Night Rider Nitro Stout
Deschutes Brewery

"Our Brewer's took the Obsidian Stout and ramped it up with the rich addition of Bend's Bellataza coffee, adding yet another layer of flavor to this rich, roasted malt classic. 55 IBUs"

Imperial pint on nitro at the PDX pub, the typical cascade settled with a very large, creamy tan head, super dense, leaving nice lace. The beer is a very dark garnet, although if I was in a dark room it would look black - but Deschutes' pub is full of windows, and even on this typically dreary Portland afternoon, the light shines though to reveal the dark red hue. .

Smell is very heavy on the coffee, some bakers chocolate as well. The caramel really comes through more and more as it warms, reminding me of one of the sweetened coffee's my wife would get from Starbucks.

Taste is pure espresso, wow! They weren't kidding with the coffee in this stout, but there are also some leafy hop notes and crysal malt sweetness struggling to shine through. The roasted malt combines with the coffee to remind me a little of starbucks' over-roasted beans, but this is really much better!

Mouthfeel is exceptionally creamy and smooth, with a lighter body. Normally, nitro beers sacrifice flavor for mouthfeel, but this one is robust enough that there was no trade off, a win-win.

Drinkability is very high if you like coffee stouts that are really heavy on the coffee, which I do. This would be the perfect breakfast beer, especially on nitro, nice and easy on the belly after a rough night where you need a real eye-opener!