Bo & Luke (Coconut Cream Pie)
Against The Grain Brewery

16oz can poured into a snifter

A- pours a think jet black with a one-finger creamy khaki head that has good retention

S-slightly smoky up front, chocolate, black cherry, slightly nutty, just a hint of coconut

T- the smoke comes through a bit more on flavor, with a cherrywood note coming through. Mid-palate gives sweet chocolate, caramel and toffee. Some peppery rye kicks in before adding barrel juice and light oak. The finish brings out a hint of coconut before more smoke takes over. Lingers of chocolate, smoke and cherry cough syrup

M- medium body with moderate carbonation leads to a foamy mouthfeel that turns creamy into a warming finish

O- I used to seek out every variant of this beer. The original B&L is one of my favorite beers ever, but these can releases just haven't been the same. Did they change the recipe?

 

The yearly addition to the Bo & Luke imperial smoked stout lineup lands on the tasty childhood treat of coconut cream pie for a savory, roasty and a nearly climactic affair.

As its rich and lusciously black pour settles in the glass, its mocha sheen sheds a deep tarnish froth and a host of nutty, roasty, chocolaty and whisky laden scents with subtle sweetness of candied coconut close at hand. Sweet once on the tongue, a rounded malt profile of caramel, toffee and light molasses meet the taste of toasted coconut and vanilla in true candied form.

As the aggressive roast starts to outweigh the sweetness, notions of turkish coffee, baker's chocolate and chicory spice pull from the grit of rye, whisky and wood. Smoky in its overcast, the session soon looses its cream pie focus and the sharper edges of grain, oak and ash bring a spicy, almost medicinal bitterness that has a closure not for the faint of heart.

Full bodied, spicy and heated, the stout finishes peppery, boozy and prickling when the trifecta of smoke, bitterness and alcohol hit the back of the throat at the same time for an explosion of flavor.

 

16 ounce can, can't read the date stamp on the bottom of the can but apparently this was a 2023 release. Served in a chalice, the beer pours dark brown/black with about an inch or so tan head that stuck around a while. Lots of lacing, too. The brew smells like smoked malt, vanilla, bourbon, burnt/charred malt, dark fruit and some coconut. Taste is similar to the aroma, but with the addition of some cream and earthy flavors. To me the burnt/charred flavor stands out compared to all the others, and I really don't pick up much coconut in the taste. Not a lot of bourbon either. Nice tasting stout if you like roastiness and some smoke, but you might be disappointed if you want a lot of coconut. Mouthfeel/body is full, it's rich and a bit creamy with a good amount of carbonation. Overall I liked this, but it's not one of my favorite Bo & Luke variants as something seemed to be missing here. Still worth a try though!

When? What? Where? Why? I’m just like… I mean… I think… You guys remember the first episode of the Twilight Zone? I can’t remember the name of the episode because I’m not a savant. Anyway, the guy at the end going insane - that’s me right now. Well, maybe not that crazy. But… I just don’t understand why this beer happened.