Chocolate Covered Strawberry Abduction
Pipeworks Brewing Co.

 

 

 

Poured black with a cap of tan foam the shrinks to a ring. Smell actually gets fresh strawberry on the finish after fudgey chocolate and vanilla, bright. Taste is the same, with the strawberry sitting atop a rich chocolate pie with vanilla and ganache. Strawberry more present in smell than taste, but well done, very real tasting. Feel, like most of the series, is medium bodied, smooth and in this installment somewhat bright for style. Perfect for valentines day! The wife liked it

 

Appearance - The beer was black with a modest tan head crowning the glass.

Smell - The nose was deep malts with hints of hard to capture strawberries.

Taste - My first impression was to note the beer taste like thick rich fudge. The strawberry is light, but at least it is not overbearing or artificial. It is difficult to capture strawberry in beer, especially a stout. Pipeworks does an admirable job. The roast chocolate largely overwhelms the strawberry by the aftertaste.

Mouthfeel - The carbonation level of on target for the style and allows the taste to linger.

Overall - For me, this Abduction is a minor miss. A touch more strawberry might have helped.

 

 

22oz bottle poured into a tulip

A- pours deep black in color with a one-finger foamy khaki head that has short retention and leaves nothing behind

S- charred malt, cocoa nibs, vanilla cream, chocolate covered strawberries

T- strawberries are much more prominent in flavor, immediately adding a slightly tart strawberry note. Mid-palate brings out notes of cocoa nibs, milk chocolate & some roasted notes. The finish continues with more strawberries, along with a hint of vanilla sweetness, and more chocolate that lingers with notes of chocolate covered strawberries

M- medium body with moderate carbonation leads to a slightly creamy mouthfeel that continues into a silky, slightly warming finish

O- strawberry really comes through on the flavor and works well with the cocoa and vanilla