11th Anniversary
Westbrook Brewing Co.

Overall a good imperial stout that hides its 11% with sweets. I look forward to trying it again.

 

 

Ringing in year eleven, Westbrook shows their sweeter side. Chocked full with caramel and chocolate, their imperial stout has them undecided whether they want cake or sundae for their birthday party.

And in the era of pastry stout, they can have both as their 11th Anniversary pours generally black with a mocha whipped froth. With a robust scent of dark roast coffee, cocoa and a peppery twinge to the nose, a sweeter tone comes with caramel and cake icing. Trending sweet on the palate, the early taste picks up on caramel, chocolate, vanilla and cream in a macchiato way.

With the icing-like sweetness in full swing, the middle palate enjoys a rise of roast that balances the lingering sweetness with dark coffee, bitterssweet chocolate, slight smoke and peppery warmth. Very much an imperial stout at heart, the dark ale closes with a broad and woodsy bitterness that easily reads like coffee to the late palate.

Full bodied, sweet and roasty, the stout finishes bittersweet while trending warm, spicy, drying and toasty with a linger of peppery chocolate and nuanced caramel flavors all around. If you are Westbrook, it looks like you can have your cake and drink it too.

 

 

 

Port wine. Cough syrup.

 

 

Moving on…22 oz. bottle split with my wife. Interesting looking at my reviews. I guess I’m not as fond of Westbrook as I thought I was. What the brain does to us.

Hard black. Soft roast & sweet aromas draped over a fair amount of caramel.

Westbrook’s 11th Anniversary Stout is solid. As advertised there is plenty of caramel with faint layers of roast & cocoa & smoke with a finish that’s like an unwelcome guest, harsh & bitter (hops?). It’s unexpected & clashy. I’m on a roll with beers I’d be like “4 ounces is enough, thanks!”

Not my thing at all. Average at best.

Picked up a 22 oz bomber from Green's Discount Beverage in Greenville, SC 12-29-21 for $10.29. No visible bottling date, consumed 4-13-22.

Beer poured black with a nice tan head with the original pour.

Nose is sweet mildly roasted malts with a lot of cocoa nibs.

Taste follows the nose with a large mild roasted malt base that is nearly overwhelmed with copious amount of cocoa and caramel. Finishes sweet and on the edge of cloying.

Mouthfeel is large bodied and very smooth.

Overall a pretty good beer, wish Westbrook had used more of a roasted malt and more hops as this is pretty sweet but i suppose they were aiming for a pastry stout.

 

On tap at Hop City, Birmingham

Pours black in color with a one finger foamy khaki head. Smells of cocoa nibs, a hint of vanilla, caramel. Tastes of caramel and cocoa nibs with a roasted finish. Medium body, moderate carbonation, foamy mouthfeel and creamy finish

Westbrook went the extra mile on their 11th anniversary with a  chocolate and caramel stout. The base is super roasted, per usual from this brewery, and has a defined cocoa profile. The cocoa mixes with the tangy, caramelized drizzle to create that pastry effect of a candy bar. I really like that they pushed the flavor profile to distinguish this beer as a true chocolate and caramel experience.

 

Drain-pour!

Pours a very dark color with a slight tan head and lacing
Aroma has slight cocoa and caramel hints
The taste the nose with a cocoa and caramel flavor
A medium bodied decently carbonated beer
A good Stout