Commonwealth of Goodness
Stoup Brewing Brewery & Taproom

 

Very dark rich but isn't quite black. Especially evident if held up to the light. Nice little dark brown head that settles to a much more greyed out flan colour by the time I'm writing this, and it's just a thin ring and fractal swirls. Has some floaties.

Nose brings out rich chocolate and fig and prune... like chocolate dipped dried figs is totally what this reminds me of. A little bit of spice kick to the back end and some roast underneath. Sniffing into the glass too much does reveal the alcohol fumes wafting with warmth.

Flavour is luxuriantly velvety/oily. But that's not really flavour so much as the feel of it. The flavour returns to those same characteristics of fancy dark chocolate dipped dried figs. Alcohol is fairly pronounced by the finish of the sip. Brings a warmth, and the barrel also adds an almost nutty character to go with the spice and almost has like a coffee liqueur kind of bitterness.
Tasty!

Poured into a Fremont small snifter. Poured into a Fremont small snifter.ours a very dark mahogany brown, appearing nearly opaque black in the glass with a half finger dark khaki head with great retention and nice lacing. Aroma of dark toasted malt, bourbon, dark stone fruit, vanilla and light cocoa. Flavor follows with dark toasted malt, bourbon, cocoa, vanilla and oak. Bourbony chocolate finish. Medium bodied with light creaminess. A very flavorful barrel aged stout. The bourbon character is dominant, challenging the malt base, which is mellow, but more than stands up to the barrel influence. There is a good plumy dark fruit note that is likely due to the bourbon. Starts off with a big burst of bourbon and then reveals oaky vanilla and cocoa notes. Stoup has always been solid in everything, but this is my first BA offering from them and it is a fine one. Well done and upbeat name.