Anchor Argonaut Collection: Flying Cloud San Francisco Stout | Anchor Brewing Company
Brewed by:
Anchor Brewing Company
California, United States | website
Style: Foreign / Export Stout
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 7.40%
Availability: Rotating
Notes / Commercial Description:
A Dublin-style brew made with English Maris Otter pale malt, two black malts, and flaked barley. Nugget and Golding hops provide a spicy, floral complement to the deep, dark-chocolaty maltiness and dry finish.
Added by elNopalero on 01-24-2013
Reviews: 56 | Ratings: 195
3.86/5 rDev -3.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Pitch Black with a tan head. Smells like cherries and roasted malts. Taste of cherries, vanilla, dark malts, sweetness. Smooth mouth feel, very taste clean.
Overall, This is a good clean beer.
★ 194 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Pitch Black with a tan head. Smells like cherries and roasted malts. Taste of cherries, vanilla, dark malts, sweetness. Smooth mouth feel, very taste clean.
Overall, This is a good clean beer.
★ 194 characters
4.08/5 rDev +2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Pours near black where no light shines through. Beige head with many streaks from each sip.
Sweet with a barley wine aroma. No hop, but lots of cherry sweetness.
The taste is an extention of the smell. Deep sweet cherry with an unsweetened chocolate flavor. Thinnish body with a high carbonation level. Yet, this is a chewy beer. This is a bit of a cross between a sweet stout and a dry barley wine, or a dry stout and a sweet barley wine.
★ 443 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Pours near black where no light shines through. Beige head with many streaks from each sip.
Sweet with a barley wine aroma. No hop, but lots of cherry sweetness.
The taste is an extention of the smell. Deep sweet cherry with an unsweetened chocolate flavor. Thinnish body with a high carbonation level. Yet, this is a chewy beer. This is a bit of a cross between a sweet stout and a dry barley wine, or a dry stout and a sweet barley wine.
★ 443 characters
4.22/5 rDev +5.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Aroma is dark/roasted malts, very English yeast and mild dark chocolate. The flavor is dark/roasted malts, English stout yeast, fruit/dark fruit, mild dark chocolate and an acidic/slightly spicy finish.
★ 203 characters
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Aroma is dark/roasted malts, very English yeast and mild dark chocolate. The flavor is dark/roasted malts, English stout yeast, fruit/dark fruit, mild dark chocolate and an acidic/slightly spicy finish.
★ 203 characters
3.68/5 rDev -8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
This beer is just as a foreign export stout should be: intense malt-flavors attenuated by fruity hops. Despite a high-level of hop-flavor, this beer remains not bitter and semi-sweet, though not as sweet as the dark malts underneath this hop profile would otherwise lead one to believe.
★ 286 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
This beer is just as a foreign export stout should be: intense malt-flavors attenuated by fruity hops. Despite a high-level of hop-flavor, this beer remains not bitter and semi-sweet, though not as sweet as the dark malts underneath this hop profile would otherwise lead one to believe.
★ 286 characters
3.81/5 rDev -4.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Appearance: A full-on bubble show presentation; the mocha head settles in at three inches, stripping dots of lace on the way down; the liquid is a translucent cola color
Smell: Roasted grain, chocolate and a hint of molasses
Taste: Roasted grain and chocolate forward, with cinnamon and burnt coffee bitterness building through the middle; some molasses adds sweetness to the finish
Mouthfeel: Medium body with moderate carbonation
Overall: A little too grainy and a little too sweet, leaving a rather schizophrenic impression; not bad but not a favorite
★ 563 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Appearance: A full-on bubble show presentation; the mocha head settles in at three inches, stripping dots of lace on the way down; the liquid is a translucent cola color
Smell: Roasted grain, chocolate and a hint of molasses
Taste: Roasted grain and chocolate forward, with cinnamon and burnt coffee bitterness building through the middle; some molasses adds sweetness to the finish
Mouthfeel: Medium body with moderate carbonation
Overall: A little too grainy and a little too sweet, leaving a rather schizophrenic impression; not bad but not a favorite
★ 563 characters
3.77/5 rDev -5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Bottle into a Madtree snifter. Pours a syrupy, dark brown and settles pitch black in th glass. A relatively gentle pour yielded about 1/2 a finger of tan foam, which bubbled down to a spotty lacing after about a minute. Strong notes of sweet, roasty malt are accompanied by caramel, molasses, ginger, and dark chocolate. Upon tasting, the first notation I see is a strong, choclately bitterness followed by notes of roasted malt, molasses, caramel, and light hints of ginger and cinammon. Overall, the taste is quite sweet, and coupled with the overly-carbonated mouthfeel, this nearly reminds me of a cola. In terms of density, this is fairly light for the abv, but is chewy enough to not feel flat or thin.
Overall, decent. I'm not too experienced when it comes to "Foreign/Export Stouts", but this seemed like an overly-sweet, syrupy American Stout. Not bad, but not sure I'd buy it again.
★ 893 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Bottle into a Madtree snifter. Pours a syrupy, dark brown and settles pitch black in th glass. A relatively gentle pour yielded about 1/2 a finger of tan foam, which bubbled down to a spotty lacing after about a minute. Strong notes of sweet, roasty malt are accompanied by caramel, molasses, ginger, and dark chocolate. Upon tasting, the first notation I see is a strong, choclately bitterness followed by notes of roasted malt, molasses, caramel, and light hints of ginger and cinammon. Overall, the taste is quite sweet, and coupled with the overly-carbonated mouthfeel, this nearly reminds me of a cola. In terms of density, this is fairly light for the abv, but is chewy enough to not feel flat or thin.
Overall, decent. I'm not too experienced when it comes to "Foreign/Export Stouts", but this seemed like an overly-sweet, syrupy American Stout. Not bad, but not sure I'd buy it again.
★ 893 characters
3.64/5 rDev -9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Looks like a good hearty, chewy black stout with tan head. Aroma was dry export stout malt roastiness.
Taste was what they were aiming for I imagine, its a dry, no frills, chewy adjunct stout. Almost oatmeal like.
Damn George, why you gotta be fartin' while I'm writing this stuff.
★ 289 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Looks like a good hearty, chewy black stout with tan head. Aroma was dry export stout malt roastiness.
Taste was what they were aiming for I imagine, its a dry, no frills, chewy adjunct stout. Almost oatmeal like.
Damn George, why you gotta be fartin' while I'm writing this stuff.
★ 289 characters
3.92/5 rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
pours out somewhere between thick and thin with a mocha head
hints of licorice and chocolate
I get lots more chocolate than licorice, dark chocolate bitterness.
full mouthfeel no alcohol presence and a bitter finish .
good for drinking more than one, but not my typical thick stouts.
★ 287 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
pours out somewhere between thick and thin with a mocha head
hints of licorice and chocolate
I get lots more chocolate than licorice, dark chocolate bitterness.
full mouthfeel no alcohol presence and a bitter finish .
good for drinking more than one, but not my typical thick stouts.
★ 287 characters
3.98/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
12 ounce bottle poured into a tulip
A: Pours pitch black with a mocha colored heard, no head retention, some lacing, no much carbonation, looks like a typical stout.
A: Dark chocolate, coffee, hint of soy sauce, some roasted malt notes.
T: Chocolate, coffee, slight taste of soy sauce, some dark fruits, finishes with some moderate coffee like bitterness, a lingering aftertaste of chocolate, dry finish.
M: It's a little thin for a stout, nice balance of carbonation, dry finish.
O: I was expecting a bit more from Flying Cloud, it's a safe beer, a middle of the road stout, still very tasty, drinkable, but nothing impressive, probably will to seek it out again but I would not turn one down if offered.
★ 712 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
12 ounce bottle poured into a tulip
A: Pours pitch black with a mocha colored heard, no head retention, some lacing, no much carbonation, looks like a typical stout.
A: Dark chocolate, coffee, hint of soy sauce, some roasted malt notes.
T: Chocolate, coffee, slight taste of soy sauce, some dark fruits, finishes with some moderate coffee like bitterness, a lingering aftertaste of chocolate, dry finish.
M: It's a little thin for a stout, nice balance of carbonation, dry finish.
O: I was expecting a bit more from Flying Cloud, it's a safe beer, a middle of the road stout, still very tasty, drinkable, but nothing impressive, probably will to seek it out again but I would not turn one down if offered.
★ 712 characters
3.93/5 rDev -1.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Globey snifter snifter.
Look : Motor oil black pour coming from this sump of a bottle. 100% opaque. Dips into a fiery orange red head that borders on beige-brown as it settles. The head is initially 3 fingers but the recession is quick and swift to a 1/2 finger retention.
Smell : Soy sauce, slight tin, dried plums, slight cocoa, dried fig, and a faint blue coffee note. It is all fairly faint to nose. As it warms a few degrees I get a slight urine smell as well.
Taste : A lot of steamed coffee off the bat, with some blueberry, oatmeal, and a little fig. A shot of smoky lactose. Cocoa. A slight snap of black licorice on the finish. All in all it really is fairly complex and has a lot going on.
Feel : Medium bodied, not exactly creamy but buzzing with a watery oily feel. Dry roasted finish.
Overall : I'd have it again. It was an interesting experience and while not the same kind of monster as a Russian Imperial, Oatmeal, Milk, or American Stout, it's a stout of a different style with liquid black goodness wrapped in a smoky finish.
★ 1,052 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Globey snifter snifter.
Look : Motor oil black pour coming from this sump of a bottle. 100% opaque. Dips into a fiery orange red head that borders on beige-brown as it settles. The head is initially 3 fingers but the recession is quick and swift to a 1/2 finger retention.
Smell : Soy sauce, slight tin, dried plums, slight cocoa, dried fig, and a faint blue coffee note. It is all fairly faint to nose. As it warms a few degrees I get a slight urine smell as well.
Taste : A lot of steamed coffee off the bat, with some blueberry, oatmeal, and a little fig. A shot of smoky lactose. Cocoa. A slight snap of black licorice on the finish. All in all it really is fairly complex and has a lot going on.
Feel : Medium bodied, not exactly creamy but buzzing with a watery oily feel. Dry roasted finish.
Overall : I'd have it again. It was an interesting experience and while not the same kind of monster as a Russian Imperial, Oatmeal, Milk, or American Stout, it's a stout of a different style with liquid black goodness wrapped in a smoky finish.
★ 1,052 characters
4.17/5 rDev +4.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Pretty, oily-black pour, rich, fluffy brown head. Lacing is fairly strong. On the nose, chocolate, coffee, oak, a hint of salt and molasses. Taste is heavy on bitter coffee, dark-chocolate cake, and black-strap molasses, naturally but also tobacco, a hint of salty brine and peat smoke, oak, currants, malt powder, and a kiss of candied orange-rind and pepper from the hops. Finish is semi-dry, with persistent flavors of coffee, smoke, salt, and darknfruit. Rich mouthfeel and decent carbonation, although it flirts with heaviness at times it never bwcomes cloying. A lovely offering from Anchor, as we have justifiably come to expect from them.
★ 646 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Pretty, oily-black pour, rich, fluffy brown head. Lacing is fairly strong. On the nose, chocolate, coffee, oak, a hint of salt and molasses. Taste is heavy on bitter coffee, dark-chocolate cake, and black-strap molasses, naturally but also tobacco, a hint of salty brine and peat smoke, oak, currants, malt powder, and a kiss of candied orange-rind and pepper from the hops. Finish is semi-dry, with persistent flavors of coffee, smoke, salt, and darknfruit. Rich mouthfeel and decent carbonation, although it flirts with heaviness at times it never bwcomes cloying. A lovely offering from Anchor, as we have justifiably come to expect from them.
★ 646 characters
4.02/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured from 12 oz bottle.
A: Pitch black with 2-3 finger mocha colored head. Decent retention and some nice sticky lacing.
S: Caramel, roasted malts, and chocolate with some light smokiness.
T: Roasted biscuit malts, molasses, and light smokey note.
M: Medium to full body and average carbonation.
O: Excellent stout. Nothing crazy here, but just a well crafted beer.
★ 382 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured from 12 oz bottle.
A: Pitch black with 2-3 finger mocha colored head. Decent retention and some nice sticky lacing.
S: Caramel, roasted malts, and chocolate with some light smokiness.
T: Roasted biscuit malts, molasses, and light smokey note.
M: Medium to full body and average carbonation.
O: Excellent stout. Nothing crazy here, but just a well crafted beer.
★ 382 characters
3.9/5 rDev -2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
This was actually far better than anticipated. Feared a dry bitter stout, but this was actually pretty well balanced. Pours black, with a nice 1" or so of head that dissipated. Decent lacing with this. Not a super sweet stout, but enough to provide decent counterbalance to the inherent bitterness. Favorite thus far from Anchor.
★ 334 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
This was actually far better than anticipated. Feared a dry bitter stout, but this was actually pretty well balanced. Pours black, with a nice 1" or so of head that dissipated. Decent lacing with this. Not a super sweet stout, but enough to provide decent counterbalance to the inherent bitterness. Favorite thus far from Anchor.
★ 334 characters
3.98/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
A - Pitch black pour, toffee colored soapy head, sticky foam on the glass.
S - Roasted dark chocolate, cream, roasted malt, and some smokiness.
T - Smokey roasted dark chocolate from start to finish, molasses buried deep underneath, coffee beans - balanced from start to finish.
M - A little on thin side for a stout, medium body, gentle carbonation on the tongue, lingering roasted malt on the palate.
O - Solid.
★ 418 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
A - Pitch black pour, toffee colored soapy head, sticky foam on the glass.
S - Roasted dark chocolate, cream, roasted malt, and some smokiness.
T - Smokey roasted dark chocolate from start to finish, molasses buried deep underneath, coffee beans - balanced from start to finish.
M - A little on thin side for a stout, medium body, gentle carbonation on the tongue, lingering roasted malt on the palate.
O - Solid.
★ 418 characters
4.08/5 rDev +2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Exceptionally thick black color when it pours with a 1-2 inch head that goes away within 10 minutes. The head has a wonderful darkness to it as well. The smell has roasted malts, coffee, and vanilla. Its texture has an initially thick mouth-filling carbonation and bitterness which leads to a thin and somewhat oily finish. The flavor has a nice sweetness that reminded me of dried prunes and ends with a hint of sourness and alcohol flavor (it is 7.4% after all). To be enjoyed slowly.
★ 486 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Exceptionally thick black color when it pours with a 1-2 inch head that goes away within 10 minutes. The head has a wonderful darkness to it as well. The smell has roasted malts, coffee, and vanilla. Its texture has an initially thick mouth-filling carbonation and bitterness which leads to a thin and somewhat oily finish. The flavor has a nice sweetness that reminded me of dried prunes and ends with a hint of sourness and alcohol flavor (it is 7.4% after all). To be enjoyed slowly.
★ 486 characters
4.04/5 rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured from a 12 oz. bottle into a snifter. Virtually black with a thick, tan head and lacing. This stout features the usual smells: malts, dark chocolate, and a little coffee. The taste is also pretty typical and follows the nose. There's also a little vanilla or toffee, and the finish is fairly bitter. This stout is medium-bodied with pleasant carbonation and mouth feel. At 7.4% ABV it's easy to drink. Overall, this is a tasty stout. While I prefer RIS's with more dark fruit, this one's growing on me!
★ 517 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured from a 12 oz. bottle into a snifter. Virtually black with a thick, tan head and lacing. This stout features the usual smells: malts, dark chocolate, and a little coffee. The taste is also pretty typical and follows the nose. There's also a little vanilla or toffee, and the finish is fairly bitter. This stout is medium-bodied with pleasant carbonation and mouth feel. At 7.4% ABV it's easy to drink. Overall, this is a tasty stout. While I prefer RIS's with more dark fruit, this one's growing on me!
★ 517 characters
4.73/5 rDev +18.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
Poured into a snifter, probably one of the most gorgeous stouts I've seen with a black body and a two tone chocolate to beige head of 3 inches thick and heavy foam. Smell is all chocolate, roasted malt, and coffee, with just some backing earth-y hop notes. and vanilla. Taste is light smooth, creamy, and drinkable, very comparable to Guinness with a big chocolate and coffee flavor and a nice roasted malt bitterness. Very dry with some earth notes and a very oily mouth feel that is expected with this style of beer. Definitely some dried fruit, vanilla, and licorice in the taste as well. Really feel they nailed this recipe as it exemplifies the style while giving it more depth.
★ 684 characters
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
Poured into a snifter, probably one of the most gorgeous stouts I've seen with a black body and a two tone chocolate to beige head of 3 inches thick and heavy foam. Smell is all chocolate, roasted malt, and coffee, with just some backing earth-y hop notes. and vanilla. Taste is light smooth, creamy, and drinkable, very comparable to Guinness with a big chocolate and coffee flavor and a nice roasted malt bitterness. Very dry with some earth notes and a very oily mouth feel that is expected with this style of beer. Definitely some dried fruit, vanilla, and licorice in the taste as well. Really feel they nailed this recipe as it exemplifies the style while giving it more depth.
★ 684 characters
3.82/5 rDev -4.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
12oz bottle into 10oz snifter.
A: Pours a very dark woody brown, near black, with a very dense and thick espresso foam stained head that slowly faded into a heavy film which left a few spots of patchy lace down the glass.
S: Roasted nose with notes of coffee dominating. I get hints of nuts and mild chocolate in there as well.
T: Lots of coffee as the nose suggested, with hints of anise, caramel, peat, and bitter dark chocolate. I get anise and peat in the finish, and bitter dark chocolate lingering in the aftertaste. Flavors are strange. I think peat is a good descriptor, as flavors are not smoky, but there is a smoked quality.
M: Medium body, slick and slightly oily mouthfeel, tingly and splashy carbonation, fairly bitter as well.
O: Not bad but probably nothing I’d seek out again. I think this would go well with some oysters or fish and chips though.
★ 872 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
12oz bottle into 10oz snifter.
A: Pours a very dark woody brown, near black, with a very dense and thick espresso foam stained head that slowly faded into a heavy film which left a few spots of patchy lace down the glass.
S: Roasted nose with notes of coffee dominating. I get hints of nuts and mild chocolate in there as well.
T: Lots of coffee as the nose suggested, with hints of anise, caramel, peat, and bitter dark chocolate. I get anise and peat in the finish, and bitter dark chocolate lingering in the aftertaste. Flavors are strange. I think peat is a good descriptor, as flavors are not smoky, but there is a smoked quality.
M: Medium body, slick and slightly oily mouthfeel, tingly and splashy carbonation, fairly bitter as well.
O: Not bad but probably nothing I’d seek out again. I think this would go well with some oysters or fish and chips though.
★ 872 characters
2.99/5 rDev -25.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.75
12 ounce bottle - $4.29 at Total Wine & More in Alpharetta, Georgia.
Appearance: Pours out an onyx black body with a lush, tall, but subsiding beige head with a creamyish quality to it.
Smell: A boldy robust nose, chary and ashen with some molasses an underlying fruitiness and an implied harsh, blackened husk astringency. Warming a tad brings about licorice and Industrial Revolution era soot.
Taste: Notably roasty from the get-go with some blackstrap molasses, a slightly obscured, slightly sourish berry-like fruitiness trying to emerge. Some sweetness beneath the hard roast. More char midway. The bitterness seems more a product of the astringent black malts used as opposed to an hop additions. Powdered licorice. Sooty smoke. Bitter, roasted finish.
Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied. Medium carbonation.
Overall: Not diggin' this one, guys.
★ 846 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.75
12 ounce bottle - $4.29 at Total Wine & More in Alpharetta, Georgia.
Appearance: Pours out an onyx black body with a lush, tall, but subsiding beige head with a creamyish quality to it.
Smell: A boldy robust nose, chary and ashen with some molasses an underlying fruitiness and an implied harsh, blackened husk astringency. Warming a tad brings about licorice and Industrial Revolution era soot.
Taste: Notably roasty from the get-go with some blackstrap molasses, a slightly obscured, slightly sourish berry-like fruitiness trying to emerge. Some sweetness beneath the hard roast. More char midway. The bitterness seems more a product of the astringent black malts used as opposed to an hop additions. Powdered licorice. Sooty smoke. Bitter, roasted finish.
Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied. Medium carbonation.
Overall: Not diggin' this one, guys.
★ 846 characters
3.94/5 rDev -1.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
On-tap 7/5/2015 at Pour Farm in New Bedford, MA served in a US tumbler pint glass.
A: The beer is a deep black color, with a thin brown head that fades quickly and leaves a thin lace on the glass.
S: The aroma contains roasted malts, coffee, chocolate, licorice, dark fruit and molasses.
T: The taste starts out sweet with flavors of molasses, dark fruit, chocolate, coffee and licorice. Then a hearty roasted malt character comes in. There’s some smokiness in the background. The hops presence is very mild but brings some balance. The after-taste is slightly sweet.
M: Crisp and a little smooth, medium body, medium carbonation, finish is very dry and slightly sticky.
O: Tasty, goes down easily, not too filling, decent kick, good representation of style, it’s a solid beer but there are better stouts that I would choose first.
★ 840 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
On-tap 7/5/2015 at Pour Farm in New Bedford, MA served in a US tumbler pint glass.
A: The beer is a deep black color, with a thin brown head that fades quickly and leaves a thin lace on the glass.
S: The aroma contains roasted malts, coffee, chocolate, licorice, dark fruit and molasses.
T: The taste starts out sweet with flavors of molasses, dark fruit, chocolate, coffee and licorice. Then a hearty roasted malt character comes in. There’s some smokiness in the background. The hops presence is very mild but brings some balance. The after-taste is slightly sweet.
M: Crisp and a little smooth, medium body, medium carbonation, finish is very dry and slightly sticky.
O: Tasty, goes down easily, not too filling, decent kick, good representation of style, it’s a solid beer but there are better stouts that I would choose first.
★ 840 characters
3.72/5 rDev -7%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Pours an effervescent ebony with a pinky of tan head. Nice viscosity to this, okay head retention & lacing
S: Carob with woody hops, pruneyness as well
T: Follows the nose, slight coffee notes & dryness as well up front, some raisin notes. Some jammy notes as this warms, some leafy hops, dryness & pruny notes too, carob as well. Finishes dry with leafy hops & jammy notes, faint roastyness
MF: Medium body, smooth carbonation
Drinks easy, a nice take of the style, but not as good as Guinness or some others of this ilk. Not bad, but not very memorable either
★ 573 characters
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Pours an effervescent ebony with a pinky of tan head. Nice viscosity to this, okay head retention & lacing
S: Carob with woody hops, pruneyness as well
T: Follows the nose, slight coffee notes & dryness as well up front, some raisin notes. Some jammy notes as this warms, some leafy hops, dryness & pruny notes too, carob as well. Finishes dry with leafy hops & jammy notes, faint roastyness
MF: Medium body, smooth carbonation
Drinks easy, a nice take of the style, but not as good as Guinness or some others of this ilk. Not bad, but not very memorable either
★ 573 characters
4.3/5 rDev +7.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Poured from a 12 oz. bottle into a chalice.
Appearance: Pours jet black with a moderate amount of bubbles. Huge three finger tan head with decent retention.
Smell: A roasty and fairly sweet dark malt driven aroma with a scent of chocolate, coffee, and subtle fruit. Dark roasted barley malt with notes of dark chocolate, coffee, toast, biscuit, smoke, caramel, and yeast. Sweet hints of brown sugar, vanilla, and cream. Subtle fruit hints of fig, cherry, and prune. Also some light earthy hops. A very solid roasty aroma.
Taste: Like the aroma hints at, a nicely roasty and sweet dark malt driven taste with notes of chocolate, coffee, and dark fruit. Dark roasted barley malt with upfront notes of dark chocolate, coffee, biscuit, toast, caramel, smoke, and yeast. Sweet taste of vanilla, cream, and brown sugar. Fruit undertones of fig, prune, and cherry. A very solid dark and roasty taste.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with a medium to high level of carbonation. Very creamy, silky, and smooth.
Overall: A very solid take on an Irish style Stout. Good roasty malt flavors with some nice subtle fruit notes and a good creamy body.
★ 1,140 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Poured from a 12 oz. bottle into a chalice.
Appearance: Pours jet black with a moderate amount of bubbles. Huge three finger tan head with decent retention.
Smell: A roasty and fairly sweet dark malt driven aroma with a scent of chocolate, coffee, and subtle fruit. Dark roasted barley malt with notes of dark chocolate, coffee, toast, biscuit, smoke, caramel, and yeast. Sweet hints of brown sugar, vanilla, and cream. Subtle fruit hints of fig, cherry, and prune. Also some light earthy hops. A very solid roasty aroma.
Taste: Like the aroma hints at, a nicely roasty and sweet dark malt driven taste with notes of chocolate, coffee, and dark fruit. Dark roasted barley malt with upfront notes of dark chocolate, coffee, biscuit, toast, caramel, smoke, and yeast. Sweet taste of vanilla, cream, and brown sugar. Fruit undertones of fig, prune, and cherry. A very solid dark and roasty taste.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with a medium to high level of carbonation. Very creamy, silky, and smooth.
Overall: A very solid take on an Irish style Stout. Good roasty malt flavors with some nice subtle fruit notes and a good creamy body.
★ 1,140 characters
3.99/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
A: Pours an opaque jet black in color with light amounts of gentle visible carbonation along the edges of the glass and faint dark cola brown highlights. The beer has a four finger tall dense foamy extremely dark brown head that reduces to a medium sized patch of thin film surrounded by a mottled very thin film covering the remainder of the surface of the beer and a thin ring at the edges of the glass. Light amounts of lacing are observed.
S: Moderate aromas of roasted dark malts, cocoa, and just a hint of ground coffee.
T: Upfront there is a moderate flavor of roasted dark malts with a light amount of dark fruit (plum) sweetness. That is followed by moderate flavors of cocoa and just a hint of dark coffee. Light to moderate amounts of lingering roasty bitterness.
M: Medium bodied with light to moderate amounts of carbonation. Light amounts of dryness in the finish.
O: Easy to drink and enjoyable with well hidden alcohol. Definitely worth grabbing and a tasty brew.
★ 983 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
A: Pours an opaque jet black in color with light amounts of gentle visible carbonation along the edges of the glass and faint dark cola brown highlights. The beer has a four finger tall dense foamy extremely dark brown head that reduces to a medium sized patch of thin film surrounded by a mottled very thin film covering the remainder of the surface of the beer and a thin ring at the edges of the glass. Light amounts of lacing are observed.
S: Moderate aromas of roasted dark malts, cocoa, and just a hint of ground coffee.
T: Upfront there is a moderate flavor of roasted dark malts with a light amount of dark fruit (plum) sweetness. That is followed by moderate flavors of cocoa and just a hint of dark coffee. Light to moderate amounts of lingering roasty bitterness.
M: Medium bodied with light to moderate amounts of carbonation. Light amounts of dryness in the finish.
O: Easy to drink and enjoyable with well hidden alcohol. Definitely worth grabbing and a tasty brew.
★ 983 characters
3.58/5 rDev -10.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Very dark brown, nearly black in the Ciney snifter with some of the darkest foam I've seen. Quite sudsy in the mouth. Foam swirls up as you sip. Winey and rather sweet. Pleasant dark caramel candy taste with the charred malt coming up for the finish.
Rather bitter and plain finish. Still, this is one of the best of the last few years of anemic brews from Anchor. The sudsy mouthfeel lasts to the end. The San Francisco market is wide open for them if they would step ahead a few decades.
★ 490 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Very dark brown, nearly black in the Ciney snifter with some of the darkest foam I've seen. Quite sudsy in the mouth. Foam swirls up as you sip. Winey and rather sweet. Pleasant dark caramel candy taste with the charred malt coming up for the finish.
Rather bitter and plain finish. Still, this is one of the best of the last few years of anemic brews from Anchor. The sudsy mouthfeel lasts to the end. The San Francisco market is wide open for them if they would step ahead a few decades.
★ 490 characters
Anchor Argonaut Collection: Flying Cloud San Francisco Stout from Anchor Brewing Company
4
out of 5
based on 195 ratings.
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Pours an absolute black with a thick (2 1/2 cm) caramel colored head. Wonderful head retention. Lacing is dull and barely present. Aroma is spicy with notes of roasted and toasted malts, bread, and spicy floral hops. A sip brings in a dull pale, roasted malt quality, which never bolsters up or gets too loud. Additional flavor notes include chocolate, bread, and spicy, floral hops. Mouth feel is filling and velvety, with a bit of a fizzy, dry finish. Overall, it's a really fun dark beer. It finishes dry, which may be off putting for some, but otherwise it's a fun little brew with plenty going on.
Served in a 12oz snifter.
★ 630 characters