Suspect Device
Notch Brewing

16oz can poured into a pint glass. 6/16/22 best by date, so about a month past at time of consumption- completely my fault since I purchased a couple months ago and forgot to get around to it. Normally I would not review an ooc beer, but I've had it refrigerated the whole time and it isn't what I'd consider a particularly fragile style.

A: Black in color with great clarity and some lighter brown hues about the edges. A solid two fingers of beige head form well, but it falls after a relatively short time. No real lacing.

S: Bakers chocolate and cocoa, even layer of soot and roast, mild black coffee acidity, spot of licorice, stone-like minerality, and a background of chicory and spicy/earthy hops.

T: Follows the nose. Lots of bakers chocolate and cocoa throughout. Chicory and coffee acidity. Tame and even level of sooty black malt flavor. Good deal of minerality. Tobacco-like hops. Very dry as it should be. Spicy/smokey finish.

M: Rather light bodied, but with a great silky creaminess. Ample carbonation provides lift and a gentle prickle.

O: It's very easygoing and rather inoffensive. I'd have liked to see a more robust and complex burnt barley character, but it's a fine and drinkable beer as it stands. Just a bit tame.

Canned 2022/03/16
Pours a foamy frothy rich 1.5 finger tan head with great retention, soapy lacing, jet black color

Nose rich chocolate, roasted malt and coffee, little mocha fudge, moist chocolate cake and caramel chocolate candy bar, light spices

Taste more chocolate, cocoa, chocolate cake, semi sweet with a little caramel chocolate candy, fair roast with a little coffee and mocha Java, some baking spices, med to lighter bitterness from roast and mild spicy hop, getting to med bitter spicy hop finish

Mouth is med bod, soft creamy, med to a bit higher carb

Overall it's decent, a nice beer but too much of the sweet and chocolate in general for a dry Irish stout, but otherwise a nice beer

Canned 3/16/22, best by 6/16/22

I really can’t get enough of Notch recently. I go there whenever I can and always grab cans when I see them at the store. This one is the latter. I’m feeling a nice and light Irish Stout. Let’s crack it open

Pours a very dark brown with 2 fingers of tan head that fades to a thin cap and leaves minimal lacing

This is surprisingly sweet in the nose, but not overly so. I’m picking up on aromas of milk chocolate, dark toast, toffee, light herbal hops, and acidic coffee

It’s more balanced in taste, but still leans a bit sweet. On the front end of the sip I’m tasting acidic coffee, toast, earthy hops, rich toffee, raisin, and light cocoa powder. The swallow brings notes of milk chocolate, dark toast, herbal hops, rich toffee, and light nutty malt

A light medium body pairs with gentle tingling carbonation, resulting in a creamy yet crisp beer. Finishes mostly dry with a sweetness that actually works

This one is pretty good. Nothing mind blowing, but definitely solid