Golden Stout
Rotunda Brewing Co.

As noted yesterday, I have a backlog of Crowlers, including a few from Rieker Bottle Works, in my basement Beerfrigerator & I am diligently trying to get caught up, especially in furtherance of The CANQuest (tm). It was a slow mail day at the LNC, PA USPS P&DC where I work & so we were released early. I'll take it, since 10.5 hours/day x 6 days/week is a grind! The pay is good, though & upon returning home, I caught a nap & now, I am CANxious to have this beer.

From the Crowler: "8/26".

I find Crowlers to be tricky & this one was no different. The tab fought me during the Crack!ing open of the vent & the Glug had to be CANducted in such a way as to avoid dribbling since the vent sits further back than on smaller CANs. My Glug resulted in the formation of two-plus fingers of dense, foamy, rocky, bone-white head with excellent retention, leaving great lacing in its wake. Color was a gorgeous Golden-Amber (SRM = > 5, < 7) with NE-quality clarity, leading to a prompt impromptu visit from The Gelt Gang of Mammon, Midas & Croesus, all ClANmoring for a taste. Nose held a subtle, or at least not overwhelming, coffee aroma as well as a general sweetness. I have since sent a ChANge request to have it identified as a Milk/Sweet Stout, which is how I will be reviewing it. Mouthfeel was medium-to-full, not quite creamy, but definitely slick on the tongue. The taste had a light coffee and milk chocolate flavor, kind of like a flavored coffee with very low bitterness. Its ABV was a bit big for the style, but that CAN be overlooked since taste is the key, based in ingredients. I have noted many times in reviews that I am not generally a fan of sweets, but this was not cloying & instead, rather pleasant. Dangerously so, since it really hid its alcohol well, making it highly drinkable. I felt as though I had been cruising along without a care in the world, only to glance down at the speedo & see that I was doing 90 per! 8=O It was clearly time to ease up on the gas pedal. I relaxed & settled in for the duration, finding it to be a nice enough beer, but I would have preferred a more pronounced coffee flavor with perhaps more bitterness, if that is not too much to ask. Finish was semi-sweet, definitely not at all dry. I was glad that I bought this one when I did as it is a One-Off collab among a few Dauphin & Lebanon County brewers. YMMV.