Permutation Series #52: Imperial Stout w/ Almonds, Coffee & Vanilla
Trillium Brewing Company
- From:
- Trillium Brewing Company
- Massachusetts, United States
- Style:
- Imperial Pastry Stout
- ABV:
- 12.9%
- Score:
- 98
- Avg:
- 4.49 | pDev: 6.01%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 12
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- May 16, 2020
- Added:
- Jun 30, 2018
- Wants:
- 6
- Gots:
- 16
SCORE
98
World-Class
98
World-Class
Permutation is our experimental series of small batch offerings, showcasing the unique visions and innovative concepts developed by our brewing and cellar crew.
Permutation 52 is a 50/50 blend of barrel-aged beer that spent 1.5 years in oak and imperial stout from a stainless fermenter. It pours a deep dark brown with slight haze. The nose displays great complexity with notes of earthy dark chocolate, toasted nuts, and cà phê đá (Vietanmese iced coffee). These flavors deepen on the palate with a profile of fudgy brownies, chewy vanilla torrone, ricciarelli biscuits, and marzipan. The back of the palate develops a bold, slightly oaky bourbon character that cuts through the sweeter elements. Permutation 52 has a luscious, creamy mouthfeel and rich, full body with a rounded finish similar to that of cold brew iced coffee.
MALT: English Pale Malt, Caramel Malt, Flaked Oats, Black Malt, Chocolate Malt, Munich Malt, White Wheat Malt
HOPS: Hop bittering extract
Permutation 52 is a 50/50 blend of barrel-aged beer that spent 1.5 years in oak and imperial stout from a stainless fermenter. It pours a deep dark brown with slight haze. The nose displays great complexity with notes of earthy dark chocolate, toasted nuts, and cà phê đá (Vietanmese iced coffee). These flavors deepen on the palate with a profile of fudgy brownies, chewy vanilla torrone, ricciarelli biscuits, and marzipan. The back of the palate develops a bold, slightly oaky bourbon character that cuts through the sweeter elements. Permutation 52 has a luscious, creamy mouthfeel and rich, full body with a rounded finish similar to that of cold brew iced coffee.
MALT: English Pale Malt, Caramel Malt, Flaked Oats, Black Malt, Chocolate Malt, Munich Malt, White Wheat Malt
HOPS: Hop bittering extract
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by hopley from Massachusetts
4.76/5 rDev +6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
4.76/5 rDev +6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
750 ml bottle drank from a tulip on 12.27.19, cellared properly.
Just a spectacular beer. Poured thick and motor oil like with almost no head, just a little around the edges and a small island in the center to let you know there was some carbonation in there. The smell was dominated by almonds and vanilla, maybe a little barrel or alcohol too. The taste was just right in my lane - not too roasty and not overly dominated by coffee which so many stouts these days are. The flavor was all about the vanilla and almond - a perfect mix of the two - it was like drinking a Hershey bar. Alcohol was there but somewhat muted, which is surprising given the ABV. The barrel aging for part of this beer must have helped accentuate the smoothness. Mouthfeel was spot on - nice and thick. This is one of the best stouts I've had from Trillium in a while. Cheers!
Dec 28, 2019Just a spectacular beer. Poured thick and motor oil like with almost no head, just a little around the edges and a small island in the center to let you know there was some carbonation in there. The smell was dominated by almonds and vanilla, maybe a little barrel or alcohol too. The taste was just right in my lane - not too roasty and not overly dominated by coffee which so many stouts these days are. The flavor was all about the vanilla and almond - a perfect mix of the two - it was like drinking a Hershey bar. Alcohol was there but somewhat muted, which is surprising given the ABV. The barrel aging for part of this beer must have helped accentuate the smoothness. Mouthfeel was spot on - nice and thick. This is one of the best stouts I've had from Trillium in a while. Cheers!
Reviewed by Vidblain from Minnesota
4.31/5 rDev -4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.31/5 rDev -4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
I was lucky enough to be in Boston when Perm 52 was available - wholly unplanned, and totally awesome - I came home with two bottles, one of which was a gift to a friend, and the other was swapped with other friends. Interesting that none of my bottles actually ended up in my belly. But, another friend happened to share a bottle with me and I immediately regretted not consuming my own.
Perm 52 is significantly thicker than the traditional Trillium stouts I've had - and those almonds add an excellent toasty, nutty element. It's a beer with a ton of character and. It's not something that would come to mind for a top 100 stout, but it's certainly up there.
Jun 09, 2019Perm 52 is significantly thicker than the traditional Trillium stouts I've had - and those almonds add an excellent toasty, nutty element. It's a beer with a ton of character and. It's not something that would come to mind for a top 100 stout, but it's certainly up there.
Reviewed by gcamparone from Rhode Island
4.46/5 rDev -0.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.46/5 rDev -0.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Poured from a 750mL bottle into a snifter. Purchased at the brewery on release date.
Pours a deep brown, nearly black body with a two finger brown head that sticks around for a while and leave good lacing and a thick ring of retention.
Aroma is heavy vanilla, cake frosting, chocolate brownies, amaretto, freshly baked cookies, lightly nutty.
On the tongue it’s sweet with notes of cookie dough, French vanilla, almond extract, sugar cookies, finishing with toasty coffee and bakers chocolate. Medium-heavy mouthfeel, thickens up as it warms, rich and lowly carbonated.
This is still holding up almost a year later! Delicious beer.
Jun 03, 2019Pours a deep brown, nearly black body with a two finger brown head that sticks around for a while and leave good lacing and a thick ring of retention.
Aroma is heavy vanilla, cake frosting, chocolate brownies, amaretto, freshly baked cookies, lightly nutty.
On the tongue it’s sweet with notes of cookie dough, French vanilla, almond extract, sugar cookies, finishing with toasty coffee and bakers chocolate. Medium-heavy mouthfeel, thickens up as it warms, rich and lowly carbonated.
This is still holding up almost a year later! Delicious beer.
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