UVB 76 - DANIIL
Wellington Brewery

 

Appearance: Poured with a mere half finger of head that did make some lace for the short time it was around. The body is black as night as a good stout should be, but the lack of head is a bit disappointing.

Smell: The can reads that it's supposed to be an apple and cinnamon bourbon stout. It smells like a box of Apple Cinnamon Cheerios with maybe a little more apple and a little less grain. Sweet and sugary for sure, so not sure if that will transition well into a high alcohol stout.

Taste: Well that apple cinnamon note does permeate the beer, as it starts with a touch of grain, but then a does of out of place vanilla and bitter burnt malt clashes with it as a high alcohol boozy note appears out of the conflict.

Mouthfeel: Pointed are deducted for the lack of head, but the carbonation feels off and more aggressive then creamy here. The transitioning here isn't the greatest either here, nor is the burnt malt aftertaste that kills the apple and undisguised alcohol on this one.

Drinkability: Thick like a good stout should be, but for a big imperial stout, expected it to be even thicker then it is. Settles down well enough, and no gas issues and I suppose it's not bad as a sipping stout. Really the problem, this is supposed to be a kitchen sink, savor every drop stout, and this isn't what this is.

Final Thoughts: I am left thinking that there certainly is something to this Apple Cinnamon thing, but with this high an ABV, with bourbon in the mix and possibly even as a stout without a lighter malt roast leaves me to ponder if these flavors were the best choice. I think trying this in a high caramel malt english style might work out better, or as a sweet stout. As it stands though, this comes across as a gimmick stout where the gimmick just doesn't work out.