Motor Oil No. 1
Alvarado Street Brewery

Dark, brown color. Roasted malt, chocolate, vanilla, and dark fruits in the aroma. Sweet, malty taste with roasted bitterness for balance.

 

This is a killer imperial stout from Alvarado Street Brewing Co. in Monterrey. On guest tap at Highland Brewery in LA. Pours, smells and tastes like the ideal Imperial with some noted ingredient additions. I’m more forgiving adding flavor profiles to rich beers and for this particular one a hint of maple syrup with one note of coffee make for the perfect compliments. The maple comes out heavy in the aroma and the coffee is more dominant in the flavor.

 

 

 

 

Motor Oil came to me as an extra - and it honestly blew me away. I'm not accustomed to receiving world class beers as extras! No exaggeration - I believe this is likely the very best canned dark beer that I've ever had. If not "the best", then top five, without a doubt - particularly so for a beer that is not barrel-aged. Stunning.

Like it's namesake, Motor Oil pours thick and oily - it's damn near opaque allowing no light through. Carb is present though light - the beer has a very light head of perhaps half a finger, deep chocolate in color. Even when cold, the beer smells incredible - so much chocolate, vanilla, and coconut, it's overwhelming. As the beer warms, those flavors are strong, distinct, and very clean - there's no unpleasantness to the aftertaste at all. The mouthfeel is lightly carbonated and only draws out the flavors.

Motor Oil No. 1 is delicious - I'm really impressed.