Southside Stout American Stout
Excel Brewing Company

I'm trying this beer at the brewery. It poured an opaque dark with very thin off white head that is not leaving any lace. The scent had faint roast and cocoa notes. The taste was nicely balanced and easy to drink with chocolate mocha presence. The mouthfeel was lighter in body with good carbonation. Overall its a good beer.

 

 

 

This is from a brewery close by so I might get it a bit fresher than most. It has a nice coffee and chocolate smell that pours dark brown with an inch of off white head. As for drinking it's like drinking cold burnt coffee mixed with lots of dark chocolate. It's drinkable and somewhat enjoyable but it's nothing special. Excell bottles Ski soda in case anyone was wondering and they have for many years.

 

Another bottle bites the dust in today's attempt to eradicate single-O Porters, Stouts & Old Ales from the insidious Bottle Backlog here at Chez Woody.

From the bottle: "Keep cold. Drink fresh[.] Don't age." Great advice from a brewery a mere 42 miles from Saint Louis! Southside, indeed.

I Pop!ped the cap & let fly. Keep your advice to yerselves, jagovs! I was surprised by a lack of head, so I resorted to a vigorous in-glass swirl to raise a finger of foamy, deep-brown head with modest retention. Color was Black/Opaque (SRM = 44), allowing ZERO light penetration, but evincing cola highlights at the edges. Nose had a smoky, almost burnt roastiness, causing my eyebrows to involuntarily raise in response. Mouthfeel was medium-to-full, not quite creamy, but close. The taste had a burnt bitterness, suggesting an overuse of roasted malts without anything to help balance them. I kept thinking of coffee that has been on the burner for just a bit too long, but not long enough to cause it to burn. It was drinkable, but not really enjoyable, if that makes sense. Finish was dry, but with an unending, unyielding bitterness that I just did not find enjoyable.

 

 

Poured from a brown 12 oz. bottle. Has a black color with a 1/2 inch head. Smell is of cocoa, some coffee. Taste is roasted malts, smoke, light coffee, none of the cocoa in the aroma. Feels medium bodied in the mouth and overall is a decent beer, but nothing special.

 

 

 

 

Appearance: Black, turbid, with pale orange head and lacing.

Smell: Sweet molasses .

Taste: Burnt notes, molasses, coffee, hints of toffee.

Mouthfeel: Thick, heavy, and carbonated.

Overall: This is exactly what I wanted a stout to taste like. After having Guinness for the first time, my heart just broke and I haven't been back since. I've heard American stouts are different, and they were right. This is delicious, warming, and easy to drink. It's like a winter's night spent by the fireplace. It makes me happy to drink it.

Nothing special.

Taste: bold chocolate malts, roasted cocoa beans, slight tobacco notes.
Big dark chocolate malt nose.
Black and opaque for the most part. tan delicate lace to head.
Medium to almost full body, a bit chewy, but rich baker's chocolate at the finish.