Kleine Stouterd
Logsdon Farmhouse Ales

 

 

not sure this is retired, as it was on tap just last week. one of my favorite beers from the visit here, a robust american stout done with pear juice and some curious yeast i cant quite place. you have to love this one, innovative and well executed like they all are from these guys, but this has a little extra something to it. the beer is shiny and black, and holds a half inch of khaki colored head, light compared to how dark the body is. the nose shows more acidity, white wine, than i expected, more of that than the pear itself, but i suspect the former is a product of the latter. deep roast, unbrewed coffee grounds, minerals. the pear really is pretty well fermented out of the flavor too, its far from juicy, but its impact is substantial. its a little thinner in body as a result of maybe a lower grain bill in its place, and there is a nice fruity tang, like the skin of the pear before its all the way ripe. beautiful with the dark ashy roast of the base malts and the yeast, which has a little belgian farmhouse tinge to it, but isnt funky or bretty or anything. well carbonated and lighter in body, there is a cool life cycle here, like the renewal and regenerative elements of soil in the dark grain, burnt out, but the fresh lively fruit of the pear that while transformed somewhat, still represents that summery bloom and growth, the harvest, its awesome. never had a stout like this.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Think of this beer as a cross between and stout and a sour beer. Start there. I admit that I am not a fan of sours, but I am a stout fan. The sour element results in a thinner beer with a sour citrus finish instead of the typical stout finish. If you are a fan of sours, this would be an interesting beer. I drank what I ordered but will not be looking to repeat this one. YMMV.

Pours dark brown with orangish edges and no head. This one actually looks a bit thin but clear and nice color.

Nose is kind of a citrus chocolate, if that's even possible, with hints of nice roasted malts. A very different nose but pleasant.

Taste is good but not what you expect in a stout. This is almost a "sour stout" or a citrusy stout with light body and very thin mouthfeel. The flavor profile of roasted malt with hints of sour and light chocolate is nice, but minimized a bit by the thin mouthfeel. This is a decent drink and cool to try - it's different.

 

 

 

On tap at Boneyard Bistro in Sherman Oaks, CA.

Pours a murky orange-brown with a foamy dark khaki head that settles to a film on top of the beer. A foamy curtain of lace coats the glass on the drink down. Smell is slightly sour with dark roasted malt, cocoa powder, and dark fruit aromas. Taste is much the same with slightly sour cocoa powder, earth, dark fruit, and herb or mint flavors on the finish. There is a mild amount of roast bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a lower level of carbonation with a slightly crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is an above average beer that is drinkable, but there is an odd combination of cocoa, fruit, and herb or mint qualities.

Serving type: on tap.

 

 

On-tap at THG.

A: Served a dark mahogany brown (not black) with a finger of dense and airy head that slowly faded into a lasting collar. Spotty lace was left down the glass.
S: Roasted notes dominate the nose and mix with scents of dark fruits and brown sugar. There is a fruity, caramely sweetness to the nose that vaguely reminds me of bananas foster.
T: Sweet sugar flavors mixed with a dominating roastedness, hints of candied dates and raisins, and sticky candied fruits. Belgian yeast is flavorful and adds a creamy and spicy complexity along with interesting earthy and woody flavors. The finish especially reminds me of a Belgian dubbel or a strong dark ale. Fruity lingering aftertaste mixed with roast.
M: Creamy mouthfeel with soft and frothy carbonation. Medium-light body.
O: A strange combination of Belgian and stout. Definitely tastes like a "rustic" stout. Lots of dark and candies fruits and tons of roast. Good but far from my favorite by Logsdon.