Terrific non-traditional mocha-spiced full body with nebulous foreign/export stout labeling offers illusionary plentitude. Molasses-soaked anise, cherry puree and black cardamom lead the charge as nutty chocolate backend gains luster. Cappuccino-frothed espresso-dried coffee bittering enhances subsidiary wood-charred cola, macadamia, and hazelnut coarsening. Tertiary cocoa-buttered licorice, sarsaparilla, and chicory nuances eventually seep into the mix.
- Author: John Fortunato
- Brewery: LEFT HAND BREW. CO., LONGMONT, CO.
- Category: Beers A-Z
- Comments: None
- Author: John Fortunato
- Brewery: HARPOON BREWERIES, BOSTON, MA.
- Category: Beers A-Z
- Comments: None
Creamy black chocolate-fronted roasted coffee-backed dry-bodied stout fits charcoal-tar bittering into briny oyster-salted sea-watered sinew. Peat-y hop-charred barley roast reinforces tertiary nut-burnt cocoa powdering. Baker’s chocolate dryness, mild espresso bittering, and boozy Scotch-burgundy nuances dance across finish of robust ink black ruffian.
- Author: John Fortunato
- Brewery: ALLAGASH BREWING, PORTLAND, ME.
- Category: Beers A-Z
- Comments: None
Apprehensive Belgian-styled chocolate stout lacks clear theme and falls short. Coarse candi-sugared black chocolate initiation ravaged by musty molasses astringency and metallic 7.5% alcohol rigidity. Vague coffee ground insinuation fades badly as murky blackberry-blueberry puree digression lingers to charred coal slunk. Peat-y hazelnut-walnut subsidy and anise-currant bittering interrupt lactic black chocolate lead-in.
- Author: John Fortunato
- Brewery: ANHEUSER-BUSCH, ST. LOUIS, MO.
- Category: Beers A-Z
- Comments: None
- Author: John Fortunato
- Brewery: APPALACHIAN BREW. CO., HARRISBURG, PA.
- Category: Beers A-Z
- Comments: None
Tawny-headed mahogany-bronzed cream stout gains extensive lactose-aided coffee-nut souring as oatmeal backbone fortifies burnt caramel, black tar, and dried raisin illusions pared down by charred hop finish. Chocolate milkshake thickness counters soft-watered texture consuming smoked cedar trail sweetening cherry puree acridity and black chocolate remnant. But lavish frothing falters as phenol nature swells.
- Author: John Fortunato
- Brewery: ATLANTIC BREW. CO., BAR HARBOR, ME.
- Category: Beers A-Z
- Comments: None
Resplendent velvety smooth dry stout with roasted chocolate sweetening, syrupy Scotch salience, and chewy molasses density allows creme caramel, vanilla, marshmallow, and cocoa nuances to dot cookie dough midst. Recessive coffee-espresso and parched fig-prune-raisin souring neatly counter chocolate-y motif as roasted nuttiness, mossy earthiness, and pumpernickel tinge hang at the fringe.
- Author: John Fortunato
- Brewery: BLUE & GRAY BREW. CO., FREDERICKSBURG, VA.
- Category: Beers A-Z
- Comments: None
Distinct dry espresso theme rises above soft-watered barley-oats sear and hop-charred cocoa bean, cacao seed, tar, and coal illusions, absorbing black chocolate-y burnt walnut trail relegated to back-throated quip. Moderate English-styled stout has easy appeal lighter thirsts will appreciate despite fairly harsh coffee bittering.
- Author: John Fortunato
- Brewery: FREDERICK BREW. CO., FREDERICK, MD.
- Category: Beers A-Z
- Comments: None
Brewed in celebration of St. Patrick’s Day, hoppin’ mad stout delivers explosive carbolic fizz to alcohol-laden liquid. Roasted barley, dusky malts, and rye wheat counter unusual wine-like tendencies perfectly. Dark chocolate-y coffee grain bitterness rounds out robust finish. Expansive for such a sweet, sticky stout (and not too far removed from excellent Red Hook Black Stout).
- Author: John Fortunato
- Brewery: BRASSEURS DU NORD, BLAINVILLE, CANADA
- Category: Beers A-Z
- Comments: None
Thin dark brown English-styled stout retains coarsely dry moderation, as over-carbonation buries burnt coffee and dark chocolate sourness plus roasted hop-grained nuttiness. Surging plum-grape pucker accents astringent maple finish, but richness lacks.
- Author: John Fortunato
- Brewery: BOULEVARD BREW. CO., KANSAS CITY, MO.
- Category: Beers A-Z
- Comments: None
- Author: John Fortunato
- Brewery: BRIDGEPORT BREW. CO., PORTLAND, OR.
- Category: Beers A-Z
- Comments: None
- Author: John Fortunato
- Brewery: CAPE ANN BREW. CO., GLOUCESTER, MA.
- Category: Beers A-Z
- Comments: None
Ripe pumpkin pie surge gets integrated with sharp-hopped cinnamon-nutmeg spicing, but lactic mocha expectancy needs better thickness to counter autumnal seasoning. Brown chocolate and espresso merely dot peat-y vegetal bottom.


