Kiss Kiss Bang Bang
Breakside Brewery - SE Taproom

Fobab 2025.

2026-01-17
22oz bottle served in a stemless rastal. 2025 vintage. Bought it at Beer Junction a few weeks ago.

Pours silky black, a deep brown head arises and disappears leaving behind a thick, bubbly ring. Smell is delicious -- toffee and coffee and molasses, maple syrup and caramelized sugar, vanilla.

Taste is similar, stronger on the roasty bitterness, almost a burnt sugar. Sweetness and bitterness are both quite intense. Coffee flavor also is super intense. A little bit of a cola flavor.

Mouthfeel is thick, silky, smooth, surprisingly a hint of prickliness. Very good beer.

these breakside barrel aged bottles are all so special, a joy to get into a couple of them in the same session with the crew. this is a little more expected than the black barleywine, big stout in bourbon barrels with good coffee, nice! a collaboration with maplewood, who makes nice beer too. this is slick and oil-like in the glass, true black with some shine and some obvious viscosity, not much head at all but not quite totally still to drink, just a bit intimidating. the aroma is wonderful and its apparent right away that this was in barrels for a long time, really woody, char forward, with vanilla and quality whiskey all through it, i get that as much as i get the roasted grain this is built upon, bitter and sweet at the same time, with a chocolate element that to me is about as strong as the coffee part thats actually in here, bittersweet baking chocolate but also like brownie batter, rich and desserty to my nose, with the high end espresso character right there with it, light smoke, cocoa powder, the oils of the coffee, a touch of caramel sweetness too, lots of roast. the flavor is similarly brilliant. huge and strong and slick and palate coating, waves of rich bourbon and attendant sweetness, decadent chocolate fudge, carefully brewed coffee, and all the dark grain layer, really elegant for its enormity and quite smooth actually despite the alcohol presence. molasses and fig jam, dark roasted coffee, loads of bourbon, this is really mature and whiskey saturated. big body, palate coating and slick, sweet and bitter at the same time, high end chocolate exhale, chocolate liqueur or something. warms up well, and is sure to age gracefully as well, even with the coffee it seems built for the long haul. long on the palate, cohesive, wintery, delicious.

World class

 

 

Enjoyed on draft in a snifter at Breakside Beaverton.

Look:
So black, yet still brown. A short head of light brown foam turns into a collar that just won't quit. No lacing, but that's fine for a barrel-aged beer that clocks in above 14%.

Smell:
Earthy dark roast coffee and alcohol fight for supremacy, and it's a draw. The undercard is an entertaining bout between tag teams of brown sugar/bourbon and dark chocolate/toffee.

Taste:
The nose, reshuffled. Coffee and bourbon fight for the belt, and bourbon takes it in a split decision. Excellent. But coffee has the better post-fight interview. Caramel and dark chocolate have a lot to say in the middle. Burnt brown sugar and a lavish smoky note lead to a recap of bourbon and coffee in the finish (a victory lap for bourbon). Flavors of almond paste, marshmallow, prunes, and a hint of black cherries add color to the proceedings. The signature Breakside molasses character makes a late appareance like a Marvel Cinematic Universe post-credits scene. Smoke lingers like a premonition.

Feel:
Voluptuous, with velvety texture and soft carbonation. Alcohol shows its claws and reminds you to sip slowly.

Overall:
It feels like it's been a while since Breakside has done a big barrel-aged coffee stout. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is a BEAST. Heavy with rich, earthy coffee flavor from front to back, and a kiss of fruit, but bourbon holds the upper hand. Sweet, but not too sweet. Delightful smokiness in the finish. This is another outstanding offering from Breakside's impressive barrel and blending program.