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Class V Stout
Kern River Brewing Company
- From:
- Kern River Brewing Company
- California, United States
- Style:
- American Imperial Stout
Ranked #1,533 - ABV:
- 8.5%
- Score:
- 91
Ranked #6,618 - Avg:
- 4.09 | pDev: 9.29%
- Reviews:
- 209
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Mar 21, 2024
- Added:
- Mar 01, 2007
- Wants:
- 89
- Gots:
- 93
River rapids are rated by a numeral system. Class V is the most difficult level rapid that can be negotiated.
This non-traditional beer is an Oatmeal Stout, Milk Stout and an Imperial Stout all in one. With a complex flavor profile ranging from coffee to chocolate, the sweetness is complemented with Chinook and Cascade hops to produce an extraordinary finish.
This non-traditional beer is an Oatmeal Stout, Milk Stout and an Imperial Stout all in one. With a complex flavor profile ranging from coffee to chocolate, the sweetness is complemented with Chinook and Cascade hops to produce an extraordinary finish.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by bnelson997:
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by MutuelsMark from Kentucky
4.02/5 rDev -1.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.02/5 rDev -1.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours black as can be. Forced head was darker shade of tan and it was THICK!. Nose is charr, coffee and dark chocolate. Taste was mostly charr initially then that faded to a more coffee flavor. Warmth set in, but only slightly.
Mar 21, 2024Reviewed by Ozzylizard from Pennsylvania
3.65/5 rDev -10.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
3.65/5 rDev -10.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Class V Stout from Kern River Brewing. 16 fl oz can from @2beerdogs in NBW BIF 17. Reviewed 28/04/23 (Review 3085). Note that I use DD/MM/YY protocol.
Bottom of can stamped “CANNED ON 12/0?/22”. Stored at 34 degrees at home. Served at 55.7 degrees F in a hand washed and dried Jester King snifter. The final temperature was 62.7 degrees F.
Appearance – 4.25
First pour – Amber Brown (SRM 18), clear.
Body – Deep Brown (SRM 30), opaque. Under direct light, same. When rear lite, still opaque except at the edge.
Head: Large (Maximum 4.7 cm, aggressive center pour), brown sugar, high density, average retention, rapidly retreating, leaving a 0.8 cm crown with a torn curtain upper rim and a heaped rocky partial layer. As the head retracts, it becomes medium density and lightens to tan. A few three-dimensional snakes of lacing remain above the upper edge of the crown. These eventually dry out.
Lacing – Good. Overlapping three-dimensional rings of near-microscopic bubbles which slooowly break down into torn curtains. See also above.
Aroma – 3.5 – Primarily coffee with a hint of chocolate, no hops, no yeast. No ethanol (8.5 % ABV as marked on the label) aroma.
Flavor – 3.5 – Follows the nose. No hops, yeast, or ethanol. No gastric warming. No dimethylsulfide or diacetyl.
Palate – 4 – Full; dry; lively carbonation.
Final impression and summation: 3.75 For being an oatmeal stout with added lactose, it is neither particularly smooth nor silky – just feels like an ordinary impy stout. Nose and flavor are predominantly coffee with a bit of chocolate. Good – emphatically yes! A gift from the beer gods to make me bow down – nope.
Apr 28, 2023Bottom of can stamped “CANNED ON 12/0?/22”. Stored at 34 degrees at home. Served at 55.7 degrees F in a hand washed and dried Jester King snifter. The final temperature was 62.7 degrees F.
Appearance – 4.25
First pour – Amber Brown (SRM 18), clear.
Body – Deep Brown (SRM 30), opaque. Under direct light, same. When rear lite, still opaque except at the edge.
Head: Large (Maximum 4.7 cm, aggressive center pour), brown sugar, high density, average retention, rapidly retreating, leaving a 0.8 cm crown with a torn curtain upper rim and a heaped rocky partial layer. As the head retracts, it becomes medium density and lightens to tan. A few three-dimensional snakes of lacing remain above the upper edge of the crown. These eventually dry out.
Lacing – Good. Overlapping three-dimensional rings of near-microscopic bubbles which slooowly break down into torn curtains. See also above.
Aroma – 3.5 – Primarily coffee with a hint of chocolate, no hops, no yeast. No ethanol (8.5 % ABV as marked on the label) aroma.
Flavor – 3.5 – Follows the nose. No hops, yeast, or ethanol. No gastric warming. No dimethylsulfide or diacetyl.
Palate – 4 – Full; dry; lively carbonation.
Final impression and summation: 3.75 For being an oatmeal stout with added lactose, it is neither particularly smooth nor silky – just feels like an ordinary impy stout. Nose and flavor are predominantly coffee with a bit of chocolate. Good – emphatically yes! A gift from the beer gods to make me bow down – nope.
Reviewed by DarkLordScott from Wisconsin
3.67/5 rDev -10.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.67/5 rDev -10.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
The brew pours deep black with a moderately carbonated three finger head. Aroma is roasted malt, while taste is chocolate, roasted malt and coffee in exactly that order on my tongue. The body is moderately light. This is a straightforward coffee stout.
Apr 07, 2023Reviewed by Christianriveraaa
3.79/5 rDev -7.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.79/5 rDev -7.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Look: Poured from a pint can into a pint glass - jet black pour, very small head risen to the surface. Some lacing left behind on the glass as it dissipates.
Smell: Not much of a smell here to be honest, picking up some malts if anything.
Taste: Okay the taste does it more justice then the smell - Rich delicious malts with slight chocolate flavors. Not getting any of the chocolate flavors at all in this.
Feel: Medium bodied - medium carbonated, not to thick/ oily, not to thin - good sipper.
Overall: This is a good classic stout with some slight characteristics added to it. Richer then most, has a good malty taste. Very delicious and would love to sip on some of these quite often.
Dec 14, 2022Smell: Not much of a smell here to be honest, picking up some malts if anything.
Taste: Okay the taste does it more justice then the smell - Rich delicious malts with slight chocolate flavors. Not getting any of the chocolate flavors at all in this.
Feel: Medium bodied - medium carbonated, not to thick/ oily, not to thin - good sipper.
Overall: This is a good classic stout with some slight characteristics added to it. Richer then most, has a good malty taste. Very delicious and would love to sip on some of these quite often.
Reviewed by pants678 from California
3.52/5 rDev -13.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
3.52/5 rDev -13.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
Black with a bit of off white foam.
Bitter, my guess is Chinook hops.
Reminder of how far stouts have gone down the pastry path. This is like going at a 90% cacao bar, a stout I would've had ~2011. Nothing fruity but a hint of chocolate that keeps my attention.
Crisp, which isn't what I'm after.
Jan 02, 2022Bitter, my guess is Chinook hops.
Reminder of how far stouts have gone down the pastry path. This is like going at a 90% cacao bar, a stout I would've had ~2011. Nothing fruity but a hint of chocolate that keeps my attention.
Crisp, which isn't what I'm after.
Reviewed by elNopalero from Michigan
4.59/5 rDev +12.2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
4.59/5 rDev +12.2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
From a can this pours a delicious dark chocolate, with a creamy coffee colored cap. Assertively roasty, in both aroma and on the sip, with a creamy smooth body and this soft, lingering finish. Uniquely delicious.
Dec 15, 2021Reviewed by ZippyThePinhead from California
4.53/5 rDev +10.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.53/5 rDev +10.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Looks like black iced coffee, but with a bit of head. Roasty-toasty nose, chocolate richness, well-hidden alcohol. Something which I rejoice to see on the refrigerated shelves of my local purveyors, almost like Citra. What's not to like here? Mouthfeel and lingering finish is lovely... creamy and bittersweet. Delightful. Kern River Brewers, kudos and respect.
Nov 24, 2021Reviewed by rex_4539 from Greece
4.74/5 rDev +15.9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.74/5 rDev +15.9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
L: Jet black color, no head or lacing, very light carbonation.
S: Chocolate, coffee, sweet, alcohol. Smells wonderful.
T: Chocolate, coffee, sweet. Slightly bitter on the back end. Delicious!
F: Light to medium bodied, smooth as silk, yet full flavored.
O: A world class stout, no doubt.
Jan 16, 2020S: Chocolate, coffee, sweet, alcohol. Smells wonderful.
T: Chocolate, coffee, sweet. Slightly bitter on the back end. Delicious!
F: Light to medium bodied, smooth as silk, yet full flavored.
O: A world class stout, no doubt.
Class V Stout from Kern River Brewing Company
Beer rating:
91 out of
100 with
539 ratings
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