Mixed Trail
Calusa Brewing

Having this beer on tap at the brewery. This beer draws a very dark brown, almost black color with a tan colored head that’s about 1/3 of an inch thick one first drawn and served. Head settles to a thick ring lining the inside of the glass at the beer's surface. Barely any lacing here. Aromas of roasted malts, chocolate, raisins, cashews, peanuts, a bit of lactide, and of course some bourbon barrel oak notes. The flavor profile is exactly the same, with all the aforementioned aromas also being present in the flavor profile. A nicely complex flavor profile w/ so much tastiness going on at once!
Everything intertwines so wonderfully on my palate. This is an absolutely amazing bourbon barrel aged imperial stout. Has a fairly syrupy, sticky, slightly chewy, full bodied/thick mouth feel with low carbonation. All of the flavors linger very nicely on the aftertaste and stick around for a long time indeed. Wow! This is a fucking phenomenal beer!

Eric

If you're hitting the trail, you're going to need a snack. Does that snack need to be fourteen percent in alcohol? Well... that depends on where you're heading.

Heading neck deep into stout territory, Calusa brings a trail mix inspired Imperial Stout that pours like pure thatch. Its serious black austere is crowned with a mocha laced froth and a sultry, sweet and smoky scent of roasted nuttiness, dark sugars, dark coffee, cocoa and whisky and coconut. Sweet on the tongue, a combination of heavy cream, dark chocolate, caramel and blackstrap molasses all set a malty tone.

As the flavors saturate the tastebuds, the middle palate is awash in decadent malt sweetness. Candied nuttiness, sweet roast and burnt cream add to the molasses, brown sugar and caramel flavors for a decadently sweet and creamy session. Hints of raisin and other dark berries and charred fruits seem chocolate coated with bold impressions of sweetened espresso, vanilla and coconut in tow.

The spice of kahlua are as strong as bourbon influence as a taste of charred oak and bourbon barrel nuances show up late in taste. Its full and lavish mouthfeel is nougat-like with a long and fat malt finish of dark chocolate and cream.

 

Mar 2021 - Siesta Key Spring Break
32oz Crowley purchased at brewery. Poured into tall water tumbler.

Pour: jet black, 1-2 finger tan head. Ends with a small amount of lacing and thin ring. Nothing special but glass probably didn’t help. 3.0

Smell: coffee, chocolate, sweet malt. Pretty fragrant, coffee dominates. 3.5

Taste: coffee, semi-sweet chocolate, caramel, stone fruit, lactose. Sweet upfront, bitterness in middle and sweet on the end. There’s a lot going on, maybe too much. Coffee and chocolate dominate, could be a bit more balanced. Tasty, enjoyable but not excellent. 3.5

Feel: syrupy to start, cleaner finish than expected. Low carbonation. Easy drinking desert beer. 3.75

Overall: definition of a desert beer. I enjoyed it but wouldn’t pursue it. Complexity and balance not quite right for me. 3.5