Beverage Of Champions
Solemn Oath Brewery

 

 

Poured from a 12oz can dated January 2019 so, 7 months to stew. As a lover of coffee stouts, this is too sharp. The citrus bites -- which is ok --- but never really relinquishes the beer. Therefore, you have this citrus/bitter duality that is in direct confrontation with what tries to be creaminess, but ends up unsatisfyingly because the next sip is straight coffee.

In its defense, coffee stouts (for me) are difficult to pull off. I'm curious to know if its the citrus that sends me packing but not curious enough to sit around for that variant.

 

 

i like this for so many reasons. the orange is an awesome addition, especially with the bourbon, there is a cocktail synergy there, like an old fashioned or something, it really contributes a lot. i like that its not insanely alcoholic either, so often these are too much for one person to take down, but at just north of 8% abv, its right in the wheelhouse, i wish more barrel aged stouts could come down to this range. the barrel treatment is nice, a good amount of mellow oak and whiskey to it, but it also leaves a solid base beer in tact, and i can appreciate the malt character here a lot more than is common in these styles, where the barrel char and vanilla notes take over the roast and any nuance in the grain, here i get some caramel in the middle and some serious bitter black grain too, dark chocolate before the coffee comes in. its been in the bottle a little while now, and i think the coffee must have faded some, its in there with the grain but doesnt jump out at me, more and more as it warms up though. not too much lactose in here either, and with the bitter in the roast and in the citrus, it seems balanced and not too sweet at all, although there is a nice creamy texture to this owing at least in part to the milk sugar. great balance and depth of flavors, nice cohesion, rich while still being drinkable, a great night cap to an awesome session of beer drinking. i really liked this one, perhaps the best i have had from solemn oath, the orange peel really makes it for me!

 

 

Tasted at the taproom. Look was black with a tan head. I can smell the coffee, chocolate and bourbon and a slight orange smell. The taste is predominantly coffee up front and then the big bourbon taste hits but there is some sweetness in it. But it's pretty well balanced. The mouthfeel is creamy and smooth. Overall this was a really good beer and pretty well balanced for all the flavors going on.

 

I was curious to see how the Most Important Beverage of the Day would be barrel aged. Interestingly enough the orange seemed to come out even more in the taste, which wasn't a bad thing to go with the boozy and sweet malt base. Smell was very nice, like a vanilla bourbon barrel with orange cream and some coffee. A bit lighter, but that fit the vision for this beer nicely

 

 

 

 

 

Dark brown with a thin layer of tan foam, spotty lacing.
Aroma is roasty and rounded with a mellow coffee presence.
Taste has a smooth rounded roast and pleasant dark roast coffee flavor, with a complimentary light orange note in the background. Fairly well balanced with a medium body and smooth feel. Barrel rounds the edges but isn't boozy. Nice to try.
Thanks to Jared for sharing!