Mastermind
Sideswipe Brewing

I realize I haven't reviewed a lot of beers. But I sure have drank my share (I had my first Hop Devil almost 20 years ago.) I'm just not one to tell the world about it. However, this beer is one of the best I've drank in many years. I'm fond of big stouts such as Storm King (only smooter) and Breakfast Stout (without the overbearing coffee, like it used to be) and huge dark beers in general, think Stone Sublimely Self-Righteous. I had a taste of this beer last night and went back today for a howler. I only wished I lived in Columbus but alas drove back to home in Franklin, Indiana and am enjoying this beer during Sunday Night Football. Everything about this beer is amazing. Try it, you'll like it. Sideswipe sells bombers and currently have it on draft. The brewery is not easy to find but it will be worth the effort. As for the beer's attributes I will suggest there is a nice soft mouth feel, with a little viscous quality. There is also a soft dark chocolate taste, but only approaching a sweet stout (Not unlike the Left Hand's foreign export stout.) As for color, it comes off looking like its time to change the oil. Oh yeah, it smells great. There is nothing wrong with this beer, only right. Cheers.

 

Dark brown with deep ruby highlights. Aggressive pour into a snifter generated little of the burnt sienna head which grew and then receded quickly into a ring of tight bubbles. Little lacing. Roasted/char aromas - no sweetness or hops.
Taste combines sweetness and the smokiness into an almost bbq sensation. Abv well hidden. Fine carbonation provides a creamy mouthfeel.

 

 

22 ounce bottle, no dating on it that I could find but I'm pretty sure this batch was released sometime last month (November 2016). Served in a DFH snifter, the beer pours dark brown/black with about an inch tan head that stuck around for a long time. There's also a good amount of lacing. The brew smells like roasted malt, bittersweet chocolate, dark bread and some burnt/charred malt. For the most part the taste is just like the aroma, but there's also some licorice and earthiness noticeable. Mouthfeel/body is medium/full, it's a bit creamy and coating with a moderate amount of carbonation. I thought this was a good overall imperial stout, an enjoyable brew for a cold December day. Definitely recommend this one, I need to try more from this local brewery. $10.99 a bomber.

 

 

Cheering at the flavors in this one. This imperial pours a blackish brown, very deep and murky, with a fantastic head of tan foam that settles to a thick long lasting ring, thin pool, and nice lacing. Nose of dark cocoa, subtle char, light vanilla, cola, and deeply roasted malts. Flavors blow the nose out of the water with deeply roasted malts and medium roasted coffee notes on the front and middle of the taste. Dark brewers licorice hits nicely on the sides with an herbal note and strong booze that carries through onto the rear with dark fudge and dark berry notes reminiscent of blackberries awash in cocoa. Excellent mouth feel, rich, warming, moderately slick, and lightly carbonated. Overall excellence from a brewery that I respect more and more with each new offering,. An excellent experience.

I MUST VISIT THIS BREWERY!

Cheers

Amended----I visited this brewery and it rocked! Cheers Bluejacket and Laura!