Wilfred's Paradox
Other Half Brewing - Center Street

 

 

Picked this up at Other Half in December and got around to it tonight, which is much quicker than what is usually the case with me! Loved the label but who cares? This was so impressive on the inside as it was a world-class Stout that looked perfect and felt like it didn't have any alcohol in it. How many beers of this type can make both of those claims?

1,900+ beers that I've reviewed on here and this one arguably had the best-looking pour out of any of them. Smooth, silky, patient, and topped off with a mocha head that seemingly never settled, this was what an ideal beer should look like. Tons of voluminous lacing was left behind as I sipped this as the exposed glass was lesser than the area covered by the rings. Not a strong or memorable aroma to this as there was enough milk chocolate, cream, oats, and lactose to be detected and give this beer it's distinctive, subdued aroma. Wonderfully smooth taste of milk chocolate, soft berries, soft cream, milk, lactose, and the faint hint of wood that lent itself more towards the depth and body of this liquid more than any other aspect.

Booze? It's here but I never felt or found it and with such a smooth and creamy presence to this, I didn't care at all. A hint of lingering powder from the cocoa nibs reminded me of what went into this but what was important was what I got out of it - an appreciation for the style and what went into it. Props to Other Half for brewing a Stout on par with their best IPA's. This was such a beast from start to finish, while coming across as smooth as any typical brew that got me hooked on suds. Seek this out and do what it takes to get your hands on this!

 

Decanted from a 16.9 oz (500 ml) bottle into a custom taster pint; purchased at the brewery 2 weeks ago.
A: Pours a rich black color with a foamy, one finger, brown head, moderate retention, but somewhat limited, soapy lacing.
S: The aroma is nearly identical to Hershey's Milk Chocolate syrup, although coffee and star anise notes are present.
T: Sweet. If I were blindfolded and told this were an old fashion, chocolate malted, I would have no difficulty believing it. Alcohol not in evidence in the flavor. Bitterness tucked into roastiness very nicely.
M: Full bodied with moderate carbonation. Very rich, creamy, and chewy.
O: Wow! Maybe even Pow! Just delicious. No other words.

Vfgccp u are a funny cat. This was way above average. But I always like your reviews. U and ur bro are on the cutting edge.

"Imperial Oatmeal stout brewed with Coava coffee and Woodblock chocolate cocoa nibs, made in collaboration with Gigantic brewing."

Mid sized bottle from the brewery

Ooey, gooey rich n chewy...loaded with cafe au lait coffee notes and milk chocolate goodness...Drinks kinda like a molten chocolate/coffee dessert tastes.....13.8% nowhere to be found...delicious night capper...world class Imperial stout

Pours jet black with a small tan head that retreats slowly. A HUGE aroma of milk chocolate, espresso, and raisins is followed by a taste of the same. Cocoa, coffee, and dark fruits--plums, figs, raisins--in good balance. Somehow, the booze is understated. More sweet than it is bitter. An incredibly creamy, chewy, and surprisingly (considering the booze in this one) non-heavy mouthfeel.

Overall, really good. A sipper for sure.