Kratovo
Three Magnets Brewing

 

5-12

 

 

Appearance – Thin layer of head over a nearly opaque clear body. The head dissipated quickly.

Aroma – Dark malts, figs and prunes, slightly sweet with hints of cocoa. No roasted character.

Taste – Bitter, charred barley, slightly ashen, long bitter aftertaste.

Mouthfeel – Somewhat thin, but easy drinking.

Overall – Not as good as hoped based on the price and Tavour’s writeup.

 

Very dark appearance with nice tan head that disipates gradually. Aroma is a moderate caramel. Taste is a light caramel with significant body. The baste need a little more boost to make it a great beer.

 

 

Three Magnets brews are always interesting, a little more sophisticated tasting without a much higher price.

This, a rotating flagship formula, pours dark (almost) as pitch. Thinning at the top where the miniscule ring of head is. No lacing. Smell is quite nice roasted malt, slight vanilla.

Taste is along those lines, more molasses, a dark burnt brown spice undercurrent. Can't quite place it. Nutmeg? Non-sweet plums, some bitter chocolate. Ends sticky, a bit more chocolate and fudgey, especially if you let it warm a bit. Bitter hops in the aftertaste as well.

Booze is hidden. Very nice, chewy sippable Russian. Probably would sneak up on you.

 

 

Poured into a Fremont small snifter. Pours pitch black, opaque in the glass with only slight carbonation, but a thin, light brown ring around the glass. Aroma of dark toasted malt, light chocolate and molasses, a hint of vanilla; subdued. Flavor is semi-sweet dark toasted malt with light char, dark chocolate, light molasses and vanilla. Finishes with a surprising moderate hop bitterness that lingers along with light chocolate. Medium bodied with light creaminess and good carbonation, considering the quiet pour. A somewhat subdued stout that is very mellow at first, but reveals interesting flavors as the tasted progresses and it warms up. The start is malt and chocolate, but finishes with lightly grassy hop bitterness with lingering chocolate. A hybrid between American (for the hops) and Russian imperial (which the malt bill fits) styles. Interesting. ABV well covered.

 

Rich choc upfront with lingering bitterness. Deliciuous, no frills imp stout. Worth the $9 I paid.