Layers of Influence
Bottle Logic Brewing

 

Viscous obsidian black with a moderate but dense mocha head that's all creamy and luscious like dalgona, retaining as a thick blanket throughout, clinging at the ridge in a quarter pipe. Magnificent.

Smell is impressively bourbon forward. Peppery charred oak pairs with a BORIS-like nutty and roasty character with a touch of cedar, coming off as very whiskey-esque overall.

Taste flips the script entirely. The softly smooth body is very, very honey forward. It's a delicate but unmistakable honey expression that's quite unique to have so well preserved in a stout flavor profile. The whiskey is surprisingly much less assertive in flavor than aroma, exhibiting absolutely no heat whatsoever, expressing just a mild, sweet maple-like oak accent as the delicately moderate carbonation comes to a just semi-dry finish.

It tastes super sweet yet feels drinkable, not becoming cloying at all. It's like a sweet treat, but also a cocktail that's very uniquely delicious.

 

A sweet, syrupy mess.

 

 

 

 

Wakefest 2019

sweet, yes, too sweet, tout suite

 

 

 

Seemed a little over carbed. Even at less than 50 degrees it wanted to foam up an over the glass.

It smells like bourbon soaked mild duds- milk chocolate, brown sugar/molasses, sweetened evaporated milk/lactose, and a slight pepperiness.

That first sip just smacks you in the face with Thor’s hammer dipped in marshmallow cream and vanilla. Then there’s a candied orange and milk chocolate. It rounds out with that black peppercorn bite that must be the poppy seed and some bourbon. I will say that it is very welcomed, and helps keep it in the enjoyable range. It almost comes across as a spice that makes you wonder if there is cinnamon or peppers because of the contrast to the richness. Although I wouldn’t have been aboe to pinpoint it, this does have a lingering poppyseed bun flavor to it.

The body is as much like a melted milkshake as I’ve had. I can’t overstate that enough. If you were to put it in the freezer for a few minutes, you may have a spiked Frosty of sorts. So velvety and thick.

Pastry stouts are a lot like NE IPAs for me. Even the best ones are really hard for me to drink more than about 4 ounces. Even if I really like them. Quite a few Angry Chair beers that I had sample sizes of there fit the bill. This one toes that line, but there is an acclimation point it seems because I’ve had half of it and the thought of drinking the other half doesn’t disgust me.

Having typed that, it doesn’t sound like a ringing endorsement. As a “pastry stout” though, I think it would be among the best. As an Imperial Stout it’s harder to score, but there is just enough balance there for me, and at times it reminds me of a milk stout-milkshake version of Bourbon County Midnight Orange. I am quite certain of one thing. This is the first beer with poppy seeds I have had.

 

 

 

On-tap at Capital Hop Shop, Sacramento, CA

A: The beer is jet black in color. It poured with a quarter finger high dark tan head that left wisps of bubbles on the surface.
S: Moderate to strong aroams of orange blossom honey are present in the nose.
T: The taste follows the smell and has flavors of orange blossom honey with slight hints of bourbon in the finish.
M: It feels medium-bodied on the palate and has a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: This is a very interesting beer and smells and tastes nothing like you would expect based on its appearance. Any traces of alcohol are well hidden from the taste.

Serving type: on-tap

 

 

 

Received in a trade and shared with JLindros.

A - Poured into a Kate the Great tulip a nice dark black hue with a good one finger mocha head that fades to leave light wisps.

S - Aromas of nice honey orange sweetness, good nutty poppy seed. Real good chocolate honey notes.

T - Taste is similar to the nose with loads of sweet honey and citrus peel. Tons of cloy sweetness but the honey is really borderline cloy. Nice finish though.

M - Mouthfeel is lightly carbonated, smooth, alcohol hidden nicely.

O - Overall this was a solid enough stout, rather sweet along with good orange notes. Really cloy but loads of chocolate and poppy seed notes. Solid enough but not great.

Serving Type: bottle

Big thanks to rudzud
Pours a dence thicker frothy head, good lagging and retention

Nose loads of grape and sour funk, big raw honey, pithy hops, very sweet wine and honey

Taste xuper sweet honey, raw braggot honey and case earthy hops and malt, achieve base bad

 

 

I have let this come to temp for the better part of a half hour. I think it is high time to start partaking.
L: Pours dark cola brown during the pour and settles black. From a very slow, patient, and rather time consuming pour, a bubbly chestnut-colored head formed rather rapidly amounting to about 3 fingers worth. Not much in terms of lacing other than a couple of spots here and there.
S: I can tell this is gonna be sweet. Layers upon layers of confectioners dessert chocolate. As I really start to familiarize with the brew, I can pick out the poppy seed presence as well as the honey presence. The beer smells rather sweet overall with a touch of bourbon warmth on the nose.
T: The poppy seed really tends to come to life in the flavor. I can't really describe how the poppy seed tastes like, other than what a poppy seed Costco muffin tastes like. The honey is most noticeable on the finish, lending a sweet and orange-tinged flavor with some floral properties. Sweet, confectioners chocolate is noticeable throughout, and for those wondering, it is sweet. Other flavors consist of molasses, milk sugar, smoked nuts, and vanilla. On the finish, I get just the right amount of bourbon character with a hint of oak.
F: Medium in body and medium in weight. The beer has the oily feel with a nice consistency, but it isn't as chewy as other Bottle Logic offerings. Still, by no means is the feel undesirable.
O: I wasn't sure what to think of this, but I am actually thoroughly enjoying this. It is sweet and very decadent. Frankly, it is a perfect dessert beer. I couldn't dome a bottle to myself due to the sweet nature of the beer, but I gotta admit that I am enjoying far more than I imaged. I am very grateful to have tried. Cheers!

 

 

 

On draft at Bottle Logic.

Near black with thin light brown lacing.

Nose: complex aroma of bourbon, dark chocolate, almond pastry, subtle honey.

Taste: Bourbon and honey up front with milk chocolate. Finishes with another strong dose of honey - very sweet on the finish.

Feel: full-bodied, low carbonation

 

Poured from fridge temp into Layers of Influence glass. Pours jet black with quickly dissipating brown head. Nose is chocolate, roasted malts, poppy seed, bourbon, vanilla, lactose, and honey. Really nice. Taste is very unique. Quite sweet upfront, but nice notes of bourbon, honey, poppy seed, lactose, vanilla, and candy syrup. Not my favorite, but not horrible. Just a bit too sweet for me. Mouthfeel is medium bodied, and the alcohol is not detectable.

Very dark appearance with slight tan head that dissipates quickly. Aroma is a pleasant honey and bourbon. Taste is an odd slightly sweet honey and bourbon. May need to let it warm to improve flavor.

 

Had on tap at BL tap room. Have very mixed opinions on recent trend re “pastry” stouts. Some are just too pastry and not much beer. This one works for me. It brings the pastry elements in to enhance a rich sweetish huge stout. Comes across more like a delicious variant. Everything works but the honey is perfect. Great sipper. Velvety decadence. May be my new fav dessert stout.