Nana's Famous Pain Perdu Stout
The Bruery

16oz can poured into a snifter

A- pours jet black in color with a one finger creamy khaki head that has good retention long after the pour

S- initial aroma is predominately cinnamon and chocolate. As it warms, notes of nutmeg emerge as well as a hint of graham cracker. Maple emerges as it warms further

T- rich and malty up front with creamy chocolate and cinnamon emerging initially. Mid-palate gives maple sweetness, with a hint of nutmeg. The finish gives more chocolate, vanilla, and a hint of graham cracker. Lingers of maple and cinnamon

M- heavy body with moderate carbonation leads to a creamy mouthfeel that continues into an almost chewy silky finish

O- chewy, rich and thick. Delicious.

Review: 1981
Name: Pain Perdu
Brewery: The Bruery
Location: Placentia, CA
Style: Pastry Stout
ABV: 9.7%
Date: 27 July 2020
I am drinking Pain Perdu today using a Tulip glass. This beer is three years old. I served it at 48 degrees. The pour created a creamy, frothy, two-fingered, light tan head with excellent retention. The color is dark brown, with nearly black, charting around SRM 38. The beer is opaque. The quick dissipation has lots of lacing on the glass. The appearance is beautiful for this style.
It smells like cinnamon French toast. Nosing the glass several times, notice cinnamon, toasted bread, maple, chocolate, coffee, and molasses. One more smell, I picked up light floral and light floral. I am enjoying the aromas of this beer.
It tastes like a fresh plate of cinnamon French toast with maple syrup. Like other pastry or dessert beers, the beer is not cloyingly sweet. I taste chocolate, molasses, coffee, toasted bread, malty sweetness, and a light floral.
The mouthfeel is chewy and finishes somewhat dry. The body is medium-plus and medium carbonation.
Fabulous beer! I love how the beer is not overly sweet, and the flavors of the Pain Perdu do the talking. I have been impressed with The Brurey and how they construct the beers they intend to create. I wish I had more of these!

 

 

This again presents me with a dilemma. The trends towards sweeter "pastry" stouts seems to continue unabated, but it is a style that I personally do not greatly enjoy. This is an interesting example, but I could not drink more than one glass. If sweet stouts are your thing i suspect this is worth a try!

 

 

Cinnamon and nutmeg overpower everything else. Some graham crackers is perceptible on the nose.

Probably the least likable Bruery beer I've tried to date for my palate and preferences.

as it warms, the sweeter it gets. the graham crackers come out big time with the maple.... as expected, as with everything else, the cheaper and more 'available' cinnamon stands out so muchly.... ratings discerned upon a much-warmed glass.... lots of funky, chemical-ly flavors. smell is awesome, but it falls south from there....