Coconut Phones
Barreled Souls Brewing Company

A very brief, dark golden brown fizz flashes over the black, starless beer within a Swiftwater Snifter. A razor thin halo of dark cola is visible when put to light. A thin viscus film produced no legs when rolled within a Swiftwater snifter.

The aroma is quite pleasant with sublime coconut and cinnamon. The adjuncts are by no means over the top. Coffee and Chorizo follow, as does charred malt. The coconut becomes toasted after the first few sips. There is a light booziness. Black coffee is an ever-present base note, and never an afterthought.

The flavor opens with dark roasted malt, at times seemingly charred. Toasted coconut and cinnamon follow, quickly joined by the black coffee. Some black raspberry is also evident. Bitterness has twice the presence of sweetness, and both are ample. Warmth amplifies the charred malt and booziness. The charred theme carries forward into the finish which is strong and seemingly endless. This is an example where the adjuncts compliment the base beer. It was great at the full range of temperatures.

The body is full, almost dense, with a plush smooth texture. Alcohol provides a mild burn that lingers long after each sip. Carbonation, while soft, is surprisingly active. There is a faint astringency in this otherwise luxurious beer.

This was the afternoon sipper while waiting for 2022 to pass and 2023 to begin. It has all the quintessence of an Imperial Stout, and just enough pastry to jazz it up for the occasion and demonstrates how restraint can produce spectacular results.