Leprechauns Drink Coffee Too
New Trail Brewing Company

No date on this can, but mine says 5.4%. *Shrug* Stout brewed with coffee, almonds & vanilla.

Body is dark doo-doo butter brown with a thick Yoohoo head. It looks the part of a dry Irish stout. Smells the part as well; lots of roasted grains. There's a nutty element that is surely the work of almonds. I can't really pick out any coffee so maybe this sample is past its peak. Seems like it would be a seasonal St. Paddy's Day offering, but I don't recall seeing it around that time. The addition of vanilla presents itself in a creamy, lactose styled way. Coffee is there on the tongue and since I just had a cold brew Guinness the other day I can't help but compare the two. This is way more subtle and nuanced. The Guinness just kind of beats you over the head with coffee, while this is far less aggressive and creamy. The almond addition is just brilliant, lending the proceedings a chocolate-covered almond vibe. There's some cherry cordial in there too. Amaretto. Just a delicious beer. Not too thin as dry Irish stouts often are; this one lands pretty solidly in medium-bodied territory. Guess that's what happens when you bump the ABVs up a tad. Really, really like this one and intend to get more. There was stacks of it yesterday.

Ale brewed with coffee, almonds, and stout.

A: Inky and oily black exit from the can produces a one inch dark hazelnut topping that was creamy and plush. Quick rush of micro-effervesce.

S: Rich, sweet milky roast on first impression, lots of strong almond nuttiness and sweet vanilla creamer follow. Toasted caramel, slight coconut and cream that was very smooth. Burnt chocolate sweetness and woodiness concludes. Lightly dry overall, milky and dark roast.

T: Juicy fruit opens the flavor with plums and cherries. A sweet and smooth dark chocolate roast with a sweetness of vanilla creamer. Lots of almond nuttiness, sweet roastiness mixes, dark cocoa and smoky wood. Dark figs adds a juicy, sweet fruitiness with roasted cocoa-almond and a touch of cinnamon spicing and maple syrup.

M: Oily feel and full body, smooth and creamy soft. Very light carbonation, if any that provided an exceptionally smooth exit off the tongue.

O: Has a strong and dominate dark fruitiness on the start of plums and cherries that proceeds to a rich, milky dark roast character. Nice range of flavors, rich, dark and sweet, juicy, with a lightly dry almost Irish touch. Grab one if you can.

Poured black with a one finger tan fizzy head that dissipated to a partial very thin film in the blink of an eye. No lacing. The initial nose of coffee quickly was overtaken by almond extract. Taste is also dominated by almonds, with a bit of dark chocolate and perhaps a smidge of coffee. I believe the almond flavor hides any vanilla. Medium light body with low carbonation. A bit thin for my liking. As expected, there is a bit of dryness on the finish.

 

 

Poured into a grip shaped goblet: color is dark brown/blakc, head is light tan and presents 1 finger thick bu then quickly dissipates to nothing except a ring and some whispy thin top, some lacing on the glass sides.

Smell is almond extract and maybe some light roasted malt, no coffee.

Taste is mix of almond extract, chocolate and very light roasted malt, limited to no coffee.

Mouthfeel is low carbonation, moderate and lingering sweetness, sharp bitterness.

Overall I'm not quite sure this is an Irish stout in base as the roasted malt is pretty dominant along with moderate chocolate qualities, that said its not as off as the almond extract flavor that dominates the nose and flavor.

 

Undated can into pint glass. Pours a dark brown (SRM somewhere in the mid-20s, I'd guess) with hardly any head. Initial impression is definitely coffee, with hazelnut overtones - but I don't get any vanilla. Mouthfeel is thin for a Stout, at least for my tastes. Finish is dry, somewhat bitter, and quite roasty. Overall, it appears to adhere to the style pretty closely - but unfortunately it's just not in my power zone. I'm rating for me - YMMV.