Maryland Roast
RAR Brewing (Real Ale Revival)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is one of those textbook "coffee 'n' cream ales" that looks like a stereotypical blonde ale (this one in particular has a thick, fluffy head with nice retention), but smells like coffee and chocolate goodness. I recognize the Rise Up coffee from a mile away, and it really gives this a wonderfully roasty black coffee vibe - due to its darkly roasted nature, this could almost pass for a stout blindfolded. Notes of white bread, vanilla cream, and sugar cookie help to "lighten" this brew's aroma up. Flavors follow the nose closely, with the initial notes displaying some intense black coffee. Sweeter flavors show up near the back of the palate - think vanilla, cream, sugar cookie, and maybe a touch of corn. The darkly roasted coffee doesn't balance with the cream ale base perfectly (keeping it out of the 4 range), but it remains tasty and shockingly easygoing for 9%. The coffee gives the palate feel a mild to moderate astringency that helps cleanse the palate in spite of the healthy sweetness - how is this 9% again? Carbonation isn't particularly notable. This is a style I usually really dig, and this one is rather good. Still, the disconnect between the coffee and the base is notable (more so once more is consumed). It's a worthy offering regardless.

3.7/5: I welcome our new coffee cream ale overlords