Multnomah County Stout - Bourbon
Culmination Brewing

can into glass
Thin, light brown head. Medium thick pour, opaque, very dark brown look. Subtle, sweet and smooth, heavily roasted malt/grain aroma, with a hint of spiced, toasted wood. Not too heavy, nor sweet, smooth toffee tinged, heavy toasted wood and grain flavor, with a bit of a molasses like sweet note. Medium mouth feel.

Poured into a Fremont small snifter. Pours a very dark mahogany brown, appearing opaque black in the glass with a thin khaki head that dissipates to patches with light lacing. Aroma of dark toasted malt, bourbon, cocoa, light vanilla and dried plums. Flavor is dark toasted malt, bourbon, chocolate, vanilla and some dark dried fruit (maybe an artifact of the bourbon). Medium bodied with light to moderate creaminess. A solid, bourbon forward barreled stout. Although this is labelled as Bourbon on the can, it may be the same brew as the traditional MCS; this year we got bourbon, rye and cocoa versions, but a few years ago the regular was bourbon by default. I read over my review of the original version and this tastes quite similar, maybe more bourbon dominated. That's something I can live with. Nice chocolate and vanilla character and some dark fruit that as noted above might be from the bourbon, rather than malt. As before, not quite as dense in flavor or mouth feel as the stout that is being teased a bit here, but a well made and flavorful bourbon stout. In nice, handy 12 oz. Cans this year too. I like it and can't wait to try the other versions. Didn't notice this can was dented and since I wanted to take a photo of it, I guess I'll have to buy another can for a photo. Not too bad an outcome.

2021-04-03
12oz can served in a snifter. Dated 12/22/2020. Bought it in Bend, either at Market of Choice or Newport Avenue Market.

Pours black with a small head. Looks thick. Smell is thick fudge/chocolate syrup, vanilla, booze, anise, black coffee.

Taste is similar, but less boozy. Lower on the anise, higher on the fudge/chocolate. More oak.

Mouthfeel is super thick. Overall, very good beer.