Dream System
Grimm Artisanal Ales

16 ounce can, date stamped is smudged so I can't tell what the canning date is. Thanks to Brutaltruth for this can! Served in a chalice, the beer pours dark brown/black with not quite an inch tan head that stayed around a little while. There's a decent amount of lacing. I like the aroma, the brew smells mostly like coffee, along with some oats, roasted malt and vanilla. Taste is similar to the aroma, but with the addition of some dark chocolate and earthy flavors. Mouthfeel/body is medium, it's smooth and a bit creamy with a low/moderate amount of carbonation. Overall I liked this brew, worth trying if you come across a can or 2!

From the 12 oz bottle in a snifter. This solid little stout pours a dark
brownish black with a nice head of khaki foam that settles to a thick ring,
thin layer, and sports some nice light lacing. Nose of coffee, faint vanilla,
subtle char, dark roast, and subtle cream. Flavors hit the mark with
mellow vanilla, cola, cream, moderate coffee, subtle char, dark roasted
goodness, and mellow oats. Mouth feel is medium full, light carbonation,
and finishing with moderately bitter malt.

Of note, let this one warm and find the flavors, it is pretty darn good.

Little Lady approved...my co-reviewer!

Cheers

 

From the bottom of the can: "CANNED ON 11/30/2023 13:19:11"

Appearance: It is a black bodied beer with a short, somewhat creamy textured, light tan head. The head fades out quickly and leaves a frothy ring around the glass. Some spots of lacing.

Aroma: There are some light notes of roasted coffee which are pleasant. It has a bit of a burnt wood smell.

Taste: Up front there is a light char flavor with a touch of acrid tartness. A hint of black coffee flavor comes through and it increases a bit more towards the middle of the mouth. It finishes with a light bitter roasted flavor. Not much aftertaste.

Mouthfeel: It feels on the lower edge of medium bodied. Carbonation feels fine. There is a light malt bitterness to the beer and overall it is easy to drink.

Overall: The can states that this is an "OATMEAL STOUT WITH COFFEE AND VANILLA." It is a pretty good Oatmeal Stout, so the base beer is definitely worth drinking. It has some coffee notes but they are very mellow, and it's really hard to tell if there's actual coffee in this or if it's just coffee character from the roasted grains. It doesn't have any more coffee character than comparable Oatmeal Stouts on the market that are not made with coffee. As for the vanilla, it is completely absent which is disappointing.

I doubt I would buy it again given that it doesn't have much, or any, of the advertised flavors. My recommendation would be to pass on this and just buy a normal Oatmeal Stout from Grimm if it is available.