Espresso Stout
Big River Grille & Brewing Works

On tap at BRG in Chattanooga.
Nearly opaque brown body with red-orange highlights at the edges. Weak tan head and little lacing.
Fine aroma with coffee and brown bread. The flavor follows, adding hints of vanilla. The body is very smooth and lighter than expected.

O: readily recommended.

 

 

Appearance: Served up a dark brown, near black body crowned with a half inch-high layer of beige foam.

Smell: The nose is reasonably diverse, though nothing about it is particularly bold, as it presents only modest notes of coffee, charred bread crusts, chocolate, and caramel.

Taste: Unsweetened chocolate powder with a slackened taste of roasted grains followed by a charge of espresso flavor and buttery caramel. Slender hint of dark fruitiness. Minor, predominately roasty bitterness. Light chocolate and coffee tones on the finish.

Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied (just barely). Medium carbonation (again, just barely).

Drinkability: Not so bad, but, by no means is it the best. Still, it's worth signing up for a pint when stopping by the Chattanooga location.

Looks good pouring from the growler into my mug. Dark cola hue with a moderate sawdust-brown head. I can't detect smells worth a damn but the hearty aroma emitted by Greyfriar's espresso still floods my nostrils. Mouthfeel is not as thick as I'd like, but it makes for a very drinkable beer. I could see myself downing 3 of these, easy. Pint glasses, I mean. Not gallon-sized growlers. The taste is very malty, but the espresso doesn't dominate to the extent I thought it would. Lacks a sharp acrid aftertaste but the malts surge on the palette with a solid coffee taste. I'll reiterate on the body, its on the thin side, but it holds its own. It's comparable to Kona's Pipeline Porter. Good beer, locally brewed or not.

this expresso stout is a little overwhelming. the expresso flavors drown out nearly any other characteristic....way to strong on the expresso here...as expected got better as it got warmer...the body is very thin and is a dissapointment...dark roasted expresso flavors dominate with a peanutty finish...hops are undetectable and the malts are nearly the same....totally out of balance....even for the style....appearance is good...black with a huge well-retaining head...will be my last. Stick with the Vienna offering!