Sisu Stout
Upper Hand Brewery

Absolutely fantastic and unbelievably smooth and easy-drinking double digit ABV BA imperial stout.

I don't know what a Finnish-style stout is, but I do know what a delicious stout is, and this one certainly qualifies for the latter.

Not a ton of bourbon on the palate, but it's present, blending very well with strong stout notes of chocolate, molasses, nuts, prune, raisin, and coffee. Nice amount of oak from the barrel. Drinks impressively clean, showing almost no sign of the sky high ABV, but also pleasantly filling and smooth - if not exactly chewy.

Looks great, stout black (ish) with a nice tan head building tall and leaving lacing.
Aroma lost on my Covid affected nose.
The taste is a good roast malt toast and coffee with some dark cacao to round things out. Then the barrel hits like a truck. The bourbon is heavy handed and the second half of the 12 ounces is more bourbon than beer, at least it seems like it. Not sure if that’s intentional (what makes it Finnish in style?) or just more time in a barrel than the base stout could handle.
The feel is fine, mild viscosity to promote sipping and carbonation to add an edge.
OA, I’d drink it again, but maybe sit it in the cellar for a while first to see if it mellows out.

 

12 oz can from Horrocks in NW Ohio ($4.29). Canned almost 1 year ago.

Appearance. Essentially black and opaque with a decent, if short, beige head.

Aroma. Lightly spiced and malty.

The flavor is too sweet but otherwise quite nice. Barrel aging effects, especially whisky, dominate the malts. Plenty of complexity to spark interest.

Mouthfeel. Smooth but thinner than expected. Light carbonation.

Sisu Stout from Upper Hand Brewery. 12 oz can. Stored at 34 degrees at home. Received from @Whyteboar in NBW BIF #16. Reviewed 06/12/22. Note that I use DD/MM/YY protocol.
Bottom of can stamped “PKGD ON 01/14/22”. Served at 49.8 degrees in a hand washed and dried Jester King snifter. The final temperature was 55.7 degrees.
Appearance – 3.5.
First pour – Deep Amber (SRM 15), clear.
Body – Brown (SRM 20), opaque. Under direct light, same. When rear lite, appears a deep translucent ruby.
Head – Large (Maximum 5.1 cm, aggressive center pour), almond, high density with a few rocks, slowly diminishing to a 0.6 cm crown and thin, rocky cap.
Lacing – Fair but odd. No bands but one HUGE mass of near-microscopic bubbles with a few vacant spaces thrown in to break the monotony. There are tails of bubbles dragging up the inside of the glass as well as a few abandoned islands of foam.
Aroma – 3.25 – In general weak, with chocolate predominating. No hops, no yeast.
Flavor – 4 – Chocolate and slight char with a slightly bitter aftertaste. Barrel not absolutely detected although there is a miasmatic woodiness present. No hops or yeast. No ethanol (10 % ABV as marked on label) aroma or taste. Moderate gastric warming occurs. No dimethylsulfide or diacetyl.
Palate – 4 – Medium, dry, soft but lively carbonation.
Final impression and summation: 3.75 Routine appearance. Nose is weak but typical for Impy stout. Flavor also typical; unfortunately, the statement “Shelf Life -Unlimited” seems a bit optimistic since the barrel contribution is ghostly at best. And what is a “Finnish-style” stout?

 

 

 

 

Pours a dark brown color with a minimum head that lasts quite a while. Aroma of caramel and cinnamon. Tastes of vanilla, alcohol, cinnamon and other spices. Alcohol isn't overpowering but there is a slightly bitter finish.

 

 

 

Served on tap at the tasting room. Served in a snifter. Dark, oily black with two fingers of thick, frothy khaki foam. Warm and complex aroma is, full of dark chocolate, cocoa, vanilla, sweet booze, char. Flavor is equally awesome, with cocoa, roast malt, sweet maple, oak, vanilla, coffee beans, and a touch of spicy warmth. ABV well hidden. Nice, full feel.