Silva Stout
Green Flash Brewing Co.

Silva StoutSilva Stout
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From:
Green Flash Brewing Co.
 
California, United States
Style:
American Imperial Stout
ABV:
10.1%
Score:
95
Avg:
4.27 | pDev: 12.65%
Reviews:
259
Ratings:
1,077
Status:
Retired
Rated:
May 18, 2020
Added:
Oct 02, 2010
Wants:
  835
Gots:
  142
Bourbon barrel aged
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by DefenCorps:
Photo of DefenCorps
Reviewed by DefenCorps from Oregon

4.41/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Thank you so much for this, Chris. My previous (and only) attempt at getting this beer ended with FedEx losing the box, and I'd resigned myself to the fate of not trying this until you generously sent it to me.

Pouring jet black with a dense, dark brown head with excellent retention and lacing, this beer looks excellent. The lacing is particularly fine, hanging around in dense sheets. And the new, distinctive bottles don't hurt either. The nose is pretty excellent. The barrel character is moderate - coconut, chocolate, sugar and an almost cookie dough-like character, I also get raisins and oatmeal. All of this makes me think - chocolate chip raisin cookie. The roast character is light, this is on the creamier, milk chocolate end of the RIS spectrum. Bourbon is expressed as a little vanilla and a firm but gentle heat.

The palate is outstanding. Coffee and some milk chocolate are immediately noticeable, there's a moderate caramel malt backbone to go with vanilla and bourbon that the barrel has lent. The coffee character isn't as strong as in a beer like KBS, but it's still very noticeable. It is also a little more acrid and less fresh than in KBS. Bourbon reappears on the mid-palate, with a mild booziness that lightens the body some. A moderate chocolate undercurrent is present as well. Mildly sweet on the finish with bourbon, vanilla and caramel all present, along with a touch of alcohol.

Medium-full in body with moderate carbonation, this improves hugely once it's had time to settle down a bit. The mellow booziness on the finish is enjoyable too, especially on this rainy, fall night. Excellent stuff, I would drink this again if I could.
Dec 01, 2010
More User Ratings:
Photo of BKotch
Reviewed by BKotch from Texas

3.77/5  rDev -11.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
2015 vintage. Not infected, but hasn't handled the age very well, either. I obviously should have drunk this sooner. I suspect it was a 4.3 two or three years ago.
May 18, 2020
 
Rated: 4.5 by bdiiorio from Connecticut

May 19, 2018
Photo of tylerstravis
Rated by tylerstravis from Colorado

1.12/5  rDev -73.8%
look: 3 | smell: 1 | taste: 1 | feel: 1 | overall: 1
Infected.
Jan 28, 2018
 
Rated: 4.23 by BeerBucks from New York

Jan 21, 2018
 
Rated: 4.43 by TheOakKing from New York

Jan 21, 2018
 
Rated: 4.16 by tdm168 from Pennsylvania

Dec 09, 2017
Photo of eppie82
Rated by eppie82 from Illinois

4.1/5  rDev -4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
2015. Not one of the infected bottles. Loads of cacao, coffee and chocolate.
Aug 16, 2017
Photo of silverblaze540
Reviewed by silverblaze540 from Virginia

4.54/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
A - Motor oil black with no head. Very dense.

S - Sweet fruits, cherries, prunes, dates, and bourbon.

T - Strong bourbon flavor that holds. Dry but not very bitter. Fairly boozy. Coffee aftertaste.

M - Smooth and thick.

O - Very strong flavor. Pretty good, but I found the bourbon taste just a bit odd.
Mar 18, 2017
Photo of JohnnyHopps
Reviewed by JohnnyHopps from Indiana

4.18/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
We are reviewing an old vintage here, just like the bottle pictured above.

Appearance- The beer poured a black color with mocha colored bubbles crowning the top. Carbonation was still active.

Smell - The beer smelled like a pretty straight stout. I could not pick up any booze in the nose.

Taste - With the malts, I detect notes of chocolate, vanilla, and burnt sugar. There is a nice creamy mouthfeel, and I am not getting a lot of bourbon. The beer finishes with dark dry malts and a little heat.

Mouthfeel- I love the creamy mouthfeel, the carbonation is still very present despite the age.

Overall - I am not sure what this was like when it was fresh, but at present I am not terribly impressed. I am not sure that I would seek another bottle.
Feb 20, 2017
Photo of Nichols33
Rated by Nichols33 from Massachusetts

1/5  rDev -76.6%
look: 1 | smell: 1 | taste: 1 | feel: 1 | overall: 1
Butter popcorn infection, shit. Green Flash = Washington Generals
Jan 22, 2017
 
Rated: 4 by Dave_Treat from Virginia

Jan 07, 2017
 
Rated: 3.52 by khargro2 from Tennessee

Dec 11, 2016
 
Rated: 3.89 by krl2112 from Illinois

Dec 03, 2016
Photo of Treyliff
Reviewed by Treyliff from West Virginia

4.38/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Bottled 12-18-12
12oz bottle poured into a snifter

A- pours a deep black color with a creamy dark tan head that reduces to a ring around the edge

S- smells of charred dark roasted malt meshed into dark chocolate and coffee, with highlights of dark fruit. The bourbon barrel provides an undertone and by this point has intermingled quite well with the beer, notes of oak, vanilla, coconut, caramel & bourbon

T- slightly smoky dark roasted malt up front gives plenty of chocolate notes, along with caramel, molasses and light coffee. The bourbon barrel meshes throughout, adding some spicy oak and undertones of vanilla and bourbon. The finish is sweet with notes of mocha fudge and barrel

M- medium body with moderate carbonation leads to a foamy mouthfeel that turns into a creamy finish

O- this one has held up well after nearly 4 years, hardly any signs of oxidization, well done
Nov 25, 2016
Photo of stevoj
Reviewed by stevoj from Idaho

2.61/5  rDev -38.9%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.75
Catch up rating from Saturday’s RS bottle share. The rumors of infection were swirling, and indeed something seemed a little off here. At that price point, I would feel ripped off....
Nov 18, 2016
 
Rated: 1.76 by Studfarm69 from California

Jul 07, 2016
Photo of Franziskaner
Reviewed by Franziskaner from Missouri

3.32/5  rDev -22.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Black in color and impenetrable to light. There's a fingernail of brown coating most of the top. The aroma is of sweet bourbon and ...butter. I'd heard the rumors before trying this, but I love Green Flash, especially their IPA's (This is my 19th rating for their beers). The taste is full of sweet bourbon, coffee, chocolate, and...butter. The mouth is warm with alcohol, dry, and viscous.
Jun 26, 2016
 
Rated: 3.96 by rawfish from California

Jun 13, 2016
 
Rated: 4.57 by therubicon from Delaware

May 19, 2016
Silva Stout from Green Flash Brewing Co.
Beer rating: 95 out of 100 with 1077 ratings