Dead Blow
Braxton Brewing Company

I'm trying a 5oz taster of this beer off the tapper at the brewery. It poured an opaque dark with very thin tan ring head that is not leaving much lace. The scent had hints of sweet malt with common export stout notes. The taste was nicely balanced and easy to drink with subtle sweet roast malt and earth presence. The mouthfeel was lighter in body with good carbonation. Overall it is a great beer.

 

 

 

 

I've had this a couple of times on draft from local establishments. It's a good stout -- frankly, it tastes a lot like Guinness to me. I'm not an export stout expert. It is much higher abv than most versions of Guinness, which limits it session-ability.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

12 ounce can, canned on 02/23/17. Served in a Spiegelau Stout glass, the beer pours dark brown/black with about a half inch light tan head. Head retention is decent enough, not much lacing at all. Aroma is nice, the brew smells like roasted malt, dark fruit (dates), coffee, dark bread and caramel. Taste is similar to the aroma, but there's also some burnt/charred malt and sugariness noticeable too. Mouthfeel/body is medium, it's a bit slick and smooth with a moderate amount of carbonation. I think it's a good tropical style stout, it's sweet, roasty and fruity, and enjoyable to drink. It's good now, but I wish I would have tried this fresher. With that being said I know I'd like to try this again in the future, certainly worth picking up!

 

 

 

 

 

Waning in popularity, the craft beer climate veers from the obscure, seldom seen, and regrettably forgettable tropical stout. Born in the equatorial islands, the sweeter, fruitier, and surprisingly strong flavored stout finds a home in the Ohio River Valley. Covington, Kentucky's own Braxton brewers add the earthen delicacy of dates to the stout for elevated intensity and depth.

Dead Blow pours a standard black color with a soft mocha creme that swirls on the surface like fine espresso. Dark, dried fruits join a roasty symphony of dark roast coffee, dark chocolate, black walnut and burnt toast as the scent passes the nose. Burnt sugars of caramel, brown sugar, sorghum and honey lie underneath the roast for a sweet and savory support.

Sweetness and burnt flavors hold firm to balance the middle palate as hints of toasted brownies, roasted marshmallow, caramel and cream turn toward turbinado sugar and the fruit additions as the finish looms. Date, fig, plum, currant, red grape and blueberry trail into a spicy bitterness of coffee, licorice and vinous-type spice.

Roasty sweet and full bodied, the beer closes just as malt balanced as it started. Fruity, spicy, herbal and finishing with toasted dessert breads. Coffee and dates leave a lasting impression deep in aftertaste.

12oz can, sample from the brewery.

Has that character of an Export Stout from start to finish, this lovely black liquid is modest but extremely fulfilling with each sip. Big but easy going. Roastiness is balanced by its sweetness and addition of figs. A slightly bigger brew, this does not stop me from knock back it pretty quick and wanting more. Balanced and packed with flavor, there is really nothing else I need in a beer. Braxton seems to have a keen brewers eye on what beer is really about. A great example of why there needs to be more stouts!!