Jamaica Stout
Big City Brewing CO LTD

Jamaica StoutJamaica Stout
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From:
Big City Brewing CO LTD
 
Jamaica
Style:
Foreign / Export Stout
ABV:
7.6%
Score:
84
Avg:
3.69 | pDev: 12.47%
Reviews:
47
Ratings:
68
Status:
Active
Rated:
Jul 29, 2016
Added:
May 22, 2005
Wants:
  6
Gots:
  0
No description / notes.
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Ratings by armock:
Photo of armock
Reviewed by armock from New York

4/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Got this in a beer of the month club and I'm surprised that not many people have reviewed this one.

A - Poured a very dark brown almost black color with a tan head that leaves lacing behind

S - Is of roasted malt that gives off chocolate and coffee scents

T - Follows the nose with roasted malt chocolate and coffee taste

M - This beer has a medium body with medium carbonation to it

D - I was very surprised with this beer at how good it was so far the imports that have come with the club have sucked but this is a damn good stout that I could drink a few of in a sitting worth finding to try
Apr 24, 2009
More User Ratings:
Photo of rodbeermunch
Reviewed by rodbeermunch from Nevada

3.43/5  rDev -7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
When you think Jamaica, a big roasty stout is probably not what you think, but here its what you get. Impressive black SRM going on, hearty heft to its appearance and tan 1/3" head. Aroma gave those coffee malt notes.

Taste kept up the roasted coffee day old vibe, as the mouthfeel got acclimated, the roasty bitterness and heavy mouthfeel let up a little. Doesn't really seem like something I'd be into when its hot and humid, but in the right (cool) environment, this is a straightforward roasty stout with a punch. A hint of dark fruit bitterness to diversify the roasty bitterness. No surprises here, could be a foreign stout from across the pond for all you know, its relatively close to style, really all about it actually.
Jul 29, 2016
 
Rated: 3.34 by Taybeh from Minnesota

Apr 08, 2016
 
Rated: 3.56 by BlueSpader from Washington

Mar 16, 2016
Photo of pat61
Reviewed by pat61 from Minnesota

4.03/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
L: Pours bright black with a 1” tan colored foam cap that takes 2 minutes to reduce to 1/3 its original size. Has a very fine bead and produces medium lace. S: Has a real estery, fruity nose with some alcohol. Low levels of diacetyl and a hint of DMS. Some roast, faint chocolate. T: Comes on with a fruit layer, dark dried fruit, malty sweetness, light roast and chocolate but everything is soft with no rough edges. It has more fruit than roast or chocolate. The alcohol is well hidden. Has an almost winey aspect. F: Very creamy with above average carbonation that gives it a creamy foamy lightness despite its medium to medium full body. O: This is a soft, mellow beer is perfect for chilling out on a hot afternoon.
Oct 07, 2015
Photo of JohnnyI
Reviewed by JohnnyI from South Carolina

3.18/5  rDev -13.8%
look: 2.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3
Pours in to a Guinness pint glass a watery black, with a miniscule coffee colored head. The thin top fizzles away after only the briefest of appearance, leaving behind a rather lifeless looking brew. The surprising lack of action prompted me to check the bottle. Yep, bottled in February of 2013. Kind of what I was afraid of. Well. it's closing in on almost 2 years old, so this review is going to be hit or miss. At 7.6% this beer should have the chops to stand up to some aging, but we shall see. 2 Years may be a stretch even under ideal conditions. There's a notable metallic scent and molasses in the nose. Definitely some dark rum-like qualities to the aroma. The flavor is off. Tangy lime-like tartness with hints of thin chocolate and trace elements of ashy tobacco roast. Minimal hops present with little bitterness. There's a surprisingly appealing buttery brown sugar confection aftertaste with some dried candied dates. The citric sourness continues to ride along. The mouthfeel is thin and watery, with very little carbonation. Odd. This is just a strange concoction. I cannot tell if this is the desired flavor profile, or if this is simply too far past its peak. At first I nearly relegated this to drain pour status, but then I felt compelled to keep coming back for more. It certainly was no Guinness Foreign Extra, but the Caribbean flair was oddly intriguing. I'd really like to try a fresh one now to get some added perspective.
Jan 11, 2015
 
Rated: 2.5 by Alpha309 from California

Nov 28, 2014
Photo of superspak
Reviewed by superspak from North Carolina

3.9/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
12 ounce bottle into snifter, no bottle dating. Pours pitch black color with a small dense tan head with good retention, that reduces to a thin cap that lingers. Light spotty soapy lacing clings around the glass, with a fair amount of streaming carbonation. Aromas of big milk chocolate, cocoa, coffee, brown sugar, toast, dark bread, raisin, plum, light tobacco, light char, and roasted earthiness. Very nice aromas with good balance and complexity of dark/roasted malt and light-moderate dark fruit notes; with good strength. Taste of big milk chocolate, cocoa, coffee, brown sugar, toast, dark bread, raisin, plum, light char, and roasted earthiness. Fair amount of roasted bitterness on the finish; with lingering notes of milk chocolate, cocoa, coffee, brown sugar, toast, dark bread, raisin, plum, light char, and roasted earthiness on the finish for a good bit. Very nice robustness and complexity of dark/roasted malt and light-moderate dark fruit flavors; with a good roasted bitterness/sweetness balance and zero cloying flavors after the finish. Light carbonation and medium bodied; with a very smooth and moderately creamy/bready mouthfeel that is nice. Alcohol is well hidden with minimal warming present after the finish. Overall this is a very nice Foreign stout style. All around good balance, robustness, and complexity of dark/roasted malt and light-moderate dark fruit flavors; and very smooth to sip on even with the low carbonation. A very enjoyable offering.
Nov 08, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by AngusOg from North Carolina

Jul 03, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by Latarnik from New Jersey

May 27, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by powdersoldier from Washington

May 04, 2014
 
Rated: 3 by gwiedman1 from New York

Apr 12, 2014
Photo of flagmantho
Reviewed by flagmantho from Washington

4.18/5  rDev +13.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Poured from 12oz bottle into a pint glass.

Appearance: totally black with some brown highlights around the edges. Head is a finger of pillowy tan foam which leaves a nice lace as it dissipates. Capital!

Smell: very sweet with lots of dark fruit character: raisin, plum and dates. There's also a little tobacco and chocolate in here. These are all some of my favorite beer aromas.

Taste: raisin, tobacco and almond flavors; great character for a beer of this style. Not quite as complex as the aroma, but big and almost precisely to my taste.

Mouthfeel: medium-light body with a great level of carbonation and creaminess. Some more body would put this over the top, but it's already got great texture.

Overall: delicious, drinkable and almost exactly amenable to my palate. Ba dow!
Apr 11, 2014
Photo of chinchill
Reviewed by chinchill from South Carolina

3.54/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
12 oz bottle, purchased recently but some months past the BB date stamped on the neck. Beer shows very subtle effects pf being past prime (mainly aroma); appropriate compensation given in my ratings.

The aroma features mild dark roasted grains and toffee.

The flavor follows, being strong on refinement and balance, if a tad sweet, and mild in strength. A decent aftertaste of dark roasted malts nonetheless.

Feel: medium body and carbonation with more bite than it should have.
Feb 24, 2014
Photo of mando_thegreat
Reviewed by mando_thegreat from Illinois

3.06/5  rDev -17.1%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
If you like a really dark, and strong beer, this ones for you. I personally think its OK, I dont regret trying it. over all I give this a rating of 3. The taste gets better after a few sips. and it isnt a twist tot (which I like) and being imported from jamaica (thats the main purpose why i tried it) makes it worth it, to atleast try if anything.
Jan 25, 2014
Photo of DoubleJ
Reviewed by DoubleJ from Wisconsin

3.46/5  rDev -6.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5
If Guinness can sell their foreign stout comfortably in the Caribbean, there must be other foreign stouts which are brewed. Enter Jamaica Stout, which is brewed in <drumroll>....Jamaica. 12 ounces to go, and it's a twist-off cap. On to the beer:

A large mocha head rises and sits top this ebony bodied liquid. With the top a darker hue, it looks like one of those beefed up imperial stouts brewed in the US. There's joy here, and the joy is coming through the nose. A very sweet note of chocolate, followed with booze and overripe banana. The taste is agreeable, interesting to say the least. It has a banana accent which gives up a Belgian impression, but isn't. Soft roasted malts taking a swim in chocolate and a kiss of fruitiness. Not much alcohol is noted. Regarding mouthfeel, it's medium-full bodied with a carbonation near soda level, let's cut that down some. As it stands, it's an acceptable foreign stout which is also relatively easy on the wallet.
Jan 08, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by BlackBeerDown from Arkansas

Oct 06, 2013
Photo of BeerAdvocate
Reviewed by BeerAdvocate from Finland

3.56/5  rDev -3.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
From BeerAdvocate magazine Issue #65 (June 2012):

LOOK: Massive brown head, nearly pitch black

SMELL: Sweet, espresso, licorice root, burnt currants, brown sugar, warming alcohol

TASTE: Semi-smooth, full-ish body, up-front char, mineral, raisin twang, sweet, molasses, dark chocolate, coffee, ghost-like smoke, minimal hopping, estery, burnt finish

Not so refined, but that works in its benefit. A big, sweet Stout that wants to play with our palates. We wish more of these Foreign Stouts would hit our shores to further challenge the palates of US beer drinkers. If the locals in Jamaica have no problem drinking a hearty Stout in 85°F sunny weather, then neither should you.
Sep 09, 2013
 
Rated: 3 by irishgreensoda from Washington

Jul 16, 2013
 
Rated: 3.75 by MarvinSnyder from West Virginia

May 31, 2013
Jamaica Stout from Big City Brewing CO LTD
Beer rating: 84 out of 100 with 68 ratings