Full Pastry Send
Fort George Brewery + Public House

Picked up a bottle of this nectar at Imperial Bottleshop and taphouse the other day. Ft. George's ba beers have gotten rather spendy of late and this is no exception ($37 for a 500 ml. bottle, at a place renowned for its gentle pricing). That being said...

The beer pours the expected blackish brown color with very light lacing and not much head retention. The beer is viscous looking and has the look of a beer that has seen considerable barrel aging (which supposedly it has). On the nose there's a huge aroma of dark chocolate, with underlying bourbon and vanilla. This smells like it will be a very rich, sweet beer. The flavor profile replicates the nose pretty closely, and while the beer is quite sweet, the bourbon helps to keep everything in check, and helps to buoy the sweetness. Mouthfeel is very soft and full, with a long, sweet finish. Despite the high abv, this beer isn't at all hot or cloying on the palate. You can definitely tell the abv is up there a bit, but it's very well integrated into the flavor profile.

Quite an impressive effort from the folks at Ft George. The price tag is a bit much, but there's no denying the quality. Against my better judgement, I went ahead and grabbed a second bottle.

 

i have to confess i was nervous excited for this, pastry stout is fun but its come to dominate the stout world, and im not in love with the death of the classic range of stouts which is happening as a result, but this is fort george, legendary stout maker, along with the insanely hyped up moksa in a collaboration, coconut, vanilla, thai banana, and peanuts, had to be good right? well, it is, its wonderful, a standout from a very heady stout lineup, and a beer i cannot help but be impressed with, really elite, all the elements are there in aroma and flavor, but also in mouthfeel which is cool, and although its as sugary as can be, its also amazing, mad respect. thick as motor oil, just as black, close to as still too, leggy and viscous as they come, whoa. the nose on this is nuts, addicting even, literally nuts, like oily fatty real peanuts, none of that powdered peanut butter junk that tastes like sawdust, this is the real deal, amazing that they lead the way here for me, for those allergic look out. the banana part is subtle to me, more starchy and plantain-esque, but perhaps lending a chocolate dipped banana thing, which is definitely happening here with all the malt layers, cocoa and milk and dark chocolate are all present. the coconut with it does a german chocolate cake thing, and the alcohol is strong and interesting, whiskey notes, lots of luxurious and decadent real vanilla too, somehow all this stuff comes together crazy well, tobacco and raisin too, somewhat tropical in all its dark enormity somehow, my senses are confused excited. surprised that the peanuts kind of lead the way, but banana and peanut together in this is a wonderful fusion, now that coconut is more subtle. huge chocolate and vanilla, some alcohol yes, but its not out of place and its not even hot for how strong this really is. the peanut is so real, best ive known in a beer i think, and it adds a lot to the texture of this. slick and creamed up and fatty, so good. darn sweet and totally palate coating, borderline permanent on the palate, but its worth it. one of a kind, brilliant offering from these two, not to be missed for the pastry crowd, as good as it gets in this space...