Earl Grey Stout
Cloud 9 Brewery

i have seen more and more tea in beer lately, but not sure i have seen it in a stout like this yet, really natural synergy between the floral tea and the dark malts, roasty like coffee, its like the best of both breakfast drinks. i think the idea is a little better than the execution, or rather the proportions are not what i would choose if it were up to me, more tea could be here for sure, its there in the nose but much less so in the taste. i also found the base beer to be on the sweet side, a little distracting, and more bitterness from either the tea or the roast would make this more balanced and drinkable for me. that said, there is a cool freshness and lightness to the tea that makes the stout more delicate than it would be on its own, and the notes of caramel and malt sugar almost give it a milk and honey in the tea sort of vibe. hints of lavender, fall spices, and licorice too. a little heavy in feel for me overall, but i like the nuances this has, and definitely think its a unique beer. these guys always seem to have something fun and inventive on tap!

Draft at Cloud 9. Dark brown, black, small skin of tan head. Weak aroma of roast grains. Taste brings the tea in more fully, earthy, dry. Then nothing...finishes with a whimper.

rb

8oz pour at the brewpub over dinner... Pours standard black with khaki head that dies back very fast... Standard roasty stout.. Good malty backbone to tie flavors together...minor citrus/black tea flavor right up front with specific tannin bitterness on the finish. Okay, but I doubt I would have picked up on the tea without being told about it.

Seems gimmicky... Not sure why this place doesn't settle down into a rotation of beers they do exceptionally well.

3.75/3.5/3.75/3.5/3.5