Island Time
The Bruery

A: poured into a snifter to a black beer topped by a dense and slightly rocky three finger tan head which fades slowly to a collar around the edge of the glass with minimal lacing
S: Smells of milk chooclate, roasted malts, light coffee, coconut, and vanilla
T: Taste is milk chocolate, roasted malts, a little coffee and some nice toasted coconut along with a little smooth vanilla. Just a touch of salt at times as well. On the finish there's a definite sweet milk chocolate, coffee, roasted malts, coconut, and some lingering vanilla
M: This beer has a body which is on the heavier side of medium with a somewhat creamy feel. Carbonation is on the low side but it's more than adequate for the style while the beer has a drying finish.
O: Overall this is a really well done beer. The blend and balance of flavors is very nice which makes this a very drinkable and enjoyable beer.

16oz can poured into a tulip

A- pours jet black in color with a one-finger foamy khaki head that reduces to a ring around the edge

S- aroma is a bit muted at first, but eventually opens up with notes of walnut fudge, coconut and vanilla cream

T- notes of milk chocolate, chocolate syrup and marshmallows up front, followed by vanilla and chocolate cake, the finish is sweet with milk sugars and marshmallow

M- medium-heavy body with moderate carbonation leads to a creamy mouthfeel and a syrupy finish

O- super sweet throughout, nothing really stands out, but still a tasty pastry stout

My short summary review: Sweet, but good. Wow, this is only the 2nd review on BA?

Pours brown and black for stout, brown head 1/3". Really hits the island stride with coconut, roasted malt, marshmallow island vibes through the nose, sets the stage appropriately given the namesake. Its like smelling island sugar.

Taste was quite sweet, but not a problem. Stayed enjoyable 100% of the time. Pretty diverse ingredients that contribute to the sweetness. Cinnamon, brown sugar, chocolate, vanilla, marshmallow, caramel and coconut. The salt addition is nice and provides a little counter punch that makes it even smoother somehow. Need I say this hides the alcohol very well? If you are one like me who loves non adjunct roasted malt stouts, I think there is still room to dig on this. It won't be your every day stout drinker, but it still satisfied that niche itch. Not too many island pastry stouts I can think of, but this one is enjoyable beyond the novelty.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Island Time pours a shockingly clear mahogany brown, but fills starkly opaque melted dark chocolate black, building a short but dense mocha foam settling to a thin chain.

Right at first taste, you can actually tell the Hawaiian sea salt is helping to accentuate and amplify the flavor profile, which emulates liquid brownie with hints of salted caramel drizzle and smooth vanilla coconut frosting. The silky thick body is sweet, (as the can points out!), but delectably and enjoyably so. A nice caramelized brown sugar mocha flavor emulates macchiato and butterscotch, and even a touch of Cinnabon, as the sparsely bubbly carbonation brings you to a semi-sticky finish. The aroma brings additional toasted coconut and warm vanilla in very pleasant waves, accented by cinnamon sticks. I'm not sure where that last part comes from, but it works.

This is the Bruery well-deservedly pushing their way back into the hype spotlight. This is a very enjoyable pastry stout, without the ridiculously over the top ABV punch.