Tucks Longbow Stout
Tuck's Brewery

The essential fact of this beer is that it is a very nice beer, but a very poor stout. It is dark ruby colored with a thin head and light fruity aroma. A slight malty sweetness momentarily defines the flavor until a relaxed and sensible bittering compliment ushers in a prudent balance. The lines are clean and the flavor is solid. Everything about Longbow is approachable and appealing. Except that it bears no resemblance to a stout.

Longbow never at any time embodies blackness, roastiness, dryness, smokiness or any property customarily associated with a stout. My interim pronouncement on this beer was that the tap lines were crossed and I must have accidentally been served Tuck’s Catapult Red. Later, I drank a pint of the Red and confirmed that the two beers are wholly distinct from one another.

Again, there’s nothing wrong with this beer outside of its inability to conform to style. But I’m lowballing my score for Longbow for now. Should this same beer re-emerge at some future point as Longbow Red, I’ll be sure to give it higher marks.

Tasted at the 2003 Oregon Brewers Fest. Dark black color. Medium head. Aroma is chocolate. A medium bodied stout. Malts are roasted, chocolate and coffee. Hops are slightly spicy. Well balanced. Smooth taste. A lighter bodied stout, that not to bitter. It has a outstanding malt presence. Mouthfeel is full and round. Finish is clean and smooth. Aftertaste is slightly bitter.