La Nocturne
Brasserie Thiriez

 

 

If it wasn't for the fact that I thought this beer was already on BA, I would have taken a picture of it before I poured it. The label is black with white lettering, with some simple drawings of a water droplet, hop flowers, coffee beans, and barley seeds. On the back of the label it reads: "Bière Brune au café/Cofee Stout"

A: One finger of light brown head crowns an intensely dark red/almost black brew. The head sticks around for a minute or so, but leaves no lacing.

S: Pretty robust aroma with predominately burnt and roasted malts shining through. Wonderful hint of fresh coffee grounds combines with the malts to add a touch of smokiness, while a mild spicy hop presence rounds things out.

T: Rich, dark malts hit the tongue first but are soon gently shoved aside by an assertive coffee flavor that plays off the strong malt base yet does not overshadow it. The combination of the two is perfect and delicious. Although a mild caramel flavor runs throughout, this is far from a sweet beer. Indeed, the hops make themselves well known in both bitterness and flavor in the middle of the sip, just before the flavors begin to fade. Still, the focus here is on the malts and the coffee. The finish is long and retains the fantastic coffee flavor that makes this beer so delicious.

M: Medium bodied with a crisp carbonation for the style. Full, slightly chewy mouthfeel suits this beer to a T.

O: Talk about starting the holiday season off on the right foot! A really good coffee stout in my humble opinion, with a nice flavor profile and plenty of depth. Although it's rich in flavor, this beer is still very drinkable and far from being too heavy. The finish could perhaps have been a little stronger, but overall I was very impressed with this brew.