Chocolate Haupia Pie Stout
Beachcrest Brewing Company

lots to like about this desserty stout, one being that its not too sweet, modeled on a hawaiian desert i am unfamiliar with, but might be a cross between a chocolate cream and a coconut cream pie, yum! this has dark chocolate and coconut cream in it i think, really neat, very tasty, and not heavy to drink somehow. dark brown with chestnut edges in the daylight, frothy churned up short but compact lighter brown head. the nose is roasty, espresso and dark chocolate together with light caramel and coconut sweetness, nice malt layers right away, distinctive with the coconut but not forced, seems high quality and natural, and i like the base stout being lighter and seemingly without lactose, which is bucking trends to say the least. hints of chocolate covered almond and hazelnuts in the flavor, more of that as it warms, a nice fatty only semisweet coconut character to this, baking chocolate, some oiliness, smooth and delicious, slightly creamy but not weighty in body, and quicker finishing than i would have expected, clean on the ferment too. really well flavored, not at all overdone, and of course rich coconut and good dark chocolate go swimmingly together. really good recipe, not too much for summer weather either, i was quite impressed with this one!