Split Shot Espresso Milk Stout | Elysian Brewing Company
Brewed by:
Elysian Brewing Company
Washington, United States
elysianbrewing.com
Style: Milk / Sweet Stout
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 6.00%
Availability: Rotating
Notes / Commercial Description:
Split Shot combines the local talents of Elysian Brewing and Stumptown Coffee in a deliciously smooth, very Northwest beer.
Added by suncrust on 04-25-2012
View: Beers | Place Reviews | Events
Ratings: 623 | Reviews: 144
3.71/5 rDev -5.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
2.84/5 rDev -27.4%
look: 2.75 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3
A sixer ran me $6.99 at a grocery store in Brooklyn - not a bad price by Williamsburg standards.
"Espresso milk stout.""Ale brewed with coffee." 6% ABV. Brewed with Stumptown coffee, Magnum hops, and the following malts/adjunct: Kiln Coffee, Black, Roasted Barley, Pale Crystal, Crystal 45, Flaked Oats. 28 IBUs.
BOTTLE: 12 fl oz. Branded pry-off cap. Generic label art.
Served pretty close to room temperature into a nonic pint (impressions from a cold bottle will follow shortly).
APPEARANCE: Dark brown-black body. Khaki colour head with a nice consistency. Opaque. Head retention is good - ~8 minutes.
Looks pretty conventional for a milk stout without appearing unique or special.
AROMA: Artificial coffee flavour, dark malt sweetness, specialty chocolate malt, lactose sugar. I don't detect the oat adjunct.
I'm not getting any espresso - just a generic coffee flavour. It does help balance out the lactose and crystal malt sweetness with some bitterness, but it's pretty inexpressive and shallow, as is the aroma as a whole.
Aromatic intensity is mild.
TASTE: A generic mix of artificial coffee flavour, dark malt sweetness, and lactose/milk sugar sweetness. Coffee is dull and inexpressive. Milk sugar is there but offers little of interest. Some dark/black bread characteristics. Not imbalanced, but not dialed in.
Brief flavour duration. Shallow depth of flavour.
Extremely simplistic for a milk stout. I'd probably take Carib's export stouts over this, let alone stylistic paragons like Left Hand Milk Stout.
TEXTURE: Creamy, soft, smooth, wet. I guess the oats help give it more of that porter-like smoothness.
OVERALL: One of the least inspired coffee stouts I've had in recent memory, and far from great within the milk stout style, but all the basics are in place and there's no off-flavour or booze here. It's drinkable, and the marriage of coffee and dark malts just works - even though the coffee character is shallow and uninteresting and the beer lacks depth of flavour across the board. Very underwhelming, but it's approachable and enjoyable for what it is and I'm not dreading working my way through the remaining 5 bottles.
Would pair well with pretzels.
C- (2.64) / BELOW AVERAGE
***
2nd impression from a cold bottle:
High C / AVERAGE
2,277 characters
look: 2.75 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3
A sixer ran me $6.99 at a grocery store in Brooklyn - not a bad price by Williamsburg standards.
"Espresso milk stout.""Ale brewed with coffee." 6% ABV. Brewed with Stumptown coffee, Magnum hops, and the following malts/adjunct: Kiln Coffee, Black, Roasted Barley, Pale Crystal, Crystal 45, Flaked Oats. 28 IBUs.
BOTTLE: 12 fl oz. Branded pry-off cap. Generic label art.
Served pretty close to room temperature into a nonic pint (impressions from a cold bottle will follow shortly).
APPEARANCE: Dark brown-black body. Khaki colour head with a nice consistency. Opaque. Head retention is good - ~8 minutes.
Looks pretty conventional for a milk stout without appearing unique or special.
AROMA: Artificial coffee flavour, dark malt sweetness, specialty chocolate malt, lactose sugar. I don't detect the oat adjunct.
I'm not getting any espresso - just a generic coffee flavour. It does help balance out the lactose and crystal malt sweetness with some bitterness, but it's pretty inexpressive and shallow, as is the aroma as a whole.
Aromatic intensity is mild.
TASTE: A generic mix of artificial coffee flavour, dark malt sweetness, and lactose/milk sugar sweetness. Coffee is dull and inexpressive. Milk sugar is there but offers little of interest. Some dark/black bread characteristics. Not imbalanced, but not dialed in.
Brief flavour duration. Shallow depth of flavour.
Extremely simplistic for a milk stout. I'd probably take Carib's export stouts over this, let alone stylistic paragons like Left Hand Milk Stout.
TEXTURE: Creamy, soft, smooth, wet. I guess the oats help give it more of that porter-like smoothness.
OVERALL: One of the least inspired coffee stouts I've had in recent memory, and far from great within the milk stout style, but all the basics are in place and there's no off-flavour or booze here. It's drinkable, and the marriage of coffee and dark malts just works - even though the coffee character is shallow and uninteresting and the beer lacks depth of flavour across the board. Very underwhelming, but it's approachable and enjoyable for what it is and I'm not dreading working my way through the remaining 5 bottles.
Would pair well with pretzels.
C- (2.64) / BELOW AVERAGE
***
2nd impression from a cold bottle:
High C / AVERAGE
2,277 characters
3.58/5 rDev -8.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
A little more aggressive roastiness than I expected. The lower abv highlights this, a solid offering but not one I will seek out again. Guess I'm not punk enough...
164 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
A little more aggressive roastiness than I expected. The lower abv highlights this, a solid offering but not one I will seek out again. Guess I'm not punk enough...
164 characters
4.25/5 rDev +8.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
L: It pours deep espresso black under a thin tan cap with moderate retention.
S: You can smell rich coffee aromas from a few feet away. Closer up there is a light sweetness, some dark malts, and some light roast but there is nothing harsh or burnt.
T: The sweetness is medium to medium high at the start but the espresso and chocolate flavors temper the sweetness as they come forward. There is also a hint of dark fruit flavors. A moderate hop bitterness emerges as the beer journeys across the tongue and keeps the sweetness from becoming cloying or overbearing. The balance leans to the malt.
F: Split Shot is velvety and silty smooth with a medium full body and medium low carbonation.
O: This is a very satisfying and easy to drink beer.
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look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
L: It pours deep espresso black under a thin tan cap with moderate retention.
S: You can smell rich coffee aromas from a few feet away. Closer up there is a light sweetness, some dark malts, and some light roast but there is nothing harsh or burnt.
T: The sweetness is medium to medium high at the start but the espresso and chocolate flavors temper the sweetness as they come forward. There is also a hint of dark fruit flavors. A moderate hop bitterness emerges as the beer journeys across the tongue and keeps the sweetness from becoming cloying or overbearing. The balance leans to the malt.
F: Split Shot is velvety and silty smooth with a medium full body and medium low carbonation.
O: This is a very satisfying and easy to drink beer.
750 characters
3.9/5 rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Dark black with a tan head, with a little lacing. Aroma is malty and coffee and the flavor follows the aroma but with some chocolate. Drinks very smooth and thin. Thirst quenching. Overall a very drinkable enjoyable beer.
225 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Dark black with a tan head, with a little lacing. Aroma is malty and coffee and the flavor follows the aroma but with some chocolate. Drinks very smooth and thin. Thirst quenching. Overall a very drinkable enjoyable beer.
225 characters
3.81/5 rDev -2.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
4.09/5 rDev +4.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours a glubby dark brown color and leaves a finger and a half’s worth of a light semi-tan foamy head that dies into the body and leaves a nice spider web lacing sticking finely to the glass. The smell has a powerful espresso aroma encompasses a delicately sweet chocolatey goodness combining and leading into a gentle roastiness. The taste is mainly sweet through the chocolate and yet the espresso comes back to add a light roasty bitterness. The aftertaste has an exceptionally smooth chocolate goodness with a quick dry roasty finish. On the palate, it sits about a light to medium - like it wants to try to sit heavier on the mouth but balances between the light and medium bodies; actually there’s a slight sessionability to this. Carbonation is exceptionally smooth just like a milk/sweet stout should be. Overall, wow, I’m impressed that this beer is as good as it is. I would definitely have this again.
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look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours a glubby dark brown color and leaves a finger and a half’s worth of a light semi-tan foamy head that dies into the body and leaves a nice spider web lacing sticking finely to the glass. The smell has a powerful espresso aroma encompasses a delicately sweet chocolatey goodness combining and leading into a gentle roastiness. The taste is mainly sweet through the chocolate and yet the espresso comes back to add a light roasty bitterness. The aftertaste has an exceptionally smooth chocolate goodness with a quick dry roasty finish. On the palate, it sits about a light to medium - like it wants to try to sit heavier on the mouth but balances between the light and medium bodies; actually there’s a slight sessionability to this. Carbonation is exceptionally smooth just like a milk/sweet stout should be. Overall, wow, I’m impressed that this beer is as good as it is. I would definitely have this again.
918 characters
3.78/5 rDev -3.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Pours a very dark brown with a thin tan head that left a little lacing. Smells of coffee and roasted malts. Tastes of roasted malts, lactose sweetness and a shot of espresso. A bit thin bodied, lightly carbonated, light mouth feel for the style.
246 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Pours a very dark brown with a thin tan head that left a little lacing. Smells of coffee and roasted malts. Tastes of roasted malts, lactose sweetness and a shot of espresso. A bit thin bodied, lightly carbonated, light mouth feel for the style.
246 characters
4.09/5 rDev +4.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
3.94/5 rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.93/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Dark stout, brown head. Smell was a little weak on this one, which was surprising because the taste came through. creamy milk stout with a shot of espresso thrown in. That's pretty much the taste and to be expected. nice creamy feel. Not very thick.
249 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Dark stout, brown head. Smell was a little weak on this one, which was surprising because the taste came through. creamy milk stout with a shot of espresso thrown in. That's pretty much the taste and to be expected. nice creamy feel. Not very thick.
249 characters
4.07/5 rDev +4.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Picked up a single from TW Arrowhead 3-12-17 for $1.99. Bottled on 12-22-16.
Beer poured black with a nice long lasting tan head that is leaving lacing behind.
Nose is espresso forward, very nice!
Taste is mild roasted malts infused with espresso and lactose. Finish is sweet but not cloyingly so.
Mouthfeel is lighter than hoped but smooth.
Overall this is a very tasty brew, one i will do again in the future!
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look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Picked up a single from TW Arrowhead 3-12-17 for $1.99. Bottled on 12-22-16.
Beer poured black with a nice long lasting tan head that is leaving lacing behind.
Nose is espresso forward, very nice!
Taste is mild roasted malts infused with espresso and lactose. Finish is sweet but not cloyingly so.
Mouthfeel is lighter than hoped but smooth.
Overall this is a very tasty brew, one i will do again in the future!
418 characters
4.34/5 rDev +11%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
L-Mostly black, ruby towards the bottom, with a tan head. Good lacing.
S-Malty chocolate and strong coffee.
T-Excellent espresso flavor, with just the right amount of roasted cocoa and carbonation. Subtle and silky milk foundation. Finishes a wee bit bitter.
Simple, as it should be, well-balanced and mellow.
My second Milk Stout. Grand!
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look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
L-Mostly black, ruby towards the bottom, with a tan head. Good lacing.
S-Malty chocolate and strong coffee.
T-Excellent espresso flavor, with just the right amount of roasted cocoa and carbonation. Subtle and silky milk foundation. Finishes a wee bit bitter.
Simple, as it should be, well-balanced and mellow.
My second Milk Stout. Grand!
345 characters
4.25/5 rDev +8.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Poured a dark opaque chocolate in a Stone RIS glass with a 2F head.
Great aroma: very strong espresso- strong roasted coffee.
MF: creamy, fuller body- indicative of a milk stout.
Taste: transitions well from the aroma. The Stumptown coffee comes through, very espresso-like, roasted coffee.
Moderately bitter finish.
My first beer from the brewery. Excellent debut.
370 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Poured a dark opaque chocolate in a Stone RIS glass with a 2F head.
Great aroma: very strong espresso- strong roasted coffee.
MF: creamy, fuller body- indicative of a milk stout.
Taste: transitions well from the aroma. The Stumptown coffee comes through, very espresso-like, roasted coffee.
Moderately bitter finish.
My first beer from the brewery. Excellent debut.
370 characters
3.42/5 rDev -12.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Pour black but clear as I catch and orange hue at the edge of the glass. Chocolate head of foam that lasts well. Slight clinging. Nose is roasty. Lots of bold coffee and out of the fridge the lactose is like a stiff taffy sweetness. Brown sugar or light caramel. Almost no hops except for a cool minty breath that suggests tree bark. Faint chocolate and tootsie rolls.
taste is silky and lots of coffee. Plenty of roasty malt but I am not tasting any sweetness cream. Hops give a lasting bitter but no herbal. Low fruitiness. This beer is medium dry and moderately roasty. I am not tasting anything milky or creamy though until the swallow. Then it simply lays out a bit. A very light creamy flavor. It finishes the beer softly and medium dry. Medium full, moderate carbonation. Pkgd 2/1/17 these hops are fresh enough to show me pepper at the very end.
866 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Pour black but clear as I catch and orange hue at the edge of the glass. Chocolate head of foam that lasts well. Slight clinging. Nose is roasty. Lots of bold coffee and out of the fridge the lactose is like a stiff taffy sweetness. Brown sugar or light caramel. Almost no hops except for a cool minty breath that suggests tree bark. Faint chocolate and tootsie rolls.
taste is silky and lots of coffee. Plenty of roasty malt but I am not tasting any sweetness cream. Hops give a lasting bitter but no herbal. Low fruitiness. This beer is medium dry and moderately roasty. I am not tasting anything milky or creamy though until the swallow. Then it simply lays out a bit. A very light creamy flavor. It finishes the beer softly and medium dry. Medium full, moderate carbonation. Pkgd 2/1/17 these hops are fresh enough to show me pepper at the very end.
866 characters
3.6/5 rDev -7.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Split Shot Espresso Milk Stout from Elysian Brewing Company
3.91
out of 5
based on 623 ratings.
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4