Free Fall into Foreign Waters No. 4
Autodidact Beer

Coffee, bitter finish with maple syrup. Vanilla beats lactose. Worth trying. A stout for all, as some bitterness, some sweetness, probably the highest ratable beer I had today, on tap.

 

 

 

 

Reviewed two days after canning. Poured at 61° into a tulip glass. The color is a very dark walnut-ebony and it sports a half finger cap of medium-khaki-colored foam and soapy lacing. Its smell includes roasted malt, burnt coffee, dark chocolate, modest maple syrup, and a whiff of tobacco smoke. The taste opens bitter and roasty with bakers chocolate, vanilla bean, acidic coffee, burnt nuts, and earthy char. I like the way Auto used the maple syrup; it plays against the bitterness but is not overly sweet. Recently canned, the high gravity is noticeable. This Stout has a full, plush mouth feel with mild carbonation, and at 11% ABV it should be savored slowly. Overall, I am excited to try Autodidact's first truly Imperial Stout. It is a tasty treat that portends well for future Stouts from the brewery. I hope they brew this one again.