Dry Stout
Wild Wolf Brewing Company

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Coming over in a trade, I had given one to tone77 as part of our regular in-person gig, but I held off, awaiting getting a picture taken. I heard a loud metallic noise the other day and realized last night that it was this one, trying to burst out of the CAN! Tone77 mentioned that his was highly carbonated, so it may be something about this batch. Beware, fellow CANQuesters, this Wolf is Wild!

From the CAN: "Dry Stout"; " Howling Good Beer"; "Leave Only Pawprints! Pack it in - Pack It Out"; "CANs: Infinitely Recyclable"; "This stout is deep brown in color and has a beautiful tan head. It is medium bodied and has a creamy character. The coffee like aroma with slight chocolate notes is followed by a medium hop bitterness. This beer is remarkably smooth."

I had to use emergency procedures, but I was still behind the eight ball even after getting it cooled down and taking a picture. The initial pooching of the lid must have CANpromised the seal because it was really flat when I initiated the Crack! Hell, I had to prise it open manually and even an inverted Glug failed to raise more than wisps of light-tan head with very limited retention. Nose smelled very much of French Roast coffee and dark chocolate, so perhaps not all was lost. Color was a deep, dark-brown (SRM = 44), allowing for zero light peneration. Mouthfeel was thin, allowing for the CO2 having leaked out during this debacle. The taste was initially of dark chocolate, followed by a heavy roastiness, very much like rich, dark coffee. I was happy that oxidation had not occurred, or at least not that I could discern. Finish was dry, with a bitterness rivaling that of my morning coffee. I would be willing to give it a second chance if I CAN get a replacement CAN, but if you have one in abeyance, you might want to drink it fairly soon.

Yes, despite him not reviewing it yet, this beer comes my way courtesy of woodychandler. poured from a 12 oz. can. Despite zero agitation on my part, this beer came exploding out of the can, filling the glass, and the floor with a thick head. Smell is of coffee, roasted malts. Taste is strong of coffee up front, roasted malts at the finish. Feels medium bodied in the mouth and overall is a solid beer, but for those who enjoy coffee only.

 

 

Pours pitch black with a 2 1/2 finger tannish head that leaves copious lacing. When held up to a bright it shows a thin ruby ring around the base of the glass.

Aroma of chocolate milk at first whiff, but settles down to a nice mix of coffee, chocolate and caramel.

Taste is very dry and fairly bitter at first, the bitterness is of dark roasted malt and just a hint pf hops. It mellows as the beer warms and the taste of caramel and coffee shines through with a faint impression of dark chocolate. Slight sweet malts and some tart citrus develop as well.

Medium full in body with moderate peppery carbonation. Luscious creamy feel otherwise. Acidic burn in the throat.

Too dry for my taste at the start, but it moderated. In the end, it's well rounded in fragrance, flavor and feel. Quite pleasing.

 

12oz can into a pint glass.

Pours pitch black with a very large, billowy dark tan head. Lots of crusty lacing clinging to the sides of the glass and the head persists over halfway through drinking the glass. Very impressive.

Aroma is milk chocolate along with some roasted malt and a hint of metal. Nothing really off-putting but not extremely impressing either.

Light milk chocolate on the flavor along with a touch of fruitiness from either the yeast or the hops. The roast is a little bit subdued and there is a touch of caramel. Mouthfeel is very silky but doesn't finish quite as dry as I was hoping leaving some stickiness on the lips.

Overall, a quite impressive beer from a brewery I have never heard of. I could put back a few of these.