Twelve Gauge Imperial Stout (Orange Chocolate)
Payette Brewing

Cola colored with a 1/4 inch of tan head. Barrel and booze are evident up front with only a bit of chocolate and even less orange. There is a whiff of caramel. The taste exactly follows the nose, booze, wet wood, a hint of chocolate, but I struggle to find the orange. As the beer warms up the orange peeps out. A medium mouthfeel. Not a bad beer, just a medium beer...nothing great, nothing bad. The tastes are there, just nothing forward. (Found old notes on this one)

19.2 ounce can bought over a year ago, poured into a pint nonic.

A: Dense and fairly viscous opaque black pour with minimal mocha head. Looks like a big, respectable BA stout in the glass.

A: Dang; actually some nice sweetness and chocolate character on this one, and the orange is there too. Whiskey isn’t boozy or hot but it is present, blends well with the chocolate and orange. A food amount of roasted malt backs it all up.

T: Again, surprised at the depth of flavor from the adjuncts, this beer works together well. There is a fairly substantial stout and roast body as well, and good whiskey character, more sweet than bitter.

MF: Roasty full body, fairly thick.

O: I had this a year ago and liked it but it still surprised me this time; a year hasn’t cut down on any of the flavors and positive aspects of this beer. Good stuff.

 

19.2 oz can from Brewers Haven. Dark brown pour, some light coming in around the edges, tiny ring of head. Sweet aroma, chocolate, malt. Taste is sweet, more chocolate, little orange and a nice bit of heat at the back. A bit of orange peel if you search for it.

a really nice version of this stout, which is rightly messed around with a lot. its a great base beer, works awesome in the barrel, and holds and supports a lot of flavor. this orange chocolate edition is nice, with orange natural and sweet and juicy, way in front of the chocolate for me, the original beer well enough in tact, and more drinkable than some of the other variants i have had, less outwardly sweet, and with some nice citrusy pop from the fruit. its not too desserty either, and the bitter cocoa is better than sweet milk chocolate would have been, smartly done there. orange is prominent in the nose, real enough, and the cocoa is more evident in the taste, some earthiness and roast to it. the whole beer is warming, boozy, and baked, rich but not that heavy, and with subtle whiskey, honey, vanilla, and burnt notes in the mix as well. fuller bodied of course, but its not syrup, and while it hangs on the palate, it stays fresh tasting and dynamic, not fatiguing at all. they did a good job with this, one of the more unique and compelling variants i have had. real well done, they should be proud of this one. was fun to drink at their impressive black friday event today!