TBD
Castle Island Brewing Co.

Really nice stout, a bit off the beaten track. I won't go through the usual litany of smell, feel, taste, etc., just want to recommend you give it a try. I did and it was very good, will buy again.

 

Draft pint is black with burgundy highlights and a nice head that laces the glass. Smell is mostly roast with a touch of chocolate and sour twang. Taste made me say, “whoa, this is good”—more roast, chocolate, then an herbal quality from the hops dissolves into velvet on the tongue. Good level of bitterness and just a nice balance all around. Alcohol is well hidden except after eating a bite of food. Really nice stout without flavorings and the hops just work.

 

 

 

Ah, the hoppy stout. An idea done by... very few breweries. Of course, local heroes Castle Island take this rather-silly concept and knock it out of the park. The best part about this is that TBD was their very first professionally-brewed batch of beer ever. Very glad to see it back again, as I had a can last year and very much enjoyed it. Guess I didn't review it, however, but there's no time like the present to give a great beer a solid critique.

Pours a jet-black color that appears to drop from the can somewhere in the realm of 36-38 SRM. A mocha-colored head builds and builds atop the deep, dark body of this ale, bringing with it a solid helping of lace and a nice retention measuring about a finger-and-a-half at its highest point. Even after five to ten minutes in my glass, though, this brew looks stellar and stately. An awesome pour!

The nose here is hop-forward, as expected, but also bears a charred and roasty malt profile that highlights the requisite smoke, caramel and toffee-like aspects of a fairly-large American stout. The spicy, piney and surprisingly delicate and floral hop elements are very much placed on at least the same level as the malts here, but this is no black IPA or hoppy porter, as it were. A milk chocolate-like scent befuddles my senses when placed in a way that juxtaposes intensely with the resinous hop complexity. A weird nose, to be sure, but it feels superbly balanced.

The flavor is rich with chocolate and roasted coffee notes, bringing forth suggestions of a mocha cappucino, but the final flavors on the tongue are dotted with suggestions of light floral and spice notes along with earthy hops. Very "West Coast" hop profile here, and the combination with the yeast and dark malts tends to provide some suggestions of dark fruit at times, right before a dry and pine-forward finish closes things out with appropriately bitter aplomb.

The feel here is silky-smooth with a detailed and assisting carbonation that pushes the flavors along on the tongue despite how incongruous they can seem to be at times. The strength here is perfect, as well; this would likely be a much less-good beer if it were in the 6% or 8% range... it sits nicely at a light 7% with its slick and effortless body. I don't get the 7% here at all, mind you, but the malt approach here is no-holds-barred without going too heavy or "all-in" to the imperial side of things. This is a great balance of elements without going too far in any particular direction. Great job, Castle Island!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Picked-up as part of a mixed six-pack at Kappy's in Norwell. Canned-on date of October 2016 - doh! Despite the age, very smooth and tasty brew, would buy again.

 

 

 

 

 

16 oz can. Shared at 504 Craft.