Commodore Stout
Snake Lake Brewing Company

 

 

 

 

Reasonable stout with good chocolate and coffee notes. A little thin and slightly more acidic than expected which negatively impacted the finish, but overall a very drinkable stout.

355ml can - so named after the 'Honorary Commodore', who was appointed each year to lead a series of events on the waters of Snake Lake, back in the day.

This beer pours a pretty solid black, with subtle amber basal edges, and three fingers of puffy, rocky, and mildly bubbly brown head, which leaves some attractive defrosting back window pattern lace around the glass as it quickly beats it outta Dodge.

It smells of bready and grainy caramel malt, toasted breakfast biscuits, a further free-range ashiness, bittersweet cocoa powder, ethereal cafe-au-lait, a hint of dark orchard fruitiness, and some plain earthy, musty, and floral hops. The taste is lightly roasted, gritty and grainy caramel malt, medium nutty chocolate, some berry-forward fruity esters, day-old coffee grinds, and more understated leafy, earthy, and floral hoppiness.

The carbonation is average in its palate-supporting frothiness, the body a decent middleweight, and mostly smooth, with maybe a touch of char getting a little too handsy with my grill here. It finishes just a tad off-dry, the cocoa and roasted caramel contending with a heady lingering bitterness.

Overall - this is yet another pleasant and engaging offering from this new Alberta brewing concern. Lots of flavour abounding, not too sweet, and not too bitter - just right. Hell, I feel like being a hibernating little bear right now, what with the snow that's been falling all bloody day!

Sampled on tap at Bo's Bar and Grill during an extended St. Patrick's Day celebration. I may be returning to amend the review... Nonetheless, Snake Lake has another quality beer in its stable. This stout is full of roasted malt and rich flavour. It is dark, with a tawny head that hangs around for the party. This stout has plenty of depth and character - a lovely treat on a day when Guinness tends to dominate the discussion!