Little Guatemala
Fonta Flora Brewery

A: Pours an opaque thick viscous jet black in color with light amounts of fine active visible carbonation rising along the edges of the glass and faint dark amber + dark cola brown + dark chestnut brown colored highlights. The beer has a three finger tall dense creamy foamy dark mocha head that slowly reduces to a large patch of medium thick film covering the entire surface of the beer and a thick ring at the edges of the glass, Moderate amounts of lacing are observed.

S: Moderate to strong aromas of dark chocolate + cacao nibs over the top of slightly stronger than moderate aromas of dark roasted earthy coffee. Moderate aromas of roasted + dark + slightly charred malts with a minimal amount of lactose-like sweetness.

T: Upfront there are moderate flavors of roasted + dark + slightly charred malts with a minimal amount of lactose-like sweetness. That is followed by moderate to strong flavors of dark chocolate + cacao nibs over the top of slightly stronger than moderate flavors of dark roasted earthy coffee. Slightly less than moderate amounts of roasty bitterness which very slowly fades away.

M: Just shy of full bodied with light to moderate amounts of carbonation. Slightly creamy, smooth.

O: Easy to drink considering the strength and a very smooth almost creamy mouthfeel. Excellent chocolate + coffee flavors + aromas without much sweetness. Excellent.

 

 

December 2020 can direct from the Charlotte brewery. Forgot I had these. 12oz can poured into a 20oz nonic. No carbonation on open. Deep dark chocolate smell along with a trace of soy, guessing that’s due to age. Deep deep burgundy color closing in on black but not quite there. Quite thick feel to this one and there is an almost gritty feeling,( as I get to the bottom I see a lot of sediment so guessing this was suspended and caused the gritty texture before it sunk). Quite coffee forward with some sweetness in the finish, light bitterness too. Overall a beer I will buy again if I see it. I hope to be able to try this fresh as I can imagine it’s even more flavorful than this year old plus can.

 

I don't know what a "reasonably thick late 90's-inspired" stout implies from the label text. What's the benchmark for a late 90's craft stout? I have a hard time remembering things that happened three days ago. In any case, the coffee on this one is hella earthy--not over-extracted and vegetal, thank goodness, but certainly in dark roast territory. Cacao nibs come through near the finish to provide some welcome sweetness and balance.