Broken Shovel Stout
Growlers

 

 

 

 

 

Poured in ale glass at the bar of Growler's, in beautiful downtown G'burg.

A: solid black, no head, inert, no lacing--wow it looks dead
S: roasted barley with waffs of leather
T: burned barley taste detracts from what otherwise would be a simple, pleasant stout; very lightly hopped, so not complex
M: the lack of head and carbonation really detracts from the mouthfeel

I'm a big fan of Growler's--I'm prouder of no other; but this batch didn't turn out well. I'll try again some other month and adjust my review accordingly.

Served on tap at Growlers in Gaithersburg, MD. Beer is black to dark brown. The head is small brown bubbles that form at the edge of the glass, leaving minimal lacing on the sides of the vessel. Cannot tell the carbonation due to the opaque color of the beer, it looks good.

Aroma is dominated by roast, no a lot of hop character despite the description of the beer.

Flavor is nice. Some sweetness, roast in the back of the mouth, finishes completely. Mouthfeel is medium body and drinkability is high. I would order this beer again. The description of the beer from the brewer,

"A very dark, almost black, top fermented brew made with highly roasted chocolate and black malts. This stout is full bodied and lightly hopped."

I didn't get much in the way of hop character and I would classify this as medium bodied, but overall a good beer and a decent stout. Good job.

L: Very nice black looking beer with a medium sized and thick tan colored head that laces the glass very nicely on the way down.
S: Smells of black malts, coffee aromas, chocolate all balanced very well together.
T: Very much like the aroma it tastes of coffee flavors, chocolate, and hints of black malts that make it bitter yet refreshing. Hints of earthy hops but balanced very well into the beer.
M: Very smooth, refreshing, perfectly carbonated and a very good body to it.
D: Very drinkable stout, this is one of their best beers. All around a very good stout.