10W-40 - Salted Caramel Chocolate Bar
Hi-Wire Brewing

 

 

Pretty much exactly as described for a novelty beer taste of caramel which is the base of the beer nice bit of chocolate like the outer layer and just a slight bit of salt which is quite nice. Beer itself is pitch Black 1/4 inch or froth that settles to nothing.

overall a pretty excellent novelty beer hits all marks and I enjoy drinking it

 

16oz can poured into a tulip. Pours black with a dark khaki head that fades quickly leaving little to no retention and lacing. The aromas are malt forward along with some dark chocolate. Hints of smoke as well. The flavors basically follow the nose for the most part. More dark chocolate along with the salted caramel. The saltiness isn't over the top and is just enough to make everything pop. More hints of smoke in the mix. Subtle sweetness. Moderate to low bitterness. Solid malt backbone. Alcohol is well hidden. Mouthfeel is on the lighter side of full-bodied with moderate carbonation. It's thin, slightly fluffy, smooth and dangerously drinkable.

This is a solid stout. It's nothing crazy, but it's still enjoyable stuff.

 

Like motor oil with a sweeter side, Hi-Wire Brewing takes the Imperial Stout into the candy aisle with a general compilation of chocolate, caramel, milk sugars, sea salt and vanilla. So, roasted alcoholic Twix anyone?

Robustly textured and studily black, the Salted Caramel Chocolate Bar 10W-40 releases the same mid-density froth as other 10W-40 variants that gives the beer a whole heartedly espresso-like appearance. Its decadent chocolate, nutty and caramelized scent is balanced with the lavishly malted underpinnings of chocolate, caramel, toffee, cream and savory nuttiness that extends on the early palate much like a candy bar.

As the sweetness evolves, its simplicity turns to chocolate, coffee and sweet cream to suggest the likeness of espresso cappuccino. Trending roastier than expected, a bitterness of moderate hops take the balance to a broad and woodsy campfire character with the sweetness of caramel lingering. The roasted flavors and burnt toast emphasize a coffee-driven session with chocolate and a rounded salinity late on the palate.

Full bodied while still holding a suggestion of drinkability, its silky textures are lessened slightly by the acrid dryness of roast. A long finish of chocolate, coffee and cream suggest many things of the coffeehouse fame, but with that undeniable Twix identity.

 

L: Poured from a tallboy can to a pint glass. Had a dark brown color and a thick, opaque consistency. There was a quarter inch of foamy, tan-colored head that quickly dissipated. Not a whole lot of lacing.

S: A decent, if a little muted, aroma of chocolate, caramel, malt, and vanilla.

T: Tasted of a decent amount of malt (present throughout; a major factor), a tinge of vanilla (kind of lingers around for a while), a fair amount of milk chocolate (nice, but could've used more), a little sea salt, and some caramel (quite sweet). Like the aroma, the flavor's a little muted, though it does get better as you go along.

F: A fair amount of carbonation with a smooth finish. Medium-bodied.

O: This is an uneven beer, but it has some bright spots. Worth a look.

From the bottom of the can: "PACKAGED 05/19/20"

Appearance: The body is black and it has a fizzy brown head with some odd looking bubbles in the middle that are darker, like eyes over a lighter colored surface. The bubbles could induce trypophobia. Moderate retention, no lacing.

Aroma: It has a roasted grain aroma with some carbon and burnt wood.

Taste: Up front there isn't much other than carbon. Towards the middle there is a bit of chocolate and a light alcohol character. It finishes with mild alcohol flavor. After a while of drinking the beer, there is a slightly smokey aftertaste.

Mouthfeel: Thick, full bodied, and chewy. Bitterness is medium and it feels like it comes from roasted grains. Very slick and syrupy.

Overall: The can states that this is an "IMPERIAL STOUT BREWED WITH CHOCOLATE, CARAMEL, VANILLA, LACTOSE AND SEA SALT." Aside from the light chocolate flavor, none of those flavors came through. As a whole it just tastes like a pretty average Imperial Stout. I wouldn't recommend it, given that it advertises flavors or aromas that are not present. I wouldn't buy it again. If you already have the beer, it's worth drinking as an average Imperial Stout.

Poured hard from a tall can into a snifter glass, forming 2+ fingers of foamy brown head that soon faded to nothing. Dark cola brown color. Smell is just roasty stout with a tidbit of sweetness. Taste is primarily roasty stout, but there's some salted caramel and chocolate flavors. Not as prominent as I was hoping for, and I don't love the bitter/roasty flavor, so a little bit disappointed with the taste. Feel is light with light carbonation. Overall not bad for a slightly sweet but roasty stout, but doesn't deliver on the name as I much as I would have liked.