Terry
Prairie Artisan Ales

Who says stout isn't for summer? Brewers at Prairie do, that's who. They've turned the tide on imperial stout by adding a generous twist of orange peel to a cocoa, vanilla, coffee stout for our summertime sipping pleasure.

Espresso black and casting a mirror sheen on the glass, the foamy dark ale carries those bold roasted aromas with an undercurrent of walnut brownie, coffee house and an oddly bright citronella scent. But sweet on the tongue, the stout's toffee, caramel and chocolate influence come through strong.

The stout unapologetically saturates the middle palate with its roasty, toasty, malty sweet decadence and buffers from the usual acrid nature of ash, char or cocoa powder. Rendering them to a soft, smooth and latte-like character, the overcast of oranges glide gracefully over the session and provide a mild and acidic bitterness for balance and charm.

Coffee dominant on the late palate, the stout trails into a long and lingering roasty taste with the spice of curacao liquor and crème de cacao looming.

Weak nose gives way to a balanced flavor of oranges and spice.