Brewer's Duet
Benson Brewery

 

 

 

 

great name for a great beer, this was the best of the three i had here. a coffee stout brewed with locally roasted coffee from a nearby shop. dark in the globe, almost black, with a tall and thick and creamy chocolate brown colored head. lots of body, tons of coffee in the nose, i am excited to taste it! whoa, lots of coffee in the flavor too, like good espresso with notes of caramel and toffee and even fresh blueberries. match that with the dark roast of the barley and the bitterness it contributes, and you have a pretty complex and absolutely delicious beer that could be consumed any time of day with equal delight. this really is a duet, equal parts beer and coffee it seems, one of the more intense espresso profiles in a beer in recent memory for me, and very cool that its so low in abv that i can have a bunch of them. lots of body though, and it ends up finishing intense too, a little sweet above the bitter, and it sticks to the tongue and teeth a little long, but its very hearty and satisfying and incredibly well made. id like to know more about the coffee and the process of adding it to the beer. really well done here, the best i had from benson.

 

 

 

 

 

Pours a black color. Nitro beer. 2/3 inch head of a tan color. Great retention and great lacing. Smells of coffee (strong and fresh), sweet malt, slight roasted malt, hint of vanilla, and a hint of alcohol. Fits the style of an American Stout. Mouth feel is smooth and clean, with an average carbonation level. There is also a noticeable 'edge' or 'bite' to the feel, probably from the coffee beans. Tastes of slight coffee (but very fresh), strong sweet malt, hint of roasted malt, hint of yeast, and a hint of alcohol. Overall, great appearance, decent aroma, body, and blend.