Two-Fisted Stout
Amsterdam Brewery

Bottle courtesy of TheSevenDuffs, served at 8C into a tulip style glass. Undated bottle.

A: Dark like a stout with a nice mocha head that left only a little bit of lacing before it disappeared.
S: Licorice, molasses, sweet malt and roasted malts are all playing here. I am thoroughly enjoying this nose.
T: Not nearly as complex as the initial hit on the nose. Mainly dark roasted notes with lingering Itterness from the roast and earthy hops. Some molasses plays here too.
M: Strong and biting carbonation. The beer finishes with a bit of lingering molasses-like notes that I found a touch off putting.
O: Decent though flawed. Worth another look someday when I feel like a stout and it is available.

Bottle courtesy of BostonFox. Thanks for coming by and hanging out!

From a bottle into a snifter.

APPEARANCE: Dark brown pour makes a 1+ finger, medium looking, fluffy, tan head with great retention. Black body with minimal carbonation evident. Head eventually fades to a good wisp cap. A ring and a splotchy wisp remain leaving some dots of lacing down the glass.

SMELL: A nice nose of roasted malts, chocolate and cocoa powder. A slightly smoky hint with some cream in there as well. Very nice for the style, but could definitely be bolder.

TASTE: Roasted malts, then cocoa powder, sweet vanilla cream, and some smoky chocolate notes at the finish. A big and persistent aftertaste for the style with sweet vanilla, roasted malts and some cocoa. Quite flavorful indeed, but it’s a little too sweet for the style. Needs to be drier.

PALATE: Medium body and medium carbonation. Not quite as creamy as hoped, but goes down fine and finishes slightly sticky for the style. Needs to be drier for sure.

OVERALL: This was a decent and enjoyable stout beer. For an Irish dry stout, however, it is definitely too sweet and sticky for top marks. I could see myself ordering this at a bar, as I still enjoyed it, but I wouldn’t say this is a good example of what an Irish dry stout should be. Regardless, worth checking out if you see it. Thanks again for the trade BostonFox.

Bottle obtained from the brewery by my brother. Poured in to small pint glass.

A - Poured a medium to dark brown colour with a small amount of espresso foam coloured head.

S - Roasted malts, semi-sweet chocolate, roasted hazelnuts and a touch of coffee.

T - Roasted malts, chocolate, some coffee and some toasted hazelnut. Sweet throughout with a dry finish.

M - Medium body; somewhat heavily carbonated.

O - A good stout but not worthy of a trip to the brewery unless you love close by.

Had this on tap at C'est What. It was listed just as "Amsterdam Irish Stout", but I'm going to assume this is the same beer. Pours pitch black with creamy tan head. Smells of roasted barley with some mild coffee. Nice mix of bitterness and sweetness. Smooth mouthfeel. Apparently this isn't a new beer, but I had never tried the Amsterdam stout until now.

On tap at Chaucer's in London, Ontario. Labeled "Two Fisted Stout". Pours murky deep brown with hints of amber with a creamy, long lived mocha froth. Mild roasty and toasty aroma, some coffee and dark chocolate. perhaps some lactic aromas. Flavours are very mild a la Guiness Stout. Some bitter chocolate, coffee, vanilla and some fruit. Finishes creamy, but with little to no flavour lingering.

I grabbed this on tap at the Amsterdam brewery after a tour, and its possibly the strongest offering they have in their regular lineup (granted this says very little). I believe it may be going under the name Amsterdam Irish Stout again, but no-one seemed sure, and I find it amazing that employees at a brewery would know jack-shit about their own beer. Anyhoo, if this isn't the same beer I had at the C'est What fall fest a couple years back, then the Pope's not Catholic.

Jet black pour with a creamy tan head that laced well. Fantastic appearance, and one that would give any stout a run for its money. It looks like its from a nitro-tap, but it isn't, so bonus brownie points there! Creamy aroma with some light roasted coffee brings things back to earth, but still manages to be pleasing. Smooth mouthfeel plays up the flavour profile, which is reminiscent of a very creamy coffee. There is also some milk chocolate notes, and a light bitterness before a fairly short and dry finish. It feels very light and drinkable for a stout, and I'd almost go so far as to venture refreshing. Well done Amsterdam!

A: Black, light tan head, great retention, awesome lacing.

S: Roasty (coffee, nut), dark bread, light spice, licorous.

T: Roasted coffee & nuts, good bitterness, dark bread, light licorous, dark fruit.

M: Moderate body, creamy, ligh to moderate carbonation.

D: Quite drinkable.

On tap at C'est What? Festival of Small Brewers. I tried to get a growler of this a while ago at the brewery, but they will only fill their own growlers and never have any. Smart move!

Pours a clear brown/black, red highlights, thick tan head, nice lacing, looks like a stout! Smell is chocolate, roast, caramel, light coffee, smells like an Irish stout. Taste is nice, chocolate, vanilla, caramel, roast, very nice, dry finish, light bitterness, flavour lingers. Mouthfeel is good, nice meaty body, silky low carbonation. Amsterdam finally made a good beer, nicely done for the style, I would recommend seeking this out if you like stouts.

I tried this on tap at C'est What in Toronto.

Pours black with a giant creamy head that leaves sheets of foam on the glass. The aroma is coffeeish with bitter astringent black malt and a bit of caramel. The taste is nice and roasty with some dark chocolate and chewy maltiness. The bitter roasted malt tang mingles with a bit of sourness in the finish. The mouthfeel is incredibly smooth and robust, better than nitro guiness.

This is a good stout, it covers all the bases, though it could use a more substantial malt base and less astringency.