Cimmerian Portal
Stone Brewing

 

On tap at Stone Gardens, Escondido, CA.

On the run and feeling the fun. Like Bonnie and Clyde before getting shot up like taking cyanide. Fast and loose like Howard Hughes flying the “Spruce Goose.” Oh my, grandma made pie!

 

Very dark, near black, brew with plenty of foam. Very nice aroma, with all the roasted and charred notes. Substantial malty body and sweet, but not syrupy. Tastes of dark caramel, roasted grain, and burnt sugar. Fruity dark flavors with hints of raisins and a winey finish. Bitterness is modest but enough for balance. This is very much the classic Export Stout, to my way of tasting. Overall it's a very satisfying dark brew with plenty of flavor that holds your interest. From the 32 oz crowler can purchased at Stone Liberty Station.

 

Pours dark chocolate with khaki head and notes of coffee, brown sugar, chocolate and bread. Really nice smooth and silky almost Porter style without the standard Stone signature hoppy bite.

 

 

16oz pour on tap at the Liberty Station location. Served in a stemmed tulip glass.

Appearance: Black with initial 1/4" tan head. Plenty of persistent lacing.

Smell: Coffee, roasted grains and bit smoky.

Taste: Quite bitter. Lots of roasted malt flavor, black coffee, chicory, a bit of bittersweet chocolate as it warmed up, and some smoky and woody flavors.

Mouthfeel: Prickly carbonation, some underlying creaminess, dry finish - maybe just a bit astringent.

Overall / Drinkability: This is listed here as an export stout, but the menu at the brewery called this an American Stout - I think it is more like an American Stout than export stout in style given the high level of bitterness. It paired well with dessert (hazelnut tart), but, I think it may have been better with something meaty rather than dessert given the high bitterness. I found that one was enough - tasty, but I think I was looking for something just a bit sweeter to pair with dessert.

 

 

Type: 32-oz. crowler
Glass: Ball 16-oz. mason jar
From: A friend
Price: N/A
Purchased: N/A; Crowled on Sept. 15, 2017 (I think); Received Sept. 16, 2017
Consumed: Sept. 19, 2017
Reviewed as: Foreign Export Stout
Misc.: N/A

Thanks, David!

Got this from a guy I know. He let me pick out a couple of crowlers and this was the first one I wanted. Only read a few descriptions but was in. Was going in kind of blind.

Poured a pitch black color with 2-to-3 fingers of rocky tan head. Serene setting underneath. World-class spider-web lacing. Outstanding retention. (Sight - 4.25)

Smelled dark coffee, hazelnut, dark cocoa powder, char wood, roasty malts and bitter dark chocolate. (Smell - 4.00)

Taste followed the nose, arguably better. Got roasty malts, dark coffee, char wood, dark cocoa powder and roasted nuts. (Taste - 4.00)

Full body. Creamy-to-slick texture. Average carbonation. Long, bitter finish. (Feel - 4.00)

Just an outstanding Foreign Export Stout. Really enjoyed it and may have even underrated it a tad. (Overall - 4.00)

4.02 | 90 | A-

 

This was a very good drinkable export stout. For a company that's known for overdoing their beers, this is a very well balanced beer. It is very dark and roasty and smells like everything that you would want in the style, but doesn't have the overpowering alcohol and syrupiness that you often find. Look, I love a heavy 13% stout bomb as much as the next beer guy, but you don't always want that. This is a very flavorful beer, that won't knock you over if you drink more than a thimbleful. It's a very well done roasty, mildly chocolate, dark, slightly bitter goodness that is underdone because everyone tries to make a hero beer, instead of something more accessible. Yes, it's not as good as many of the stronger and higher rated offerings, but this will be a very under appreciated beer as it was very nice.

 

 

 

October 25th, 2013 - To cap our tasting session at Stone's Liberty Station colony, we enjoyed a serving of the Cimmerian Portal. This is perhaps my favorite beer of their's by name, tapping into nerd culture in a clever way, and giving a good idea of the depth and power they want to advertise for this brew. The aroma is not especially abyssal or apocalyptic, showing off a regular stout smell, with the usual mild assortment of malt, soy sauce, a touch of oats, and others. And the flavor was pretty mild mannered too, with a smooth nitro-esque palate and an elegant finish. The flavors taper off quickly and crisply, leaving a nice, dry note behind. It's not as distinct as most Stone beers, and lacks that Stone quality or character, but it's still fine drinking.