Strike - Raspberries, Cocoa Nibs
Cycle Brewing

 

 

 

L: Black with no disturbance. There was something of a head that faded to absolutely nothing in a momentary fizz. Not much to look at. Good think my Teku is cool.

S: Intense Raspberry preserves and this base that's a pefectly indistinguishable blend of vanilla and cocao - can't pick either out. They are one thing.

T: Joyous. I like me some berries in my stout - that is, when brewers can pull it off. Often times they miss the subtelty or the mark completely. Follows the nose, reasonably sweet with a bitter finish. No boozy heat.

F: Silky and syrupy in equal medium weight and proportion. Little carbonation. Some faint tartness with the bitter.

O: Stellar when you desire something sweet. If I were to change one thing it would be to get more roast/char/leather in there to counter the sweetness more.
As the bottle says DO NOT age this brew. You will round off what it has going for it.

Medium shimmering black with virtually no head save a few brown spots. Raspberry chocolate truffle aromas, with vanilla and booze accenting, helping drive the stars home. Taste is the same, though the raspberry is a little underripe it works well enough, pretty boozy as it warms. Feel has slight tartness from the raspberry, sweetness, booze and pretty solid viscosity.

 

 

 

 

I like when a stout has dark brown colors and head/lacing that’s different than the normal white foam. This one had a tannish/rosè hue to a minimal and not very long lived head. Practically no lacing. Bits of tiny particulates floating on the top. Smell is sweet cocoa, a bit of tangy berry, hints of vanilla, and a mild roasted malt base with a boozy alcohol barrel presence. Taste is very well balanced - berry, chocolate, barrel all work together with nothing overwhelming the others. For a big barrel aged beer, it’s light bodied. Slightly oily feel. Mild alcohol presence. Develops well as it warms, becomes fuller bodied but slightly more oily.

Overall, this beer is a real winner due to the big balanced flavors. The barrel presence is subtle, which is a big plus. Extremely glad my brother picked it up for me. First stout I’ve had that Bottle Logic was involved in, second I’ve had from Cycle. Excellent.