Sea Witch
Seapine Brewing Company

 

 

 

Served on tap (at Wild Ginger).

I've got mixed feelings about this beer. In some ways, it's a pretty solid milk stout, with mild sweetness, a bit creamy feel (although thinner body than some milk stouts), and a nice dark roast character. But somehow the whole effect doesn't quite come together. And then at the end, there's a tangy effect that seems out of place. I still enjoyed it, but wouldn't go back for more.

 

 

 

 

 

an interesting brew right here, sort of fashioned as a milk stout i think, it has the body and the final sweetness like it has some lactose in it, although its tough to say, because the dark roasted unmalted barley aspect is so enormous. about as much of it as i have seen in proportion in any grain bill lately, and i think its a bit too much frankly. the beer is very bitter, sharp almost tannic, really ashy, past the earthy soil-esque deep aspect i like, this is well beyond it, almost composty, and the little bit of lactose cant save it. part of me wonders if this is just a little tangy, like there might be an infection of some kind, but i think its just the really intense dark grains overwhelming any balancing aspects that might be there. i like all the head on it, i love all the body, and it remains sort of smooth feeling despite being quite aggressively flavored. this could stand to be reworked just a little bit, i like the bottom end being bold, but this seems almost careless in that regard. my first beer from these guys certainly has my attention though. maybe i am being too hard on this one, its better than ive just described, but some intangibles arent there for me.

On tap at the Seapine brewery tasting room in seattle
Color/Look: Black and murky
Smell: toasted grains, chocolate, coffee
Taste: taste of dark chocolate/cacao, coffee, nice on the palate, should have bought more
Feel: really creamy

As the beer gets warmer, bigger smell and taste comes out