Creekside Double Dark Stout
Creekside Brewing Company

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I sat about 5 feet from the brewery equipment and had this beer on tap, along with samples of the other beers this brewpub had on tap. The pint was served to me in a Chimay/Brandy-like glass.

The appearance was, in a word, stout. Medium-low foam that retained well, leaving the appropriate laces to leave a record of each sip.

There was a background of floral aroma dominated by the molasses and coffee. Very pleasant.

The taste was a dark-malt bomb with dark coffee dominating other roasty flavors. There was a bit of a piney, citrusy hop bite, which felt a bit out of place, but wasn't unpleasant and is totally appropriate for an American Stout.

Mouthfeel was on the mark for stout, creamy, full bodied but medium-low carbonation.

I am not a stout drinker. I drink it on rare occasion, not because I dislike it, but because I usually find something else I like more. But in this case, after presented with a flight of 5 beers and an opportunity to pick from the brewpub's large menu, I went with the stout and was glad I did.

This beer was thought up and made by a friend of mine who brews part-time at Creekside. Double Dark is an American stout with extra helpings of Black Patent and roasted barley.

Served in pint glass.

Appearance: A deep brown, foamy head sits atop a pitch black body. This is one of the darkest brews I've ever seen! Impressive head retention and lacing. Totally opaque.

Smell: Dark roast coffee, dark chocolate shavings, char, and dark currants. Very roasty with a sweet, vinous, kick. Huge aroma!

Taste: Tons of dark malt-related flavors: black French Roast coffee, charred wood, dark chocolate, and smoke. As with the aroma, tangy berry-like notes come through on the back end. Bold and roasty throughout with a very bitter finish.

Mouthfeel: Full-bodied, bitter, and very roasty. The bold flavors cling to the palate deep into the aftertaste, creating a coarse, masochistic sensation.

Drinkability: Had one too many of these this morning (St. Paddy's Day) - definitely led to a roast overload... among other things. This is an excellent beer, but the heavy bitterness and dark flavors become overwhelming even after just one pint. Oh shit, they just changed "drinkability" to "overall." Well, this one won't score too high in the drinkability category, but I think it's damn good overall.