Dictum Factum
Liberati Osteria & Oenobeers

This is their traditional stout, as much as any beer from this brewer can be called traditional. The wine actually lightens up the beer, which you wouldn't expect. I'd agree with complex, though it's not quite balanced, because I felt like it lost some of the malt punch that a stout usually has. Luckily, they had another stout on tap that covered that (see my review of their Russian Imperial Stout). I enjoyed having both side by side to compare.

 

L: Pours a dark brown black with notes of mahogany red, with a small brown tan head and a speck or two of lacing on the glass.

S:. Aromas of port wine, dried fruit, red wine grapes, some chocate and roast, some sweet stone fruit.

T:. A mineral and vinous note, mixed with a slight port wine, some grapes and darker stone fruit, mixed some chocolate and roast. Very complex.

F:. Feels quite light for a stout, but still nice and creamy, fairly dry.

O:. Has a lot of wine character but a very interesting stout overall.

its cool how much the grapes come through this dark beer, a cabernet complexion is obvious too which is cool, i like how true to the grape all of their beers really are, varietal specific in most instances, not just generic grape. the stout is fuller bodied and flavorful, but i like it being on the dry side and lighter in alcohol, it lets the grape shine in here. notes of plum and port wine here, a density of fruit to it, and a warming, hearty, wintery vibe. high quality chocolate and a little earthy smoke in the malt base, balanced and kind of rich without being sweet, while the fruit has a little tannic thing going on that helps to cut through, carve a path for the ripe vinous fruit. a high protein feeling thing, almost healthy to me, brilliantly executed. i have been so impressed with all of their beers so far, i hope they have a lot more red grape ones coming soon, the menu is white grape heavy right now, but this one was awesome. a cool fusion of styles, not sure i have seen much winey stouts that werent barrel aged. really enjoyed this, probably the most wintery selection on the menu. not too heavy for the decadent food in here either...