Stout
Lantern Brewing

 

Poured from 22oz bomber into a dimpled mug.

Appearance: rich, dark, hazy brown hue with a finger of frothy tan foam. It's a darn good-looking stout.

Smell: rich roastiness with a bit of yeasty character and a phenolic element coming through at the end. It starts off smelling like an American stout but finishes far more like a dubbel or Belgian dark ale, with a dose of band-aid in there. Not bad, but unsubtle.

Taste: sweet, slightly fruity, roasty, chocolatey and with that definite phenolic element, though thankfully toned down from the aroma. It really is somewhere halfway between a typical stout and a Belgian dark ale. I, personally, rather like it, but I think this beer really boils down to individual taste.

Mouthfeel: medium-light body with a moderate carbonation and OK creaminess. Nothing special here.

Overall: I happen to like this beer. It is truly style-defying, more than you see nowadays. It's definitely worth giving a shot.

Poured into a Fremont small snifter. Pours a very dark mahogany brown, appearing nearly black in the glass with a thin khaki head that leaves light lacing. Light aroma of sweet dark toasted malt, chocolate, nuts and a hint of peat. Flavor starts similar to aroma, with sweet dark toasted malt, hints of chocolate and coffee; lightly nutty. Flavor thins out to finish a bit astringent, soapy and peaty. Light to medium bodied. A good start to a domestic version of a Belgian stout; the base flavors are nice and interesting, but the finish is too thin and bitter. This has potential, but need a bit of work on balance and body.