Juan de Bolas
Aslin Beer Company

Can, about a month and a half after purchase:
Wow! A bit impressed. Not usually a huge fan of Aslin's stouts, but this managed to get all the flavors into it and they more or less seem they belong together.

As with most Aslin stouts, the head became next to nothing, but it didn't fizzle away as fast as normal. Dark, dark, murky brown and obviously no lacing from what ponce was a nice brown foam atop the beer.

I could smell the blueberries as I brought the beer to my girlfriend. Dark chocolate more than coffee play bass, but the star is the blueberry - in a lightly tart, but definitely fruity way. The toasted coconut throws in a little flare on the side.

A quite slick, nearing thick beer, the lack of carbonation (not still, but very muted) might be saved a tad by a slight alcohol presence. The coffee/cocoa/brownie of the malts and half the additions are quite well meshed. The blueberry is an impression at first, but closes in from the sides of my tongue. The coconut hides until the end, where it's just a whisper of a last bit of sweetness.
Revisit, 2020 batch: the blueberry isn't an impression here - the fruit notes are up front: blueberry, cherry, blueberry jam. dangerously drinkable due to sweetness which is hiding the alcohol even more this batch.

Yes, this is a "pastry stout," but a quite well constructed one, in my opinion. Would be a nice after dinner, dessert beverage, for sure. Could I enjoy it in any sitting? No, But it works quite well for me when I want a sweeter beer, because it doesn't just seem to be focused on being sweet - the additional flavors come through quite well.

 

 

 

 

Black body sporting a very thick and creamy head, khaki in color, sticky with heavy rings laddering down the glass. Mildly sweet aroma interspersed with a bit of cocoa and a suggestion of mint. Exquisite flavors: milk chocolate, coffee; bright spiciness, cinnamon, and a slow-burn bitterness lingering deep below the dominant tastes; subtle booziness. Thick, oily, chewy body; sludgy velvet mouthfeel; primarily sweet mouthfeel but with a slightly dry edge towards the finish.

What an incredible beer! It brings an amazing amount of depth and complexity to the palate. And for a 15% ABV beer, the alcohol strength is very well-hidden! And what I perceived as mint is, in fact, likely the blueberries used in this beer. This is a beer to savor and enjoy. It is a pleasure to nurse and note the complex tastes develop as the beer warms. It exudes beauty and a masterful aspect of the brewer's art form.

Poured at 50° F; no dating information seen on the can.

 

 

Pours as dark as any typical stout with a nice tan head which dissipates into a lacing. Distinct caramel, coffee and coconut on the nose. Tastes sweet, very sweet of caramel, some licorice (anise?), coffee and coconut. Feels great with a distinctly licorice aftertaste. It’s 15% ABV which is remarkable coz I didn’t feel the burn when sipping. Of course, this is a one and you’re done...but a good one.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Poured from the can into a teku glass.

Dark simple walnut black bodied beer that is opaque. A mocha dark head of two fingers, sizzles out of sight with no remaining collar to he had. The beer sits as neutral as a stout could be, with fleeting nice appearances lost to the eye.

That aroma though. Holy crap. A giant mix of coconut and what at first seems like a tropical fruit angle for a perfect match. The fruity angle though gets much more obvious after a few more whiffs as the blueberry becomes more evident with a sweeter darker tone, but the coconut quality is so wonderfully toast, rich, crispy, that it pushes your brain into pineapple territory. This coconut smell feels like it is litteral shaved on my face. Light sense of char and roast balance out. Dang is this impressive.

The palate is just a stupid pleasing romp. A mix of blueberry juice and rich dark chocolate and toasted coconut. Screaming obscure pina colada without the pineapple… or is it just me thinking it's there? It's got a rich ganache chocolate coating and super silky smooth finish that makes you want more. Bursting FUDGE all over. Not even a touch of boozy heat on this at all.. Zip… nada.

This beer is insane. I have no words.

 

L - Black, but in some light almost a very dark brown with mahogany highlights around the edges with a large tan head that dissipates somewhat quickly leaving behind a cap but no real lacing
S - Tons of coffee on the nose along with some blueberry and chocolate notes
T - Tons of chocolate and very noticeable blueberry along with some creamy coconut as well as a slight amount of coffee flavor
F - Medium leaning on full bodied with a light to moderate amount of carbonation. Smooth and creamy, but I might prefer a slightly heavier body for a stout such as this.
O - A fantastic stout - really interesting flavor notes with the addition of a very powerful blueberry. Well done