10W-40 Mudslide
Hi-Wire Brewing

 

 

 

L: Pours a dark brunette, forming a thin tan head that fades fairly quickly. Leaves behind a thin effervescent retention, underscoring carbonation, with a spumescent ring of lacing around the edge of the snifter at the beer's edge. Held to the light, this beer is a near-black, nutty brown hue.

S: Loads of Irish Cream, chocolate, coffee, and vanilla upfront. Some toffee and lactose sweetness towards the finish.

T: Follows nose- Irish Cream is more mellow here, allowing the other flavors to shine through. Dark chocolate, toffee, and vanilla upfront, transitioning into a more roasty flavor profile with malts and a coffee. Modest lactose towards the finish. A bit on the sweeter side, reminiscent of a liqueur.

F: Full-bodied. Creamy, thick mouthfeel and a fair amount of carbonation that tickles the tongue. Some alcohol warmth in the finish.

O: A dessert stout, not sold on the Irish Cream and overall the beer may be slightly cloying to some. Once the aroma/flavor shock faded, the beer was revealed to be quite drinkable. If adjusted slightly back towards the traditional stout profile of malt and coffee, this beer could be much stronger without sacrificing its unique flavor.

Poured from a 16 oz can into a goblet.

L – Nearly pitch black and does not allow any light through. Head is dark tan and piles into a thick, rocky blanket when poured.

S - Aromas are dominated by all the additives noted on the label: chocolate, vanilla, and Irish coffee for the most part. Customary stout aromas do not break through.

T - The flavors seem more appropriate for a pastry stout than an Imperial one. Again I get chocolate and Irish coffee at about the same levels, with vanilla in a supporting role. There is a low level alcohol flavor near the finish that reminds me of a coffee liquor. Roasted grains and hops do not rise to detectable levels. Delicious, unusual and un-beer-like.

F - Thick body with a sweet impression and a slight mouth-coating effect. Low but creamy carbonation. High hops bitterness is apparent, since it is detectable above the strong sweetness. Strong, liquor-like alcohol warmth.

O - This beer is delicious and showcases all the ingredients quoted on the front of the label. I find it too sweet and pastry-like for the stated Imperial Stout category, but that doesn't mean it's not delicious and distinctive.

Tall can poured into a snifter. Apperance is motor oil black, usual for 10W-40. Little head to speak of, and what is there fades right away. The smell is VERY chocolatey. The scent of vanilla and cream is noticeable. I have to say, it is dead on. The taste follows as well. It's a great combination of chocolate, cookie, vanilla, and cream, as well as some espresso notes. It's very desserty, but that is what you're signing up for here. It's full but it's smooth. If you don't like sweets, this isn't for you.

It's been a while since I had a chance to try one of these 10W-40 variants and this is tasty. They nailed the flavor profile. Maybe share with the class.

 

Taking motor oil where no motor oil has gone before, Hi-Wire's 10W-40 stout series has undergone several renditions, this time venturing into the world of mudslide milkshakes.

Very dark brown and nearly opaque, the Mudslide 10W-40 releases a full and dense froth that gives the beer a distinctive malted milkshake appearance. Its decadent chocolate, nutty and heavy cream scent sells the chocolaty promises to the nose with decadent ease. Toffee, chocolate, candied nuttiness, cappuccino and whipping cream bring a malty sweet upstart that extends on the early palate like rich java milkshakes.

As the sweet malts rolls onto the middle palate, its simplicity turns to dark chocolate, soft cream and coffee to suggest the likeness of mocha milkshakes with an Americano edge. Trending moderately bitter with a light soilish character, a moderate hop bite takes hold to reinforce the bittersweetness of cocoa and the earthiness of coffee. The roasted flavors disguise the taste of dessert just as the robust stout character wins out in the end.

Full bodied while still holding a suggestion of drinkability, its silky textures are lightened once more by the bitter earthiness of roast and hops. A long finish of chocolate and coffee are highly suggestive of bittersweet chocolate with a warmth of whisky and kahlua to close.