St. John's Stout
YellowBelly Brewery & Public House

On tap at the brewery. Black with creamy tan head. Roasted malt aroma. Medium body with smooth feel. Dark chocolate and coffee flavor with a dry finish. Nice

Dark brown color but light does pass through the edge of the glass. Foamy head which leaves a blanket of lace.

Deep toasted chocolate malt. Dry. Very little, if any, black patent malt burnt aromas.

Smooth, dry stout. The body matches the Irish originals but the carbonation feels high (no nitro). Mostly dark chocolate, but here, I do get some burnt coffee elements. Smooth aftertaste of unsweetened cocoa.

 

 

 

 

 

Pours smoothly, has a nice body and presentation. Great typical stout taste. Very refreshing, and a great match for many meals.

 

A proper stout will look it's been left on the barbecue too long - and St. John's Stout pours extra well-done. Not entirely black, this does have slivers of colour, but maintains an overall charred complexion. Any attempt to replicate its head would require a milk frother (at least at first).

Initial sniffs aren't providing the abundance of bittersweet, coffee-ish flavours I love about the style. Actually, they aren't giving me much of anything - not even if dipping my face into the glass. This is of definite concern considering that dark malts and roasted barley are notoriously aromatic (at any alcohol strength, even at this relatively modest 4.7%).

Most the Newfies I've ever met are extremely personable, outgoing, and well-humored. But St. John's Stout, were it a person, probably couldn't look you in the eye and would speak in a voice so low you'd have to lean in to hear what they're saying. That's certainly the case with the flavour - it's so meek as to be almost entirely muted.

What can be made out, however, is nothing but pleasant: creamed coffee, bakers chocolate, and dry graininess. The only other thing it needs is a volume nob. The mouthfeel is almost non-existent and has none of the style's characteristic roasty, bitter, or creamy textural elements. So shy!

The people of St. John's' fondness for beer is rivaled only by their appreciation of live music, good food, and convivial merriment and YellowBelly is a place where you'll find them all. But in aiming for a sociable stout that's approachable to everyone, they made things too approachable. A more extroverted offering would better befit its name - and my personal tastes.