The PastryArchy Edition #14: Candy Cane Imperial Stout
DuClaw Brewing Co.

The web page is still up, for this stout. Candy Cane Imperial Stout has a medium, beige head and a very dark-brown appearance, with minimal lacing. The aroma is of mint and brown bread crust. It has a similar flavor, with bitterness, dark chocolate, some vanilla, and low sweetness. Candy Cane has a thin body and a dry finish. It is more like an Andes thin mints than a candy cane, but they may have wanted to steer clear of that, with it being unlicensed. The label description alludes to the Andes flavors.

RJT

The entire contents of a pint can were emptied into a clear Imperial pint glass, with no problem. There's a reasonable amount of a tan head on top of the black coffee brown liquid. Plenty of peppermint is detected by the nose, through the roasted malts. There is lactose inclusion here, according to the label. To taste, there's nothing too heavy to deal with. The peppermint is obvious, but not to the point of tasting like a mouthwash. It lingers rather nicely. The dark chocolate character is harder to detect, as the taste of just a regular Stout dominates. The lactose is barely noticed, although it certainly smooths things out a little and deepens the mouthfeel. Of course, it always muddles the other tastes, but not to a detriment here. Likely, it makes the finish a little chalky. There's some nice glass lacing to stare at, as its other characteristics are contemplated. Overall, this is decently nice. It may fall short as a dessert stout because the added flavors aren't overpowering, nor is it particularly sweet. It's a nice try, but probably not worthy of glowing recommendations to serious beer drinking friends.

Picked up at a local store here in Indiana - I enjoyed the taste, I thought it was a strong peppermint flavor, definitely a good holiday stout.

 

 

Solid black appearance.
Above average body width light carbonation
Aroma is mint, roasted malt,coffee,dark chocolate and some molasses with none of the elements dominating.
Taste for the most part follows the aroma with the taste of candy cane being noticeable.
Overall it makes for a very good holiday dessert beer

Poured from a can into a snifter
Appearance – The beer pours a deep brown color with a small head of light brown colored foam. The head has a moderate level of retention, fading over time and leaving a bit of streaky lace on the sides of the glass.
Smell – The aroma is very strong of a roasted and toasted malt smell mixed with a big showing of cocoa and coffee. At The same time there is also a rather pervasive peppermint smell mixed with a rather large showing of molasses and brown sugar. Notes of crème and sweet cake are there as well, giving an almost candy cane brownie like aroma. Quite nice.
Taste – The taste begins with a dark roasted malt, some cocoa, and a smooth coffee like flavor that has a modest level of caramel and brown sugar sweetness. Right from the start the peppermint is heavy in presence, with it gaining even more strength as the flavor transitions forward. Other flavors of milk and vanilla crème offer light backdrop flavors, lasting throughout and combining nicely with the coffee. A bit of vanilla char joins in toward the end, and with the increase in the peppermint, one is left with a dark and roasty, semi-sweet, peppermint coffee flavor to linger on the tongue.
Mouthfeel – The body of the brew is heavy and thick with a carbonation level that is more subtle. For the big roasty flavors mixed with the coffee nature the feel was pretty good, although I think I may have liked a bit more effervescence to go with the cooling peppermint tastes.
Overall – A rather peppermint forward desert stout with a moderate level of sweetness and a whole lot of nice roasty toastiness. A fun one to try for sure.

 

 

Wow almost a year later can't believe I picked this up so late! This beer is quite exceptional the aroma is straight up candy cane the flavor mild mint I could see now settling for quite some time but it really Blended with the Base beer giving me some chocolate coffee and roast but again not really exciting as expected.

STILL it's a well balanced Imperial Stout with candy cane aspects so I give it praise. Could use more sweetness though...

 

L:. Pours a thick dark black color with a foamy medium white head and no lacing on the glass.

S:. Fresh peppermint and candy cane are forefront in this beer, followed by notes of chocolate and sweetness.

T:. Sweet peppermint and candy cane is very strong followed by a sweet milky chocolate, if you like candy canes you will like this, for me I feel like it might be missing something to truly make it pop.

F:. Smooth thick mouthfeel

O:. This beer is solid but feels like it's missing something to make it truly great.

 

L- Rich mocha coffee body, a cinnamon colored head
S- Strong notes of coffee with a small dose of candy shop
T- Strong coffee, vanilla bean and candy
M- Thicc like oil
O- A decent beer, very unique, idk how they got that candy taste into the beer. Wouldn't have again but I'm glad I did!

 

Color is very dark brown with a thick foamy tan head. Aromas and flavors reminiscent of a candy cane, but fortunately without the intense sweetness, as the strongly dry Irish stout malt bill provides a smart counterbalance. Well carbonated, but still gives a creamy feeling. Notes of vanilla, chocolate, and coffee also appear. Great flavor, everything is perfectly balanced, who cares if I’m having this beer a little while after its intended season, a beer of this caliber will last for months.

16oz can poured into a nonic. Pretty dark brown with the pour yields a black liquid in the glass with a large khaki/mocha head. Lots of spiced peppermint comes through on the nose, with a big dose of vanilla and chocolate. Fairly roasty as well, with a mild impression of espresso and mocha. The peppermint is very strong; not a minor impression of mint, but a strong icy-hot peppermint sensation leading to that candy cane character. Creamy mouthfeel, medium bodied, with a twang of lactose character that seems to fit with the sugary chocolate and vanilla notes behind the peppermint/spearmint. Pretty decent.

 

Very dark brown pour with khaki colored head. Slight smell of peppermint on the nose. Pretty smooth with full body flavor of malt and vanilla. Overall solid seasonal stout.