BRUNCH
Willow Rock Brewing Company

This one pours a fairly dark black color, with a small head, and not much lacing.

This smells like brightly roasty and chocolatey coffee, maple sweetness, roasted malt, and vanilla.

This really well done. It’s not super thick by any means, but the coffee and maple interplay is pretty spot on. The coffee is very roasty, but not overly bitter, with a bright and vibrant classic coffee profile that I really dig. The maple does help add some sweetness to the more bittersweet coffee notes.

This is medium bodied, rich, but not syrupy, and quite drinkable with very little booziness.

I was surprised by how well this one worked – Willow Rock is mostly off my radar.

The three-inch, chestnut froth gradually settles over 5 to 10 minutes. A thick ring of lace and small patches are left on the glass. The beer itself is very dark and clear, similar to a dark cola.

The aroma opens with powerful, roasted black coffee that turns slightly astringent. The coffee aroma is retained while wet campfire works its way in, along with slightly burnt toast.

Surprisingly sweet, with coffee grinds and ash being prominent. The flavor is well roasted with light bitterness. Light soapiness is apparent initially in the finish and gives way to lingering roasted coffee.

The beer has a medium body and light, prickly carbonation. Its first impression is smooth and creamy, almost oily texture. Alcohol is well concealed.

Overall, this is an interesting beer and very reminiscent of French roasted coffee. For those who love robust, sweet coffee, this beer will be to your liking.

Thank you to Dave for this trade.

 

Smells like coffee and malts.... Tastes like a delicious dark roast. Breakfast of champions!