Spiritual Nucleus
Other Half Brewing - Center Street

Finally, a canned Stout from Other Half! Most of their darker offerings tend to come in big bottles but this one was canned and had four different iterations of the label in the four-pack that I bought there. Dated 1/14/19, I had the rest over the last year and finally got around to reviewing this tonight as I attempt to whittle my queue down. Needless to say, this was on par with their more famous hoppy beers as it was quite tough to keep this in my pint glass!

This had a nice, dark brown pour to it with a soft, creamy mocha head topping it off. The lacing left behind was just as offsetting as it lingered in the form of a thin web that strung down from the equally thin collar at the top of my pint glass. Lots of nuts, cinnamon, vanilla, and lactose in the nose although the latter may have been milk sugar that I was smelling. Creamy and deep, the taste was just as enjoyable with hints of brown sugar, sarsaparilla, molasses, and soda in the mix as well. Quite a burn from the cinnamon and vanilla as this felt like a birch beer or root beer without any overt stickiness left on my teeth. Cloying on the palate, this had a nice aftertaste to it as it was more full than I expected but not filling at the same time.

Plenty of booze with this one as it was one of the heftier English Sweet/Milk Stouts that I've had although I wouldn't have known it just based on the taste. The cacao nibs gave it a powdery chocolate undertone that tied everything in together while complementing the other flavors quite nicely. This was a winner and a fun beer that only reinforced the notion that Other Half can tackle any style that they choose to brew. Such a nice beer to sip on a quiet night here at home!

16 oz can, dated 1/14/19 sent from alexsergio, poured into Crane snifter.

Deep black pour with a handsome tall tan head of 2 fingers, receding to 1 leaving lots of lace behind.

Aroma of coffee and nuts, particularly almonds, slight cinnamon, slight toffee. Faint vanilla latte vibes.

Flavor brings a powerful punch of vanilla, amaretto, espresso, and cinnamon. Caramel and alcohol heat follow with hints of chocolate covered cherry.

Feel is creamy, medium-full bodied. Nice moderate carbonation with a pleasant buzzing. Moderate warming alcohol.

Overall, an enjoyable sipper that you can contemplate or you can just simply enjoy. Nicely done.

Matte black with a stark mocha foam, up front this is snickerdoodle cookies. Roasty, nutty and accented by soft cinnamon, the full froth brings out a sweet red candy and amaretto before the semi-dry finish adds vanilla biscotti. It's a little sharp and not quite as decadent as it sounds.

L - pours a thick, viscous motor oil brown. Roasted, creamy tan mocha head with an almost crimson hue. Every swirl of the glass invokes a new blood-red ring of lacing. Neat.

S - nutty almond aroma with cinnamon freshness. Odd combination. Lactose sweetness. Mexican hot chocolate vibes with added vanilla.

T - milk sugar really comes through. Up front and in your face. Whole milk heft with zesty cinnamon-imbued dark chocolate. The almond blends well with the lactose to smooth out the harsher cinnamon and cacao nib flavors. There still some unbalanced zing, but it's a much more flowing experience. Turns dark chocolate into milk chocolate. Little bit of lingering twang, but that might be the booze. Mostly neutral finish otherwise.

F - creamy and full. Great low carb levels and an overall satisfying, hearty mouthfeel.

O - delivers on the stated ingredients. The almond is an interesting flavor, but I fear it overpowers with a rather mellow flavor. Almond should support, not dominate! Tends to smother some of the other notes, leading me to believe this isn't as big and bold as the ABV purports. That said, it's downright delicious and I'm having trouble putting it down to write this review. As with many OH beers, maybe not technically the best, but damn near the tastiest.

 

 

 

 

 

 

poured into a teku glass via can purchased at OH

color is a dark mocha brown

smell is burnt coffee, vanilla, chocolate , cinnamon and caramel

taste is sweet cinnamon/vanilla coffee up front followed by creamy milk chocolate and slight hints of Caramel and molasses

low carbonation

mouthfeel is a bit light (even for a milk stout), but the taste on this one makes up for it..very nice