Drip Wizard--Coffee Cake White Stout
Refined Fool Brewing Co.

473 mL can from the LCBO; no canning date and served barely chilled. There were two pilot versions of this beer that came out in mid 2025 (a white stout and a dark stout), but based on the appearance (this is amber-coloured, while the two prototypes were gold & black, respectively), I am pretty sure that this is different from either one of them.

It pours a clear copper-orange colour, briefly supporting an inch of loose, frothy, off white head that disintegrates within a minute or two. A thin collar holds its position, with an arcing line of lace adorning the perimeter; looks ok. Caramel and toasted malts on the nose, with hints of booze and sweet bread.

The flavours don't differ all that much from the aroma: caramelized sugars, sweet bread, toasted malts and plum pudding. Boozy-sweet finish that I didn't find particularly charming; hints of earthiness and caramelized sugars persist into a slightly warming aftertaste. Medium-full in body, with low carbonation and a slick, smooth mouthfeel. I didn't find this all that drinkable, but one can is doable.

Final Grade: 3.45, a B-. Maybe I'm just in a bad mood tonight, but I didn't like this version of Drip Wizard all that much. First of all, it's even less stout-like than most of the other white stouts I've had, which is not a good start. It's also cloyingly sweet, and a bit lacking in terms of depth - the caramel & cake flavours are fine, I suppose, but there's very little else going on here. It's just a boring, over-sweetened pint that I'm already over - and now that I think about it, it kind of reminds me of Waterloo Amber. I doubt I'll revisit this beer, but who knows.

From a 473ml can packaged on 30 12 2025. Poured into a pint glass. A big three finger bubbly tan head on a cloudy dark copper. Excellent head retention. Sticks around to the end. Lots of foamy lacing.

Fruity malts in the nose. Tastes of coffee with some mild caramel notes. Sweet up front. Some graham cracker. Finishes dry with moderate bitterness.

A smooth texture. Medium body and good carbonation. Overall a pretty good American Stout.

At my lady Pamela's house; canned and chilled, 473mL in a pint glass. From the University Ave. West LCBO in nearby downtown Windsor. Canned November 21/25. My 30th beer from the Sarnia, Ontario brewery, and 20th for 2026. Radically appreciated by Sundae the cat...