Alchemy of Elements
Bottle Logic Brewing

 

 

Was very curious about this one, as they and Cycle are probably my favorite brewers in terms of adjunct forward barrel aged stouts. A very dirty beer- the glass is very filmy as i drink it. Dark brown, ruby/violet edging, no head or lacing, but plenty of particulates. Smell is a nice melange of sweet vanilla and coconut notes with tropical fruit with wooden bourbon barrel and a mild dark malt undercurrent. Taste presents with the fruit and coconut first, then the dark malt stout nature of the beer follows. The barrel could be more assertive, to be honest. Since it’s a 2022 release, wonder if that’s why that aspect seems subdued. It’s a bit chewy and syrupy, but I’ve come to expect that from coconut flavored beers. The alcohol presence is more subdued for such a high ABV. Pretty damn good overall due to the flavor mix, and better than I expected.

 

The burnt brownish-black body surfaces some fizzly, clear dark brown bubbles that build no head over its sizzling surface, revealing a wide array of tiny coconut lipids.

Aroma is fresh coconut and pineapple, like just sliced, yet also drained entirely of its juices, very stringy and fleshy.

Taste is even brighter and tropical of pineapple with hints of mango while also roundly thick and viscous, cut by a prickly warmth in the middle. I'm glad the mango is only present in faint wisps, avoiding any buildup of overwhelming sweetness.

Its stout characteristics come out in the swallow with some chocolatey char and toasted coconut, adding a bit of brulee to the pineapple. The finish begins tingly and warming before swallowing both semi-dry and lightly sticky.

Very uniquely enjoyable, this is perhaps their most successful tiki stout to date.

 

 

Brown speckling within the opaque black pour, khaki cap. Aromas of moderate molasses forward barrel and chocolate malt with a tiki cocktail added to it, odd but good. Taste is another story, starts with molasses, toasty oak, slight char, chocolate and rich caramel accents before a tsunami of acidic pineapple, mango and coconut ruin this one, yet somehow more sweet than anything. Feel is thick, full, slightly acidic, very warm but most of all sweetness just coats the palate. Not for me

 

 

 

A questionable 500ML bottle landing on my doorstep brings equal parts trepidation (fruit in my damn stout) & excitement (great stout brewer). Which shall prevail?

Black with a…can’t even call it a head, whatever it is vanishes within seconds. Strongest smelling beer I can recall in a long time, a fruit basket leaps out & invades my nostrils without quarter.

Elements of Alchemy is interesting. But let us trot backwards. The aftertaste is horrific. Unsure if it’s the acidity of the pineapple, the unique combo of fruits, or something else, but I’m going to need a palate cleanser of steel wool after this. Which, of course, severely limits how much I want to imbibe. Fruit is prevalent, with only the pineapple evident to my aging palate. Chocolatey base, very faint bourbon, light acidity round this out.

Eh. The aftertaste really sours this one for me. Salute for the attempt, but the result is just decent

The barrel aged stout is a fast expanding sector of the craft beer world. You will find all types of vintages and flavor additions, more than you could imagine. One of the less common flavors is tropical. Bottle Logic brings that in to play with their Alchemy of Elements. You are immediately hit with soy drenched pineapple and the sweet acidity transports you somewhere new. The rich, exotic stout does not let up and holds its body and flavors compounds throughout. Once again, BL has a strong hold on flavor packed BA stouts.

Sweet milk chocolate, hint of sweet fruits, and prominent coconut-vanilla nose on this one! Taste follows with a chocolate-covered tropical fruit/dark fruit, creamy vanilla, and smooth barrel boozy finish. I was hesitant to try this as it was aged in Old Rip Van Winkle barrels and I thought that the fruit additions might interfere here...bit was I was so wrong!!! Ha! There is definitely a lot/so much going on here, but, it works! The fruit additions, along with the wonderful mouthfeel and the premium barrel make for a different but enjoyable stout. This is delicious!