M31 - ANDROMEDA
Wellington Brewery

355 mL can from a Wellington M31 gift pack purchased at the LCBO; dated Sep 28 2023 and served barely chilled.

Pours blacker than the night sky, summoning nearly two fingers of soapy, frothy, light tan-coloured head to the surface. It lasts for a little over five minutes, eventually worn down to a quarter-inch cap and collar of creamy suds; decent lace deposition after each swirl of the glass. Baker's chocolate and freshly brewed coffee on the nose, with restrained notes of bourbon, treacle, butterscotch and charred wood. It's understated for the style, yet enticing nonetheless.

It's a solid BBA stout, with the 10.9% skillfully integrated. It tastes of dark chocolate, bourbon, coffee, charred wood and treacle, with hints of vanilla, cocoa and figgy dark fruits. Moderately warming conclusion, with earthy hops, baker's chocolate and bourbon barrel booziness fading into a very persistent, bitter & roasty aftertaste. Full-bodied, with middling carbonation that tickles the tongue; feels slick and a little oily/tongue-coating, with fair drinkability, all things considered.

Final Grade: 4.05, an A-. M31 Andromeda was a pleasure to drink, and could very well be one of Wellington's best stouts in quite some time. I enjoyed the flavour profile, but I would also describe it as rather 'safe' - i.e. everything I'd expect from a BBA stout is here, but at no point does it go above and beyond those expectations. Except for maybe that charred, bitter aftertaste, which lasts forever, and I am slightly fond of. Highly recommended to fans of Wellington's imperial stout who also happen to fancy bourbon; roughly comparable to their Sputnik BBA RIS from the past.

 

Pours a free flowing, black color. Caramel head formation with mild retention. Boozy, coffee on the nose. Excellent stout base, with mild coffee flavor and well balanced bourbon taste. Not too thick and a very pleasant brew!

355 ml can served cool into a tulip. Canned September 23, 2022. Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout.

Appearance - Midnight black as expected with 1.5 fingers of deep tan head. Nice creamy frothiness. Pretty good staying power.

Smell - Really subdued honestly. Some wood, a hint of smoke and suggestions at bourbon, honestly not much else.

Taste - Big bitter stout with healthy amounts of wood, and bourbon flavored in. No frills attached. Big, bitter and boozy. Some earthy roastiness is the undercurrent of all this.

Mouthfeel - Full bodied, low carbonation and near chewy in texture. Plentiful alcoholic burn in the back of the throat and on the tongue from the plentiful bourbon flavoring.

Overall - A fine BBA brew, that is no frills attached and well made, tasty enough, but lacking an extra dimension to take it up the next level. Nonetheless, well made and enjoyable sipper.