Hyperspace Fury
Burlington Beer Co.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I've really enjoyed drinking BBCo's stuff at their taproom, but honestly... I've generally felt that their beer doesn't come across as well when packaged and distributed. I'm not sure what it is, but especially their stouts tend to feel muted and less-impressive in cans than when you get "the real thing" at the brewery. Let's hope this over-the-top dessert stout isn't victim to the same oddness.

The pour here is kind of the stereotypical "scary stout" pour of 2018/2019. It starts with an immense, seemingly vantablack liquid pouring directly into my glass with aplomb, while a smallish yet menacingly-colored head of medium brown builds up atop the depths. Good legs but not much in the way of lace honestly, and the surface is mostly clear despite some small wisps of foam. Nice but not incredible.

The nose is immediately turning me off a bit... it's slightly metallic, I guess, with an uncanny plastic-y note that I just can't appreciate. After it warms, I'm starting to get the waffle cone aspect quite readily, which is good (and saving the beer from failure immediately). Okay, this has to really get out of "fridge temp" to be remotely quality, it seems. Coffee ice cream and vanilla plus a nice helping of dark chocolate show up once it gets to cellar temp. The waffle cone element is surprisingly well-done. I don't get much of the salted caramel in the nose, but perhaps that will happen on the palate? I just had a salted caramel imperial stout from another brewery a couple weeks ago, and it blew my mind, but it was also incredibly on-the-nose (and didn't feature all these other things), so the balance is what I'm looking for here.

Upfront I get a lot of roasty grains, chocolate, toffee, and caramel. Is it salted caramel? Not really, honestly. I don't get that intense decadent and diabetic thing, which I'm kinda thankful for if I'm being honest. Some slight dark fruit, with marshmallow and vanilla toward the finish. A bit drier and less sweet than I thought it would be. I guess if I try to find it, "waffle cone" could be considered some part of the flavor here. Honestly, though, this doesn't stand up to some of the more flavorful stouts I've had recently. BBCo just feels like a general "let down brewery" when it comes to their packaged stuff, though, for whatever reason. I absolutely love having their beer at the source, but even the same beers brought home pale in comparison. Not bad, but I wouldn't seek it out. A good "double milk stout," though, for sure.

 

On tap at the brewery

 

Pint can (473 mL) with no date.

Opaque black color with a very small tan head. Poor head retention that settles to a ring clinging to the sides of the glass. No lacing.

Aroma is dominated by heavily roasted malt. As the beer warms some of the salted caramel comes out in the flavor. Some astringency from the roasted malt that makes it difficult to drink.

Carbonation is good but the beer finishes with a heavy sweetness. Full bodied and, honestly, kind of a mess.

This is good beer? I don't think so. This one needs to go back to the drawing board.

 

Poured from a 16 oz can into a tulip glass.

The aroma brings notes of salted caramel, milk chocolate, vanilla ice cream and dark roasted malts.

The flavor brings notes of waffles, caramel, chocolate syrup, and vanilla ice cream. Sweet but balanced.

The feel is medium full bodied with soft carbonation. Very creamy and smooth.

Overall, a very good stout that is definitely a dessert in a glass but also retains plenty of balance.

 

 

 

 

Moderate to vigorous pour yields a 1/2 inch tan head over a dark brown body with scant lacing. Nose of caramel mostly, followed by vanilla and waffles. As it warms, there's a bit of fleeting smoke and leather on the nose as well. Taste of roasted malt, bitter chocolate, caramel, vanilla, with a slightly salty waffle finish. Yes, I said "slightly salty waffle finish!" Nice feel and overall, I've always enjoyed BBCo.'s dark beers over their IPAs. Cheers!