Gifting
Bombastic Brewing

 

 

Getting a head start on deciding Christmas beers. It’s quite good, but the marshmallow and the coconut make it a bit too confusingly sweet. It doesn’t really know what it is, but it’s still a pretty decent evening sipper.

 

i am still real hit or miss with these guys, and this is another one that has flashes but isnt excellent overall. i think the base stout is pretty good, they have established they can do that, but its the extras in this that seem odd, like its sweet for no reason, the marshmallows arent flavorful in it, and the coconut is pretty mild, like part of it is over the top pastry in that its sugary, but part of it is underwhelming, almost oddly subtle, and for being big ends up feeling kind of thin, like its objectively tasty, who doesnt like a little coconut in their dark beer, especially when laced with suggestions of decent vanilla and espresso, but the whole does not quite live up to expectations, even if it scores out pretty favorably, i somehow found myself enjoying a beer i was at the same time a touch disappointed with, but maybe thats pastry stout in general these days not an indictment of this one specifically. the coconut is mild but appears toasted, even chocolate dipped, and i like this still having a little bitterness for balance. it also has an umami thing, soy-like and lingering with the sweetness, do there is some depth here even if it seems kind of basic on the malt side, roasty and with a chocolate center, nothing exotic here. the marshmallow is the part i think that throws this off, its too sweet from them sure, maybe also superfluous lactose but i cannot confirm that, but they also distract from the base beer which is solid enough and from the coconut, this would be better with less of that for sure. it lingers a little weird, but it does hide its strength pretty well, and i like this not being like 15% abv or something, its reserved, especially by their standards. this should be better than it is, but its also not bad, a flavorful desserty beer that will appeal to those who like them super sweet. lacking a bit of refinement overall for me...

16oz can from Brewers Haven. Near black pour yields a thin, creamy beige head which slowly fizzes away. Aroma is very sweet vanilla/marshmallow and what seems like orange hard candy. Taste is dominated by the "marshmallow", very faint coconut notes. Sweet, candy like flavors with some light roasty bitterness all the way at the back. Very disappointed in this, they can do so much better.