Breakfast Exorcism
Clown Shoes

 

 

 

 

01/26/20 draft @ 101 Bottles Kent, OH

 

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01/20/2020

Bottle to tulip glass.

LOOK: dark black, small creamy , tan head, different shades of brown and tan fizzle around upon josling, looking like the head of an espresso.

AROMA: coffee first, with hints of charred barley, grains, oatmeal.

TASTE: Coffee, cocoa, roasted malt, vanilla.

FEEL: A touch flat, and thin for the style, but smooth sipping.

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Poured a black body with minimal head and scant lace. The aroma has hints of espresso (I get coffee and milk), along with something akin to dark fruits like figs/prunes, but mostly I get booze and a lot of it to be honest. Smooth, slightly creamy at times, interesting beer as there are quite a few things going on in this slick yet heavy-bodied beer. At times it's too boozy, other times I don't notice the booze, at times it is real dry thanks to strong coffee presence and other times I get tastes of vanilla, chocolate and/or dark fruit sweetness. I thoroughly enjoyed this slow sipper and would recommend it anyone to try.

bomber poured into a snifter

jet black liquid, pencil thin creamy , small bubble brown foam cap that quickly recedes to a bubbly ring, some lacings

bourbon aroma on the pour, coffee,

taste is bourbon without the bite, espresso without the bitterness, coffee taste that lingers

low sudsing, near creaminess, semi dry ,

good beer

 

 

 

 

The description of this beer seems absolutely perfect. Undead party crasher agree in bourbon barrels and enriched with espresso. Really outstanding beer and I have always loved Clown Shoes. Dark rich stout with bourbon, coffee, toffee, caramel and chocolate/fudge. At 11% abv it's a bit of a zipper and it's very rich. That is the one drawback of there is any of that it is very very rich. That being said it is outstanding. Best at cellar or room temp.

Have always found clown shoes to be underrated, really like their craft, and I finally got my hands on this one, worth the hunt. Thick black body with a tan ring of foam up top. Great espresso, bourbon, wood, fudge and leather in the nose. Taste reminds me a lot of kbs, booze is strong, but paired in intensity by a coffee and fudge combo. Supporting wood, leather, molasses, smoke, tobacco, vanilla and roasted malts. Feel is percolated yet smooth, heavy, boozy yet balanced, rich and full. You heard it from this REV first, there is nothing like starting your day with a breakfast exorcism

 

Pours black with two fingers of khaki foam. Head retention is good. Aroma is roasty, toasty, nutty malts with hearty coffee, chocolate - milk and dark - and rye whiskey. Very well rounded. Flavor profile is dark and milk chocolate, cocoa powder, coffee, rye whiskey and roasty, toasty, nutty malts. Sweet with the rye spice and heat rounding out the balance. Mouth feel is velvety and lightly creamy. It has a medium-thick to thick consistency. Overall, big and flavorful. Coffee is well done and folded in beautifully between the chocolate and rye whiskey.

Served in a 15.5oz Spiegalau tulip from a 22oz bottle.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is probably the best "breakfast stout" I've had so far.. Great blend of flavors; the espresso contributes nicely without being overbearing. Pleasant smell, smooth texture. Very much enjoyed this one!

 

 

 

 

 

L - Pitch, opaque black with a minimal tan head that dissipates quickly and leaves behind minimal lacing.
S - Chocolate, molasses, sweet, rich bourbon, malts and oats - however, the smell is somewhat faint.
T - Tons of chocolate and molasses up front mixed with slight notes of coffee, followed by and throughout by rich, sweet bourbon, roasted malts and oats with slight notes of caramel and vanilla.
F - full bodied with a light amount of carbonation - full, luscious, silky, smooth - a really great mouthfeel to pair with the style.
O - overall, a very well done bourbon barrel aged stout. It's unfortunate that it doesn't really deliver on the espresso flavors, but otherwise it checks most of the boxes - but doesn't really stand out from the crowd in my opinion. Great and well worth a try - I think more coffee flavor would really benefit this one as otherwise, it's fantastic. One of the best stout mouthfeels I've had in a long time.

 

 

 

 

Growler into pint glass. Pours a very dark brown with a hefty tan head. Initial impression is chocolate, coffee, molasses, bourbon, and smoky roasted malts. Mouthfeel is thick and smooth. Alcohol is very well hidden. Finish is more of the same, with a slight stickiness.

*Bottled on 3/30/18

Pours seal brown with a modest cap of mocha foam. Aroma smells of molasses and coffee with notes of toffee, peanut brittle, and warming alcohol. Fine, speckled lacing clings to the glass as the beer recedes.

The taste features molasses, brown sugar, bourbon, and roasted malt up front, accompanied by fairly tame, earthy hops for contrast. The bourbon barrel is at once present and well-integrated, making itself known in more than name only. Alcohol remains fairly well-concealed for its ABV. Warming reveals notes of toasted bread, marshmallow, and even some red wine. Coffee characters is surprisingly bare considering it's supposed to be one of the headliners. Medium body and mild carbonation make for a smooth, drinkable mouthfeel, even if it could benefit from a bit more heft. A sweet, syrupy residue lingers on the lips between sips.

Overall, this is a well-executed BA stout. It doesn't stand out in any particular way, but it checks all the boxes and manages to keep your taste buds engaged. Not quite as good as Breakfast Beast, but very respectable in its own right, as most Clown Shoes stouts are.