Thorns and Udders
Sunriver Brewing Company

 

a real special version of cocoa cow, which is already great, but done up with fresh raspberries, and lots of them apparently, incredibly good, i love the fruit intensity and honesty in here, its a lead flavor. there isnt really any color from the fruit visible here, this is pretty dark stuff, close to black and the head isnt stained pink or anything, smooth looking, deep without being crazy viscous, holds a burlap colored creamy inch of head. the nose is awesome, tart from the berries, definitely real fruit, not as sweet as expected but still some chocolate sweetness from the base beer, which is really transformed by the raspberry, roast and espresso character, some jammy intensity, juicy and fresh more than cooked to me though, some bitterness apparent, very adult, senses heightened. the berries are first in the taste and this comes in waves, first the tart ripe real berries, then the base stout, roasty and smooth, silky even, chocolate pudding to me without being diabetic, then more of the cocoa low end, cocoa nibs, earthy and bitter, baking chocolate, finally all of it at once with a little raspberry recall and good coffee at the end, not too much lactose in here but it does have a lightly sweet creamy texture, which is the role it should play in this style, so well done there. overall amazing flavor, length and range too, this is long and evolving and interesting on the palate, very dynamic, elegant and balanced for being as flavorful as it is, and really its fabulous, fruited stout at its full potential, unmistakable real raspberry a perfect addition to this classic, downright loved it!

On-tap in Nampa ID and served in a chalice. Beer arrives mostly opaque black with mild lacing. Sweet and chocolatey nose carries a good dose of fruity 'red' berry-like character on it. There is definitely raspberries in there for sure. The body and palate is full of a smooth, creamy sweetness and lactose character with a light roasted/acrid/coffee roasted malt character, maybe even some char but its a minor complement with the chocolate sweetness and raspberry tartness/fruitiness. A fun little brew for sure.