though somewhat thin.

Drinkability is remarkably good.

At 3.8% this is a perfect session beer and the crisp clean finish is very nice.