Barbary Coast
Almanac Beer Co.

Barbary CoastBarbary Coast
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From:
Almanac Beer Co.
 
California, United States
Style:
American Imperial Stout
ABV:
10%
Score:
89
Avg:
3.96 | pDev: 7.07%
Reviews:
43
Ratings:
168
Status:
Active
Rated:
Nov 27, 2021
Added:
Dec 05, 2015
Wants:
  7
Gots:
  27
Imperial Stout with cocoa nibs, vanilla, chili flakes and oak staves
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by BeerBobber:
Photo of BeerBobber
Reviewed by BeerBobber from Nevada

4.1/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours out as black as night with a small brown head that quickly goes away.

Smells like stone fruit with some vanilla and dark roasted malts.

Taste is of vanilla and chocolate, the sweet variety of chocolate and not the bittersweet variety. Has a bit of a peppery taste with some alcohol taste on the flavor. Also picking up on some wood flavoring like in a bourbon. Getting some stone fruits, raisins and figs, as well.

Mouth is sticky and medium. Has a kind of fizzy appearance on the tongue.

At 10% ABV you can feel the warming as this one goes down. Surprisingly easy drinking and damn tasty. While this is a big stout it is still an easy drinking beer. For big stout fans this one is a must try.
Apr 03, 2017
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4 by TMoney2591 from Illinois

Nov 27, 2021
Photo of DefenCorps
Reviewed by DefenCorps from Oregon

3.78/5  rDev -4.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Crowler from Uptown Market. 2016 vintage.

A very dark brown with a brown head that recedes rapidly leaving no lacing, this looks solid. The nose is great. Despite the age, the chili pepper character is still noticeable, lending a toasted heat to the nose. Vanilla, oak and dark chocolate are present, the oak being a particularly raw and potent yet still well-integrated, a blend of fresh wood and vanilla. Mildly ashy on the nose with some roast and brown sugar. The palate opens with a blend of brown sugar, caramel and toffee, along with a nice, tempering chili heat, earthy and woodsy. Vanilla and oak dominate the mid palate with the high level of tannins shockingly well-integrated into the mouthfeel. A touch ashy on the finish with cocoa, vanilla and lots of oak woodiness present. A hair disjointed on the finish. Tannins dry out the palate nicely. Medium full in body and softly carbonated, this feels solid on the palate.
Dec 12, 2020
Photo of stevoj
Reviewed by stevoj from Idaho

3.66/5  rDev -7.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Draft at BitterCreek. Dark brown with small beige head. Aroma is mix of chocolate and roast malts. Taste follows with more of the same, nice texture, but finishes fast.
Aug 12, 2020
Photo of Skywave
Reviewed by Skywave from Oklahoma

3.89/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Pours up an inky dark brown and not much head retention. Aroma is hot fudge, Hershey syrup, Mole sauce, brown sugar. Flavor is chocolatey and a bit spicy. Much like a mole sauce. MF is big and sticky. Good stuff. If Prairie Bomb is too much, try this.
Feb 07, 2018
 
Rated: 4.09 by BirdsandHops from Oregon

Jan 18, 2018
 
Rated: 4 by 1971bernat from Virginia

Dec 28, 2017
 
Rated: 4.34 by Isarnan from Michigan

Nov 22, 2017
Photo of archer1006
Reviewed by archer1006 from Pennsylvania

4.18/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
A rich, complex, sweet and smooth imperial stout, of the "mole" vein. A hint of chocolate and spice at the same time. Almost an oily smoothness. This beer has a tasty finish and a potent punch. I personally prefer the traditional imperials to the spicy variety. But this one is only a hint of spice with a smooth overall feel. I recommend giving it a try.
Oct 21, 2017
 
Rated: 4 by mrcraft from California

Sep 24, 2017
 
Rated: 3.93 by WillieThreebiers from Connecticut

Sep 10, 2017
 
Rated: 4.14 by Wheels2532 from Pennsylvania

Sep 08, 2017
 
Rated: 4.13 by hozersr from Pennsylvania

Sep 08, 2017
 
Rated: 4 by PA-Michigander from Pennsylvania

Jul 23, 2017
Photo of mac31
Reviewed by mac31 from California

4.25/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Soft, sweet chocolate, vanilla, and coffee all at play here. It's great. A really nice base beer. It sets up over an inconspicuous chili backbone. The spice is rather interesting. As the aforementioned entry flavors entertain the palate, the chili creeps in along side the carbonation with a simmering spiciness that expands to a more prominent contribution in the finish. You can really feel the peppery spice warm the chest with each sip. However, the feel comes in light. I was expecting more heft behinid it. Feel is also silky, textured, almost milkshake like and lightly oily/slick; very much welcomed. The alcohol is perfectly masked. Wow! What a beer. This is a great beer. The best mole stout I've had (not saying much, since I haven't had many.) I didn't get much in the way of oak, but no complaints here. I will seek out this beer immediately. Almanac really hits it out of the park with this beer. A must have for a stout fan, especially a mole fan.
Jul 04, 2017
 
Rated: 4.22 by Beer-A-Lot from Virginia

Jun 21, 2017
 
Rated: 4.5 by GClarkage from California

Jun 20, 2017
Photo of Lone_Freighter
Reviewed by Lone_Freighter from Vermont

3.9/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
On tap at Blackback Pub, Waterbury, VT. This was poured into a tulip. The appearance was a black color with a slim less than finger-ed white head that dissipated nicely. Lacing was slim to none. The smell took in the dark and roasty notes initially, but then as it warms, there’s the light chili pepper coming in subtle and clean. It took even a bit longer before the saltiness showed up. The taste replicated the smell for the most part and in the same pace; ie roasty and then chili pepper and then saltiness. But the saltiness was so light, it was mostly barely there. Quick dry finish. On the palate, this one sat about a medium on the body with a nice dry sessionable to sipping quality about it. Carbonation rides fairly low. Overall, as a Double/Imperial Stout, it works. Almanac taking their creativity to the next level and "spicing" things up a bit, hmmm...yeah, I say sip this one, and you’ll get everything Almanac is putting in this. I’m pretty sure that’s what they were aiming for anyways.
Jun 09, 2017
Photo of GoBearsWalter34
Reviewed by GoBearsWalter34 from Illinois

4.41/5  rDev +11.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
L- pours a jet black with a one finger off white head that dissipates quickly. A decent amount of carbonation for an imperial stout. Impenetrable to light.
S- cocoa nibs chocolate and vanilla bean. Just a little hint of some pepper.
T- Th coco nibs and pepper show up first in which th pepper stays on the back of the hop to linger. Vanilla bean is subtle. As it warms, the pepper and banilla becomes moe pronounced in back of tounge.
F- Mouthfeel is medium, but the complexity makes warming.
O- I very much enjoyed this. Good complexitt.
May 06, 2017
 
Rated: 4.28 by travolta from California

Apr 13, 2017
Barbary Coast from Almanac Beer Co.
Beer rating: 89 out of 100 with 168 ratings