Crunch
Shovel Town Brewery
- From:
- Shovel Town Brewery
- Massachusetts, United States
- Style:
- Imperial Pastry Stout
Ranked #626 - ABV:
- 7.7%
- Score:
- 91
Ranked #8,241 - Avg:
- 4.19 | pDev: 7.4%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 9
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Mar 16, 2026
- Added:
- Oct 01, 2019
- Wants:
- 0
- Gots:
- 2
SCORE
91
Outstanding
91
Outstanding
“Crunch” is a Peanut Butter Coffee Stout, coming in at 7.7% ABV. This is our first pilot batch which we scaled up to our full size system, due to all the great feedback we received from our patrons. Brewed with real peanuts and milk sugar, this sweet stout hits all the marks.…
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Reviewed by Blogjackets from Ohio
4.33/5 rDev +3.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.33/5 rDev +3.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Poured from a pint can, the body is a dark brown with good, tan initial head. Lacing throughout the tasting.
Nose is coffee forward with a note of peanut and perhaps a trace of lactose. Taste follows and expands upon the aroma. The coffee flavor is bold with good bitterness. The peanut butter is present but in background. Lactose is perceived but unobtrusive.
Carbonation is good. Good malty, bitter finish.
I enjoyed this stout quite a bit, but one must enjoy a substantial bitterness.
Oct 29, 2022Nose is coffee forward with a note of peanut and perhaps a trace of lactose. Taste follows and expands upon the aroma. The coffee flavor is bold with good bitterness. The peanut butter is present but in background. Lactose is perceived but unobtrusive.
Carbonation is good. Good malty, bitter finish.
I enjoyed this stout quite a bit, but one must enjoy a substantial bitterness.
Reviewed by mickyge from Massachusetts
4.16/5 rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.16/5 rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours dark brown with a chocolate colored head, slight lacing
Aroma of peanut butter, coffee and chocolate
Taste is slightly bitter mocha coffee and peanut butter. Coffee up front and a lingering chocolate/ peanut butter finish
Mouthfeel is a bit thin, not real heavy or creamy. Slightly bitter black coffee feel, low carbonation
Overall despite the fairly strong peanut butter aroma it is nicely layered. Thin feeling but chewy flavors. Nicely done.
Sep 18, 2022Aroma of peanut butter, coffee and chocolate
Taste is slightly bitter mocha coffee and peanut butter. Coffee up front and a lingering chocolate/ peanut butter finish
Mouthfeel is a bit thin, not real heavy or creamy. Slightly bitter black coffee feel, low carbonation
Overall despite the fairly strong peanut butter aroma it is nicely layered. Thin feeling but chewy flavors. Nicely done.
Reviewed by brewandbbq from New Hampshire
4.25/5 rDev +1.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.25/5 rDev +1.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
16oz can from Fort Point market.
Pours opaque dark brown with an inch of tan foam. Retention is decent with moderate lacing. Roasted peanuts with bakers chocolate in the nose. Medium to full bodied with a chewy mouthfeel. Dark chocolate with peanuts on the palate. Finishes with chocolate covered nuts.
Apr 24, 2022Pours opaque dark brown with an inch of tan foam. Retention is decent with moderate lacing. Roasted peanuts with bakers chocolate in the nose. Medium to full bodied with a chewy mouthfeel. Dark chocolate with peanuts on the palate. Finishes with chocolate covered nuts.
Reviewed by Rug from Massachusetts
3.92/5 rDev -6.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.92/5 rDev -6.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours a fudgey deep brown with a finger of frothy tan head that reduces to a cap slowly, great lacing
Roasted peanuts right up front in the aroma, the lactose is evident, which is probably what gives the peanut butter vibe. A bit of milk chocolate but really no coffee except for the associated roast
Ok well the taste follows the nose exactly so there's not much more to be pointed out here, the sweeter chocolates come on first before the peanuts wash over in a salty fashion. Simple but tasty
Pretty light, again probably from the lactose. Mild prickly carbonation, and this finishes quite nice, just shy of drying which really works here
Overall not the most amazing adjuncted stout, but worthy of trying and maybe coming back to. Not too decadent or cloying
Apr 12, 2020Roasted peanuts right up front in the aroma, the lactose is evident, which is probably what gives the peanut butter vibe. A bit of milk chocolate but really no coffee except for the associated roast
Ok well the taste follows the nose exactly so there's not much more to be pointed out here, the sweeter chocolates come on first before the peanuts wash over in a salty fashion. Simple but tasty
Pretty light, again probably from the lactose. Mild prickly carbonation, and this finishes quite nice, just shy of drying which really works here
Overall not the most amazing adjuncted stout, but worthy of trying and maybe coming back to. Not too decadent or cloying
Reviewed by johnnnniee from New Hampshire
3.73/5 rDev -11%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.73/5 rDev -11%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Can from Craft Beer Cellar Belmont.
Dark brown black in color with a creamy tan head that persists. Chocolate peanut and coffee on the nose with hints of earth and roast. Flavor is sugary sweet milk chocolate with bits of peanut and coffee.
Mar 15, 2020Dark brown black in color with a creamy tan head that persists. Chocolate peanut and coffee on the nose with hints of earth and roast. Flavor is sugary sweet milk chocolate with bits of peanut and coffee.
Reviewed by ichorNet from Massachusetts
4.56/5 rDev +8.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.56/5 rDev +8.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Well, this has some glowing reviews which make me pretty excited. Huh. I only really bought it because the idea of a peanut butter coffee stout is totally great, and I don't think I've had one of those yet, but the positive reviews all around the Internet make me excited for sure.
Pour is a an opaque black beer topped off with a nice head of khaki foam that leaves behind some intense, consistent lace as it fades away. The surface remains totally covered with retentive foam throughout my experience with the beer. Honestly, this is a superb-looking offering. I wasn't expecting too much for whatever reason, but this is great-looking.
The nose is straight-up Peanut Butter Crunch cereal... they did a great job animating that entire aspect. It has roasted peanuts, light notes of roasted malts, and cocoa, without much else. Honestly, though, not a lot is really needed, as they totally nailed the breakfast peanut butter stout feel here with the nose alone. I would say this is kinda on the same level as (maybe better than?) Gunner's Daughter in terms of nailing the initial elements necessary for saying you "succeeded" at the beer right off the bat. Sure, this could drop the ball when it comes to flavor and mouthfeel, but I feel like I would know pretty quickly whether or not this was to be garbage from the smell, and... I shall say that this is an awesome-smelling beer. I would buy a candle of this.
Well, though... how does it taste? It's pretty good, honestly! A bit on the ashy side in the aftertaste, but the roasted peanut flavor feels extremely authentic and superior to plenty of beers like this. The coffee makes a slight appearance, too, however, kinda coming in with some roastiness of its own character, and there's a little bit of honey and toffee in the backend of the mid-palate to keep things slightly interesting. I am a big fan of this.
The feel is on the lighter side of medium for the style and, especially, for the 7.7% ABV! This beer is huge yet it tastes like a small-ish 5-6% beer. There's a ton going on, and it all conglomerates very well. I'm extremely happy with this beer. If you like peanut butter dark beers, this should certainly be on your radar. I know the brewery is small and that kind of thing can lend itself to inconsistency/"batchiness," but... get this beer. Take a chance. It's awesome.
Feb 22, 2020Pour is a an opaque black beer topped off with a nice head of khaki foam that leaves behind some intense, consistent lace as it fades away. The surface remains totally covered with retentive foam throughout my experience with the beer. Honestly, this is a superb-looking offering. I wasn't expecting too much for whatever reason, but this is great-looking.
The nose is straight-up Peanut Butter Crunch cereal... they did a great job animating that entire aspect. It has roasted peanuts, light notes of roasted malts, and cocoa, without much else. Honestly, though, not a lot is really needed, as they totally nailed the breakfast peanut butter stout feel here with the nose alone. I would say this is kinda on the same level as (maybe better than?) Gunner's Daughter in terms of nailing the initial elements necessary for saying you "succeeded" at the beer right off the bat. Sure, this could drop the ball when it comes to flavor and mouthfeel, but I feel like I would know pretty quickly whether or not this was to be garbage from the smell, and... I shall say that this is an awesome-smelling beer. I would buy a candle of this.
Well, though... how does it taste? It's pretty good, honestly! A bit on the ashy side in the aftertaste, but the roasted peanut flavor feels extremely authentic and superior to plenty of beers like this. The coffee makes a slight appearance, too, however, kinda coming in with some roastiness of its own character, and there's a little bit of honey and toffee in the backend of the mid-palate to keep things slightly interesting. I am a big fan of this.
The feel is on the lighter side of medium for the style and, especially, for the 7.7% ABV! This beer is huge yet it tastes like a small-ish 5-6% beer. There's a ton going on, and it all conglomerates very well. I'm extremely happy with this beer. If you like peanut butter dark beers, this should certainly be on your radar. I know the brewery is small and that kind of thing can lend itself to inconsistency/"batchiness," but... get this beer. Take a chance. It's awesome.
Reviewed by rudzud from Massachusetts
4.38/5 rDev +4.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.38/5 rDev +4.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Thanks to JLindros for sharing this can.
A - Poured into a Kate the Great tulip a nice dark brown almost black with a thick off white head that fades to leave light lacing and thick legs.
S - Big aromas of peanuts galore, rich roasted peanut butter along with chocolate. Smells like a gourmet peanut butter cup!
T - Taste is similar to the nose with nice slightly bitter chocolate and roasted malts. The peanuts are big and bold but not as prominent as they are on the nose.
M - Mouthfeel is lightly carbonated, creamy, little thick, the finish is slightly astringent though.
O - Overall this was a very solid stout with excellent peanut notes. May be the most assertive peanut nose I've ever had in a beer!
Serving Type: can
Nov 27, 2019A - Poured into a Kate the Great tulip a nice dark brown almost black with a thick off white head that fades to leave light lacing and thick legs.
S - Big aromas of peanuts galore, rich roasted peanut butter along with chocolate. Smells like a gourmet peanut butter cup!
T - Taste is similar to the nose with nice slightly bitter chocolate and roasted malts. The peanuts are big and bold but not as prominent as they are on the nose.
M - Mouthfeel is lightly carbonated, creamy, little thick, the finish is slightly astringent though.
O - Overall this was a very solid stout with excellent peanut notes. May be the most assertive peanut nose I've ever had in a beer!
Serving Type: can
Reviewed by jlindros from Massachusetts
4.38/5 rDev +4.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.38/5 rDev +4.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Pours a very dark brown thick frothy head with good retention and nice lacing, decent legs, pitch black color
Nose tons of peanutbutter, like raw peanuts and chunky peanutbutter, light roasty malts and dark chocolate into a peanutbutter cup, little fudgey, little hazelnut notes as well
Taste rich creamy malt, lactose like, milk chocolate into dark chocolate and cocoa, some roasted malts, some roasted coffee, coffee and cream notes with hazelnuts and loads of peanutbutter, raw chunky peanuts, more peanutbutter cup, mild sweetness and condensed milk, some bitterness medium from hops and roasted malt, sweet with a medium sticky sweet finish, hint of alcohol but barely
Mouth is fuller bod, a little creamy, thicker, medium carb, little sticky finish and touch of alcohol
Overall this was quite nice, loads of peanutbutter and some hazelnut like notes, with dark chocolate, plenty of roasted coffee, nice bitterness, enjoyable
Nov 27, 2019Nose tons of peanutbutter, like raw peanuts and chunky peanutbutter, light roasty malts and dark chocolate into a peanutbutter cup, little fudgey, little hazelnut notes as well
Taste rich creamy malt, lactose like, milk chocolate into dark chocolate and cocoa, some roasted malts, some roasted coffee, coffee and cream notes with hazelnuts and loads of peanutbutter, raw chunky peanuts, more peanutbutter cup, mild sweetness and condensed milk, some bitterness medium from hops and roasted malt, sweet with a medium sticky sweet finish, hint of alcohol but barely
Mouth is fuller bod, a little creamy, thicker, medium carb, little sticky finish and touch of alcohol
Overall this was quite nice, loads of peanutbutter and some hazelnut like notes, with dark chocolate, plenty of roasted coffee, nice bitterness, enjoyable
Reviewed by brureview from Massachusetts
4.17/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.17/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Poured a dark chocolate color with a 4F head in a Spielgelau Stout Glass.
Good head retention.
Aroma: full peanuts butter, some coffee with warming.
Taste: mostly peanut butter, some coffee with warming.
As the beer mellows, a different array of tastes. More coffee emphasis.
Smooth MF.
Not much bitterness.
Overall, an excellent beer from Shovel Town.
Oct 01, 2019Good head retention.
Aroma: full peanuts butter, some coffee with warming.
Taste: mostly peanut butter, some coffee with warming.
As the beer mellows, a different array of tastes. More coffee emphasis.
Smooth MF.
Not much bitterness.
Overall, an excellent beer from Shovel Town.
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