Coffee Chronicle
Silver Branch Brewing Company

 

My version (early 2021) clocks in at 7.2% ABV. A bit serious with the 16 oz can.

Dark garnet color, good clarity (I think), Pours a robust tan head, creamy and long lasting.

Malty sweet nose with a hint of coffee, a bit of toffee/caramel as well.

Flavor has the same malt characteristics as the aroma, but the coffee is more evident. Nice complimentary, smooth coffee flavors accompanying the dark malt of the stout. A bit acidic/tart toward the back end, and slightly drying in the finish. But any bitterness is quite subtle. Some coffee flavors linger into the finish.

Medium-plus body and medium carbonation. Coffee gives a slight drying, but way more subtle than many coffee beers. Overall a pretty smoothly drinking beer.

I got more of this one than I ordered in a delivery from the brewery, and fortunately I like it. A rare coffee beer where the coffee contributes to the experience rather than detracts from it.

 

Poured from the can into a nonik pint glass.

Small but simple one finger tan colored head, with uniform bubbles forms out of the can. Settles slowly to a thin puck and collar on a deep reddish dark brown body color. Some opaque quality to it, but not entirely.

This is an excellent nose. Hits of fantastic rich creamy well… cream, and coffee roast that is light but long lasting in aroma. Smells practically fresh ground even a little fruity, perhaps mixing in with an ester. This is really nice.

Palate takes things a little simpler. A lighter body, but still hints of creamy flavor with a simpler malt backbone. The flavors are bold, rich charring roast that amplifies excellent coffee aromas and flavors on first sip. A good amount of carbon like flavors in the finish with bold roast bitterness. Quite a bit of lingering roast on this surprisingly, and less balanced sweetness, but coffee booming aromatics take over nicely.

Hints at something bigger, but sticks to something simpler. Doesn't seem to have the richness of regular Chronicle, but is a great coffee forward flavor and brew. Solid coffee stout here.