Toasted Almond Stout
Back Bay Brewing Co.

 

L: Pours a rich brunette, forming a swirl of short-lived carbonation that leaves behind a thin tan head which quickly fades. A faint swirl of bubbles at the top of the glass, with a film of khaki lacing around the edge of the glass. There is a continuing effervescence visible in the glass. Held to the light, this beer has a crunchy, fudge-like composition.

S: On the fainter side. Some clear bourbon barrel influence, with a mix of coffee beans, vanilla, and chocolate. Faint malt and lactose.

T: As advertised, plenty of barrel, but lesser chocolate than expected in the first sip. Followed up with a bit of roasted coffee. Noticeable lactose sweetness and trace almond. Light char and oak, and a sprinkling of malt throughout. Finishes boozy.

F: Creamy, smooth mouthfeel. Lighter body that most stouts - a medium body at most. Some light carbonation.

O: This beer is a bit underwhelming. The flavor lacks the one-two punch of chocolate/coffee that I'd normally expect from an imperial stout. This leads to the bourbon barrel and lactose doing most of the lifting, which caps the beer's overall appeal. It does not drink like a 12% ABV. Worth a try, but maybe don't pay $19 for one bottle if you can help it.

 

L: Poured from a bottle to a pint glass. Had a deep, dark brown color and a thick, opaque consistency. There was a 3/4", creamy, fairly long-lasting head. Not a whole lot of lacing, though.

S: A pretty good, but not great aroma of the advertised almonds, chocolate, malt, coffee, cream, and lactose.

T: Tasted of a tinge of coffee (less than expected), some lactose (not a big factor, but present), a good amount of malt (present throughout), some milk chocolate notes (could've used a bit more), and a fair amount of toasted almonds. An interesting, smooth flavor, but not as powerful as it should be. Still, not bad.

F: A below average amount of carbonation with a silky smooth finish. Medium-bodied.

O: A solid, albeit flawed beer. Worth a look.