Hand Warmer
Bent Hill Brewery

 

It's a good December day to have a hand warmer, so i opened this 16 oz can from Vermont and poured it into a Belgian snifter.
This flavorful imperial maple stout has strong notes of dark and very dark roasted grains that carry some burnt and smoky notes. There are also a faint hints of maple syrup and dark dried fruits. A bit too burnt and smoky but worth seeking out.

 

 

 

 

No canning date (presumably ~2-3/2019)

Pours jet black with no light coming through and capped with an ample, dense tan head of foam; fair retention, no lacing, and a creamy, persistent cap.

Aroma opens with a deftly placed tinge of maple with thick caramel as a secondary influence; toasted wood, hints of creamy milk chocolate/chocolate chips, light smoke, and an overall tone of sweet peanut brittle build throughout the bouquet; faint, inoffensive alcohol presence; overall, an excellent balance of sweet and roasty.

Taste brings maple intertwined with smoked toffee dominant upfront, with a toasted barley and light chocolate developing over time; faintest earthy peppermint and vanilla bean can be felt intermittently; very light overall, but a solid depth and well-rounded sweetness can be pulled from this with some effort.

Mouthfeel hilights a medium body leaning toward the heavier side with hints of cola-like carbonation preventing it from becoming too thick; fairly (and somewhat surprisingly) dry, but comfortably creamy in spots as well; very minor booziness, and incredibly easy on the palate.

Very light, quiet profile, but what does sneak through is a pretty impressive indicator of depth and balance; a great drinker, and stunningly easy at 10%, but I wish this one revealed itself a bit more, or at least turned the intensity up a notch.

Moderate pour yields a 3/4 inch light tan head over a dark brown body with minimal lacing. Nose of (in order of magnitude) maple, roasted malt, chocolate, and coffee. Taste mirrors nose nicely with perfect maple flavor all the way through with a tiny bit of caramel and vanilla near the finish. Taste belies the stated 10% abv as it is somewhat hidden. Nice feel and a great example of a maple imperial stout. Delish, a great job, and cheers to Mike the brewer!

Poured into a snifter, the appearance was a nice looking dark brown close to black with a thin cap of a yellowed wood color. The aroma captured a nice level murky smoky sweet maple syrup glazing over roasted coffee and dark chocolate tones.
The flavor presented the maple syrup just as I wanted it - just sweet enough to not be overbearing with those light smoky tones gazing in there to make this a real treat. Mild maple to roasty coffee and dark chocolate aftertaste.
The mouthfeel was about medium bodied with a fairly decent sipping quality about it. ABV was noticeable but at it's respected and necessary level. Carbonation felt good - just enough to keep this beer together to prevent any cloying possibilities.
Overall, this is proof that Bent Hill can actually brew! I'm just glad I didn't give up on this brewery. They're coming around!

 

 

Drinking out of a small snifter.
Pours a clear, slightly reddish black with a thin tan head.
Smells of dark roasted malts with hints of chocolate.
Good smooth silky mouth feel.
Tastes include dark roasted malts, hints of coffee and dark chocolate plus maple syrup.
Nice beer for a gloomy afternoon.