Sump Coffee Stout (2023 Variant) - Costa Rica Las Lajas
Perennial Artisan Ales

A - Pours out largely opaque, with some reddish-brown translucence on the edge, a short, quick fading dark tan head, reduced to a thin line ring but no lacing.

S - Fairly quiet nose, some dark fruit and berries over a chocolaty malt sweetness, and pungent alcohol presence on the nose.

T - Follows the nose, with brownie batter chocolate sweetness and a soft berry fruitiness. The coffee, to the extent it is here, comes in through the end, trailing some mild bitterness and a more mocha aspect to the sweetness. The alcohol also lingers in the finish, hints of vanilla and bourbon-like spirit flavors that stay long after the rest of the beer has faded away.

M - My problem here is that this is too sticky, too heavy on the tongue, and the alcohol and carbonation just don't quite clear things away enough. That sounds harsh, but given what the beer is, I honestly do not think it is poorly done. In fact the beer is very well built, just not quite as clean as I'd like.

O - I think this variant is quite tasty, and the brew makes a great dessert beer. My main knock, that the feel is a bit heavy for my liking, really speaks to my mixed feelings about Imperial Stouts in general. But, I have had brews this big with slightly more balance, so I mark this one as quite good, representing Perennial's consistent skill, but not in the top tier of the Imperial Stouts I've had.

 

 

 

Almost black liquid with a tan head that disappears quickly. Syrup lace. Lingering foam ring that's thinner the Salvador Dali's mustache.
Coffee and very high on the lactose sugars.
Feel is thick and oily like in high viscosity but I did bump it up because of the 11.5 ABV. LOL
Almost too sweet for my liking. I'll be moving ion from here.

Can pour - initial pepper on the nose, so I left it for 10 minutes or so and came back. Lots of roast but there's a grape note on the end. There's a blueberry-type note embedded within the coffee, this isn't a fruited stout. Full body, lightly bitter on the finish. Not as sweet as the base version.