Niyok
Trillium Brewing Company
- From:
- Trillium Brewing Company
- Massachusetts, United States
- Style:
- American Imperial Stout
- ABV:
- 12.8%
- Score:
- 94
- Avg:
- 4.38 | pDev: 5.48%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 6
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- May 19, 2025
- Added:
- Oct 11, 2019
- Wants:
- 0
- Gots:
- 0
SCORE
94
Outstanding
94
Outstanding
Collaboration with Three Chiefs Brewing Co.
After chatting with Charles, Brian, and Vince from Three Chiefs down in Miami at Wakefest 2019, we were immediately struck by their genuine kindness, positivity, and energy that they devoted to their craft. Then we sampled Fähä, their renowned Imperial Stout brewed with candied and toasted coconut, and we knew that we should brew together. That first chance came back in the Spring when Hineksa, a Double IPA with rice and palm sugar was born. Cut to this year's Field Trip, it was the perfect time to host them at our Fort Point brewhouse and brew a small batch tribute to their beer that impressed us so much.
Deriving its name from the Chamorro word for coconut, Niyok is brewed with an immense amount of toasted coconut and brown sugar. Pouring an opaque jet-black with a dense cocoa-tinged head, abundant notes of freshly-cracked coconut, caramelized brown sugar, and luscious vanilla envelop the palate. Incredibly thick, with a warming sweetness, Niyok is the ideal beer to share amongst friends.
After chatting with Charles, Brian, and Vince from Three Chiefs down in Miami at Wakefest 2019, we were immediately struck by their genuine kindness, positivity, and energy that they devoted to their craft. Then we sampled Fähä, their renowned Imperial Stout brewed with candied and toasted coconut, and we knew that we should brew together. That first chance came back in the Spring when Hineksa, a Double IPA with rice and palm sugar was born. Cut to this year's Field Trip, it was the perfect time to host them at our Fort Point brewhouse and brew a small batch tribute to their beer that impressed us so much.
Deriving its name from the Chamorro word for coconut, Niyok is brewed with an immense amount of toasted coconut and brown sugar. Pouring an opaque jet-black with a dense cocoa-tinged head, abundant notes of freshly-cracked coconut, caramelized brown sugar, and luscious vanilla envelop the palate. Incredibly thick, with a warming sweetness, Niyok is the ideal beer to share amongst friends.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by hopley from Massachusetts
4.35/5 rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.35/5 rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
2019 750 ml bottle, drank September, 2021. A decent stout - smooth, sweet and drinkable. Very much enjoyed it, but it didn’t retain any of the coconut, had no head or any bouquet at all. Look forward to trying the new 500 ml bottle.
2026 - tried the new 2020 500ml bottle, albeit a few years after release…the beer was better albeit Trillium was kind enough to add a few toasted coconut floaters to this version, but that didn’t matter one way or another… I upped my ratings in all but the looks category - floaties detract…
Sep 06, 20212026 - tried the new 2020 500ml bottle, albeit a few years after release…the beer was better albeit Trillium was kind enough to add a few toasted coconut floaters to this version, but that didn’t matter one way or another… I upped my ratings in all but the looks category - floaties detract…
Reviewed by pkalix from California
4.56/5 rDev +4.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.56/5 rDev +4.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
maybe i'm just in a good mood(?) but this is really darned delicious. super sweet. lots of chocolate. coconut and vanilla in an obvious supporting cast. roasty AND smooth.... but did i say sweet?
May 15, 2021
Reviewed by SierraNevallagash from Maine
4.25/5 rDev -3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4
4.25/5 rDev -3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4
2020 Vintage - 500ml bottle - poured into a stemless glass at 45°F.
Pours a visibly thick dark inky blackish brown, glugging into the glass and forming a short, super dark sticky head that dissipates in seconds, leaving nothing nehind but some coconut lipids floating atop the dense brew. Stains the glass.
Nose: Deeply roasted malts lend big aromas of dark chocolate, chocolate chips, milk chocolate, caramel syrup, vanilla frosting, hot and cocoa. The coconut starts to emerge, smelling freshly cracked, and also lending a distinct cinnamon note as well. There's a deep spice note that reminds me a bit of dark rum.
Palate: Niyok greets the palate with a huge sweet, dessert-like malt presence. I'm not going to lie, this is sweet stuff. Lots of caramel, along with sweet coconut, and notes of vanilla, toffee, butterscotch, and milk chocolate. The roast begins to develop, taking on more of a semi-sweet chocolate note. The coconut is very much here, but it's a feature, not the headline, playing nicely with the malt. The sweet chocolate wins over, along with some vanilla, highlighting more roast as it approaches the finish, but staying squarely in chocolate territory. The finish is still sweet, with very little roast cutting in, and lingering like chocolate syrup.
Mouthfeel/Body: Full-bodied, rich, thick, chewy, decadent, and even a bit viscous when it's cold. Cold, this stuff is fudgy. When it warms, it thins out a bit, but still remains very lush and chewy. It's not syrup, but it's about as thick as you'd want a sweet stout. Effervescence is naturally low, but there's enough fizz to cut through a bit.
Overall: This is a tricky beer to rate. If this were solely a style for big, thick, sweet dessert stouts, this thing would dominate. Drinking this bottle alone, the first few ounces were amazing, but it does start to get cloying, and I'm having to take breaks. The beer coupd really benefit from some barrel or some heavier roast to help dry out the finish, as the sweetness hurts it. However, from a coconut pastry stout standpoint, it's a worthy bottle with truly fantastic coconut integration. If you like 'em sweet and thick, seek this out.
Jan 16, 2021Pours a visibly thick dark inky blackish brown, glugging into the glass and forming a short, super dark sticky head that dissipates in seconds, leaving nothing nehind but some coconut lipids floating atop the dense brew. Stains the glass.
Nose: Deeply roasted malts lend big aromas of dark chocolate, chocolate chips, milk chocolate, caramel syrup, vanilla frosting, hot and cocoa. The coconut starts to emerge, smelling freshly cracked, and also lending a distinct cinnamon note as well. There's a deep spice note that reminds me a bit of dark rum.
Palate: Niyok greets the palate with a huge sweet, dessert-like malt presence. I'm not going to lie, this is sweet stuff. Lots of caramel, along with sweet coconut, and notes of vanilla, toffee, butterscotch, and milk chocolate. The roast begins to develop, taking on more of a semi-sweet chocolate note. The coconut is very much here, but it's a feature, not the headline, playing nicely with the malt. The sweet chocolate wins over, along with some vanilla, highlighting more roast as it approaches the finish, but staying squarely in chocolate territory. The finish is still sweet, with very little roast cutting in, and lingering like chocolate syrup.
Mouthfeel/Body: Full-bodied, rich, thick, chewy, decadent, and even a bit viscous when it's cold. Cold, this stuff is fudgy. When it warms, it thins out a bit, but still remains very lush and chewy. It's not syrup, but it's about as thick as you'd want a sweet stout. Effervescence is naturally low, but there's enough fizz to cut through a bit.
Overall: This is a tricky beer to rate. If this were solely a style for big, thick, sweet dessert stouts, this thing would dominate. Drinking this bottle alone, the first few ounces were amazing, but it does start to get cloying, and I'm having to take breaks. The beer coupd really benefit from some barrel or some heavier roast to help dry out the finish, as the sweetness hurts it. However, from a coconut pastry stout standpoint, it's a worthy bottle with truly fantastic coconut integration. If you like 'em sweet and thick, seek this out.
Reviewed by StoutElk_92 from Massachusetts
4.88/5 rDev +11.4%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
4.88/5 rDev +11.4%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
Lots of toasted coconut and brown sugar, sweet dark chocolate, some dark fruit notes like black grape and prune, molasses, vanilla, toasty ground nuts, heavy, thick, sweet, smooth, coconuty
Dec 01, 2019
Reviewed by Damian from Massachusetts
4.79/5 rDev +9.4%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
4.79/5 rDev +9.4%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
Drank from a 25.4 fl oz (750 ml) bottle purchased at Trillium Brewing Company, Boston, MA
10/04/19
Served in a tulip
Dark brown/black on the pour and pitch black in the glass. Super shimmery and slick with an oily sheen atop the liquid. Even with a fairly aggressive pour, only a few wisps of caramel colored froth topped the body.
The nose was fantastic. Toasted coconut notes came through big time. Loads of brown sugar too. Dark chocolate was also noticeable. Sweet but not excessively so. I thought I picked up some almond character as well. This definitely reminded me of an Almond Joy. Moderately boozy. For 12.8% ABV, however, the alcohol was very well buried.
The flavor profile was nearly as impressive. Loads of toasted coconut right off the bat. Super malty and robust. Moderately roasty. Brown sugar again came through strong. Big vanilla presence too. Bit of almond character as well. Hint of chocolate fudge. Appropriately sweet for the style. More roasted malts on the back end and the finish. Some alcohol heat appeared here and lingered after the swallow.
Outstanding rich, thick, full bodied mouthfeel. Super creamy and slick on the palate. The liquid contained a fine, moderate effervescence that fluffed up beautifully.
Some reviewers have called Niyok the most coconut forward beer they ever tried, and I might agree. The coconut character was really intense but well integrated into the base beer, and the mouthfeel was amazingly creamy and thick. Despite the steep ($26) price tag for a non-barrel aged beer, I would gladly purchase this again.
Nov 20, 201910/04/19
Served in a tulip
Dark brown/black on the pour and pitch black in the glass. Super shimmery and slick with an oily sheen atop the liquid. Even with a fairly aggressive pour, only a few wisps of caramel colored froth topped the body.
The nose was fantastic. Toasted coconut notes came through big time. Loads of brown sugar too. Dark chocolate was also noticeable. Sweet but not excessively so. I thought I picked up some almond character as well. This definitely reminded me of an Almond Joy. Moderately boozy. For 12.8% ABV, however, the alcohol was very well buried.
The flavor profile was nearly as impressive. Loads of toasted coconut right off the bat. Super malty and robust. Moderately roasty. Brown sugar again came through strong. Big vanilla presence too. Bit of almond character as well. Hint of chocolate fudge. Appropriately sweet for the style. More roasted malts on the back end and the finish. Some alcohol heat appeared here and lingered after the swallow.
Outstanding rich, thick, full bodied mouthfeel. Super creamy and slick on the palate. The liquid contained a fine, moderate effervescence that fluffed up beautifully.
Some reviewers have called Niyok the most coconut forward beer they ever tried, and I might agree. The coconut character was really intense but well integrated into the base beer, and the mouthfeel was amazingly creamy and thick. Despite the steep ($26) price tag for a non-barrel aged beer, I would gladly purchase this again.
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