Breakfast Can Wait
Culmination Brewing

 

Pours a very dark mahogany brown, appearing nearly opaque black in the glass with a half finger, rather fizzy, dark khaki head that finally settles in to a fine cap with great retention and nice lacing. Aroma of dark toasted malt, milk chocolate, light coffee and a little maple syrup. Flavor is dark toasted malt with some dry biscuit, latte coffee, light maple syrup, dark chocolate. Lingering chocolate and coffee finish. Medium bodied with light to moderate creaminess. An impressive breakfast stout with a really flavorful malt base well integrated with the maple syrup and coffee. Not as much coffee character as some others of this style, but the clear notes of coffee and chocolate both taste like quality examples. Finish is excellent. I get a little caramel in the flavor, but I think that's just an artifact from the maple syrup. Really well balanced and flavorful. Looks, smells, feels and tastes great. Excellent.

an imperial breakfast stout as they call it, and a darn tasty beer, big and thick and warming, packed with flavor, but underneath it all, an excellent base stout exists, and this isnt so dolled up that that isnt obvious, the quality here is real high, makes me realize i just have not had enough beer from these guys at all! cocoa, maple syrup, and obvious coffee, tons of roast from the dark grain and the cocoa earthiness give this a deep and rich espresso character from start to finish. the maple is identifiable and the beer is sweet, but its not syrupy in texture to too sticky or anything, i could drink a whole can by myself no problem, its not at that diabetic level that these sometimes get to, and plenty of roasted bitterness remains to keep this balanced the whole way through, even as it comes up to temperature. i really like the smoothness of it, the round feel that even the alcohol cant permeate too much, this is mellow in feel and i think its strength is pretty well hidden, like you know its big as you drink it, but its not hot in that way. milk chocolate, brownie batter, and faint smoke in the middle of this, desserty for sure, and then the long drawn out finish with the maple rising. delicious beer, not over flavored but very robust, perfect for this time of year and a fun one to share with new friends. ill be on the lookout for more from these guys, this is a winner. great combination of ingredients and excellent proportions. more please!