Noon Moon
Grimm Artisanal Ales

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Picked this up at Grimm last month and of course, I didn't immediately get to it although I was eager to. Most of their bottles lately have hit the mark and this on - pardon the pun - may have hit the moon and beyond as it was just as good as their lighter, bubbly offerings that they've come to be known for. Smooth, sweet, rich, and feeling *much* lighter than it was in actuality, this was a winner and a great offering to have on a cool night such as this!

The pour to this looked like dark chocolate with a thin, bubbly mocha head that offset the liquid nicely. Loads of cacao nibs, banana, banana cream, and mild nuts in the nose as everything just exploded in the taste. Raspberry juice, whipped cream, 'nilla wafers, and deep chocolate came through in the taste as this was so sweet, decadent, and enjoyable from the first sip to the last. It's not often that I describe a beer of this type as easygoing but this would be it as as it was the equivalent of a perfectly baked pie that left a hint of stickiness on the palate and an ooey-gooey feeling on my mind!

Like any Stout, there's booze in here but you'd be hard-pressed to find it as the flavors stood out in front and never let their grip go. This faintly reminded me of a Brandy Alexander as it was on par with a rich, sweet, and strong drink that was concocted in the right proportion. Really impressed with this offering from Grimm as it proved that they're more than a one-trick pony. Get this if you can, and have it for dessert after a long and taxing day. It's worth ending the day with!

L: A light brown compared to the other heavier stouts.
S: Bananas and a bit of hazelnut.
T: Not your usual stout. Extremely light choco flavors that flow into a strong body of banana and a hint of hazelnut. More like a dessert beer than a stout but a unique and drinkable beer.
F: Hazelnut and banana.
O: A very unique spin on an otherwise bland category of beers. Very memorable and worth a shot if you can find it.

 

This was really something special. Pours a rich shade of dark brown with a thin ring of khaki foam. Aroma is banana bread, cinnamon and vanilla with undertones of rich cocoa & toasted hazelnut.

Flavor is very sweet, but delicate and ultimately soft and velvety. Upfront sweet ferraro rocher chocolate and creamy, savory hazelnut spread (Nutella). More bittersweet chocolate. Some sweet rasin and ginger. . .Midpalate, dry wafer cookies and bitter italian biscotti. Fresh fruity banana flavors build in intensity throughout the experience, eventually coming to a crescendo transforming into more of a caramelized, banana creme brulee flavor - that lingers on the palate for a good long while during the aftertaste, which goes on seemingly forever.

Feel is exceptionally supple. Alcohol profile is well hidden. Dry/Bittersweet.

You can tell a beer is made well when the aftertaste is as complex, rich and protracted as this. If you like banana bread and milk stouts you will no doubt enjoy this.

 

 

 

 

 

Poured into a pint glass via bottle

color is a rusty brown with minimal tan foam

smell is hazelnuts, coffee, chocolate, banana is faint

taste is is sweet cocoa up front, with some roasty hazelnuts right after, banana is not strong, and provides more sweetness than anything else, minimal alcohol burn

carbonation is medium as is the mouthfeel

was hoping for a bit more banana flavor, but it still is a very nice stout