Half Time Shuffle
The Bruery

Review: 2139
Name: Half Time Shuffle
Brewery: The Bruery
Location: Placentia, CA
Style: American Stout/Pastry
ABV: 9.9%
Date: 2021
Starting with a stout before the head kicks in, I served Half Time Shuffle in a Tulip glass at 46 degrees. The pour created a frothy, creamy, dense one in a half-fingered head with above-average retention. The somewhat slow dissipation left no lacing on the glass; I expected something to show from the lovely head. I am charting the color at 38, inky black and opaque. The appearance of the head is beautiful for this three-year-old beer, setting the stage for a unique tasting experience.
Nosing the glass, I pick up a rich chocolate aroma with peanuts, vanilla, and doughy for the first aromas. Smelling the glass again, I detect toasted bread, caramel, molasses, raisins, earthy toffee, and waffle cones. The aromas have many sweet notes, from the malt to the chocolate. It's like a waffle cone dipped in chocolate and sprinkled with nuts but in stout form, engaging the senses and preparing for a flavorful experience.
On the first sip, I noticed the chocolate. It was not like your typical chocolate flavors; it was bittersweet and drier. Other flavors are peanuts, salt, waffle cone, vanilla, caramel, toffee, molasses, raisins, malty sweetness, roasty, toasted bread crust, and yeasty notes. The aromas are precisely what they describe on the label.
The mouthfeel is chewy and smooth, and the finish is slightly dry. The body is heavy and has low carbonation.
I have had several Half-Time Shuffle thus far, and the definition of what they wanted to do is there, yet I am not the biggest fan of this beer. The biggest issue I have is the balance of the flavors. The chocolate is tasty, but it is odd to me. It tastes like baker's chocolate but is a bit bitter and dry. Please do not misinterpret that as this is a bad beer because it is not, but having several stouts from The Bruery, Half Time misses the mark for greatness. I still enjoyed the beer, nonetheless.

16oz can poured into a snifter
2021 Vintage

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

S- aroma gives a base of roasted malt, complimented by chocolate, char, a light nuttiness, even a bit of sugary waffle cone. Undertones of light oaky bourbon, with a trace of creamy vanilla

T- initial saltiness hit the tongue up front, followed by sweet notes of chocolate and vanilla cream. Mid-palate brings out some roasted peanut, as well as caramel and more saltiness. The finish gives some oaky barrel undertones that add some creamy vanilla. Lingers of milk chocolate and salty nuts

M- medium-heavy body with moderate carbonation leads to a creamy mouthfeel that continues into a velvety, almost chewy finish

O- there's not mention of salt on the label, unless they used salted peanuts, but it's definitely salty. It actually plays pretty well with the sweetness of the pastry stout

 

16 oz can into a snifter

A bit of an everything-but-the-kitchen sink kind of stout. Reminds of of liquified chocolate bark. Medium viscosity for the style. If it has a weakness, could use a little more vanilla and peanut notes. But otherwise solid pastry stout, delivers as advertised.