Ground State | Bottle Logic Brewing
Brewed by:
Bottle Logic Brewing
California, United States
bottlelogic.com
Style: American Imperial Stout
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 13.40%
Availability: Rotating
Notes / Commercial Description:
Our legendary Breakfast Stout returns this year with two epic power-ups: Vermont maple syrup was added right into the brew for a beam of subtle sweetness against the earthy bitterness of barrel-aged Coldbot Coffee beans! As in 2016's batch, this viscous 13.4% beast was aged in bourbon barrels with just a handful of Madagascar vanilla beans and will be finished on cacao nibs and Coldbot Coffee's Salvadorian + Guatemalan coffee beans.
Added by mothman on 03-16-2016
HISTOGRAM
View: Beers | Place Reviews
Ratings: 595 | Reviews: 89
4.75/5 rDev +5.3%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
4.25/5 rDev -5.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.59/5 rDev +1.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
2018 edition courtesy of Lingenbrau
Pour is black, somewhat viscous, moderate tan head.
Smells like bourbon soaked cocoa nibs with oak and vanilla. A touch boozy. Some maple syrup/caramized sugars and burnt coffee grounds in the background.
Maple flavor strikes first. Not overpowering, but prominent. The bourbon follows with oak, vanilla, and corn mash, rounded out by rich milk chocolate and a subtle roasted coffee.
Every one of their beers I have had has been in the Bourbon County, Firestone Walker category as far as body goes. This one is a touch thinner, but still exceptionally full and luscious without being syrupy (especially with syrup) or cloying. Just a touch of lip smacking stickiness.
It definitely shows some of the ABV both in aroma and taste, especially if you were to compare to a Bourbon County varient that is stronger, but a phenomenal beer that pretty much lives up to the label.
916 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
2018 edition courtesy of Lingenbrau
Pour is black, somewhat viscous, moderate tan head.
Smells like bourbon soaked cocoa nibs with oak and vanilla. A touch boozy. Some maple syrup/caramized sugars and burnt coffee grounds in the background.
Maple flavor strikes first. Not overpowering, but prominent. The bourbon follows with oak, vanilla, and corn mash, rounded out by rich milk chocolate and a subtle roasted coffee.
Every one of their beers I have had has been in the Bourbon County, Firestone Walker category as far as body goes. This one is a touch thinner, but still exceptionally full and luscious without being syrupy (especially with syrup) or cloying. Just a touch of lip smacking stickiness.
It definitely shows some of the ABV both in aroma and taste, especially if you were to compare to a Bourbon County varient that is stronger, but a phenomenal beer that pretty much lives up to the label.
916 characters
4.15/5 rDev -8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Received in a trade and shared with JLindros. 2017 edition.
A - Poured into a Kate the Great tulip a nice dark black hue with a thin mocha head that fades to leave light wisps.
S - Aromas of heavy maple syrup, cocoa, bourbon barrel. No discernable alcohol.
T -Taste is similar to the nose with loads of maple sweetness and good vanilla and light chocolate. Good cocoa and sugars. Pleasant.
M - Mouthfeel is lightly carbonated, crisp, bright. Could be better and fluffy.
O - Overall this was a very solid imperial stout. Light barrel along with light chocolate. The maple is really sweet and oppressive.
Serving Type: bottle
630 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Received in a trade and shared with JLindros. 2017 edition.
A - Poured into a Kate the Great tulip a nice dark black hue with a thin mocha head that fades to leave light wisps.
S - Aromas of heavy maple syrup, cocoa, bourbon barrel. No discernable alcohol.
T -Taste is similar to the nose with loads of maple sweetness and good vanilla and light chocolate. Good cocoa and sugars. Pleasant.
M - Mouthfeel is lightly carbonated, crisp, bright. Could be better and fluffy.
O - Overall this was a very solid imperial stout. Light barrel along with light chocolate. The maple is really sweet and oppressive.
Serving Type: bottle
630 characters
4.25/5 rDev -5.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Thanks to rudzud, 2017
Pours a light fizzy dark head, fares fairly quickly, little lacing, nice long legs
Nose very rich, maple candy, candy caramel maple, little dark choc cocoa, little forestry and mild char, but syrupy roasty char cloying sweet, creamy lactose milk chocolate
Taste sweet candy and big maple, toasted grainy malt dark malt, little coffee roast, mild toasted vanilla barrel, mild bourbon whiskey, some dark chocolate cocoa, little bitter malt and hop, sticky sweet finish
Mouth is fuller bod, nice creamy feel and carbonation, some alcohol
Overall good but not great
588 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Thanks to rudzud, 2017
Pours a light fizzy dark head, fares fairly quickly, little lacing, nice long legs
Nose very rich, maple candy, candy caramel maple, little dark choc cocoa, little forestry and mild char, but syrupy roasty char cloying sweet, creamy lactose milk chocolate
Taste sweet candy and big maple, toasted grainy malt dark malt, little coffee roast, mild toasted vanilla barrel, mild bourbon whiskey, some dark chocolate cocoa, little bitter malt and hop, sticky sweet finish
Mouth is fuller bod, nice creamy feel and carbonation, some alcohol
Overall good but not great
588 characters
4.34/5 rDev -3.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
2016 vintage
550ml bottle poured into a snifter
A- pours a deep black color with a one-finger foamy khaki colored head that reduces to a ring
S- herbal espresso up front, mixes with notes of mocha cream and dark chocolate, along with roast & char. Undertones of anise, caramel, brownie batter & a hint of vanilla
T- smooth cold press coffee notes up front mix with mocha and vanilla cream, as well as undertones of toffee and fig. The finish gives some light barrel characters or bourbon and wet oak, more coffee and chocolate on the linger
M- medium body with moderate carbonation leads to a creamy mouthfeel that continues into the finish, abv hidden pretty well
O- even amounts of chocolate and coffee notes, with undertones of barrel
744 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
2016 vintage
550ml bottle poured into a snifter
A- pours a deep black color with a one-finger foamy khaki colored head that reduces to a ring
S- herbal espresso up front, mixes with notes of mocha cream and dark chocolate, along with roast & char. Undertones of anise, caramel, brownie batter & a hint of vanilla
T- smooth cold press coffee notes up front mix with mocha and vanilla cream, as well as undertones of toffee and fig. The finish gives some light barrel characters or bourbon and wet oak, more coffee and chocolate on the linger
M- medium body with moderate carbonation leads to a creamy mouthfeel that continues into the finish, abv hidden pretty well
O- even amounts of chocolate and coffee notes, with undertones of barrel
744 characters
4.43/5 rDev -1.8%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.85/5 rDev +7.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
4.73/5 rDev +4.9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
4.25/5 rDev -5.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.75/5 rDev +5.3%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
4.23/5 rDev -6.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
2018 bottle. Teku pour. Preface that I generally prefer BA stouts without coffee.
L - Fizzy, translucent black with thick bubbly head. Looks very highly carb'd.
S - Tastey aroma but hardly differentiated from a founders breakfast stout. There is a little more sweetness which I'm getting maple from (but is that the power of suggestion?). Wasnt blown away by CBS but to memory I liked its aroma more. Note that I'm also getting cinnamon as it warms.
T - Oh damn that's sweet. Coffee is more muted than most which I appreciate. The maple syrup is tough to find, but it's there (somewhere. I think?). The roast level is dark in the coffee and the malts. The bitterness found is medium to high and begins to develop as it warms. Overall very rich in flavor.
F - Very highly carb'd. I would not define it as "thick" regardless of its sweetness and sugars. Feel is status quo and not necessarily anything noteworthy.
O - Solid beer. Top 250 beer that trades for $75? Lol. This is a hype beer and why I think I'm giving up trading, at least for "limited" beers. It is a good beer, and I'd be happy to buy it once or twice at cost if I were local. But for California to hype bottle logic to their "value" or Florida to hype JWB or AC, or my local brethren here in PA to hype Voodoo to the tradde "value" that they soar to makes me just want to laugh. If you're into paying for the name on things then the aforementioned breweries (and MANY more) are what you're looking for. I'm more than over seeking out these super limited beers. I'll drink the few others I have in my cellar and stick to the equally tastey shelf beers.
1,621 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
2018 bottle. Teku pour. Preface that I generally prefer BA stouts without coffee.
L - Fizzy, translucent black with thick bubbly head. Looks very highly carb'd.
S - Tastey aroma but hardly differentiated from a founders breakfast stout. There is a little more sweetness which I'm getting maple from (but is that the power of suggestion?). Wasnt blown away by CBS but to memory I liked its aroma more. Note that I'm also getting cinnamon as it warms.
T - Oh damn that's sweet. Coffee is more muted than most which I appreciate. The maple syrup is tough to find, but it's there (somewhere. I think?). The roast level is dark in the coffee and the malts. The bitterness found is medium to high and begins to develop as it warms. Overall very rich in flavor.
F - Very highly carb'd. I would not define it as "thick" regardless of its sweetness and sugars. Feel is status quo and not necessarily anything noteworthy.
O - Solid beer. Top 250 beer that trades for $75? Lol. This is a hype beer and why I think I'm giving up trading, at least for "limited" beers. It is a good beer, and I'd be happy to buy it once or twice at cost if I were local. But for California to hype bottle logic to their "value" or Florida to hype JWB or AC, or my local brethren here in PA to hype Voodoo to the tradde "value" that they soar to makes me just want to laugh. If you're into paying for the name on things then the aforementioned breweries (and MANY more) are what you're looking for. I'm more than over seeking out these super limited beers. I'll drink the few others I have in my cellar and stick to the equally tastey shelf beers.
1,621 characters
4.5/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.69/5 rDev +4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
4.5/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.53/5 rDev +0.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
4.75/5 rDev +5.3%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
4.67/5 rDev +3.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
4.71/5 rDev +4.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
This was a gifted bottle from a BIF buddy - and one that I was very, very excited about. I shared this with friends at a local brewery, thus my pour was small, but the beer is undeniably impressive - the nose is full of maple and coffee notes. The beer tastes of light coffee roast, just a bit acidic from the coffee, with plenty of pleasant maple syrup and cacao. It is baffling to me that this is so much harder to get than Fundamental Observation - but as good as it is, it perhaps should not surprise. Who wants to trade away such a fantastic beer?
552 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
This was a gifted bottle from a BIF buddy - and one that I was very, very excited about. I shared this with friends at a local brewery, thus my pour was small, but the beer is undeniably impressive - the nose is full of maple and coffee notes. The beer tastes of light coffee roast, just a bit acidic from the coffee, with plenty of pleasant maple syrup and cacao. It is baffling to me that this is so much harder to get than Fundamental Observation - but as good as it is, it perhaps should not surprise. Who wants to trade away such a fantastic beer?
552 characters
4.66/5 rDev +3.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.42/5 rDev -2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.25
4.56/5 rDev +1.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Ground State from Bottle Logic Brewing
Beer rating:
4.51 out of
5 with
595 ratings
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