On tap at Kitchen & Beer Bar, luxurious (15.2% ABV) 2018 version retains fudgy milk chocolate creaming for sweet oak-aged bourbon influence, sugary vanilla-marshmallow serenade and dark cherry rasp to its honeyed Graham Cracker base. Beneath the bourbon chocolate surface lies coffee, coconut, toasted almond and leathery tobacco illusions. Sensational!
All posts by John Fortunato
GOOSE ISLAND BOURBON COUNTY CHERRY WOOD STOUT (2021)
On tap at Kitchen & Beer Bar, utilizing honeycomb-shaped cherrywood chips to age lightly creamed caramelized chocolate and sweet bourbon vanilla sway. Whiskey-bent bourbon tones outdo initial mocha influence as spiced toffee sugaring and dark cherry bruise surface above the tannic oak-charred toasting.
GOOSE ISLAND BOURBON COUNTY CLASSIC COLA STOUT
On tap at Beef Trust, boundlessly complex (and frustratingly profuse) whiskeyed cola knockoff is pleasantly off-balance. Classic cola soda frontage cleared away by bourbon vanilla spicing and tertiary orange juicing stays distant before the brown-sugared Cassia-barked Graham Cracker base solidifies. Wispy maple molasses, cherry, toffee and chocolate undertones waver.
HARDYWOOD GINGERBREAD STOUT
Creamily wildflower-honeyed gingerbread cookie knockoff stays spicily in your face while retaining silken eclair froth. Sharp cinnamon-spiced vanilla snap sweetness gains brown-sugared molasses, sassafras, nutmeg and anise licks as well as chocolate pudding skin crusting and smoked cedar whim over honeycombed oats flaking for excellent Christmastime dessert. 2025 re-tasting: Seductive minty cinnamon-sticked gingerbread sweetness gained hot cocoa, chocolate liqueur and Kahlua stints as honeyed vanilla creaming rose.
FIRESTONE WALKER CINNAMON DOLCE NITRO STOUT
On tap at Beef Trust, nitrogenated cinnamon-sticked Madagascar vanilla and roasted coffee richness amplify traditional Mexican confection. Eclair-frothed cinnamon dolce syruping coats Black Forest cake finish.
STUBBORN BEAUTY MY LOVE IS WARMER THAN CHOCOLATE FUDGE
On tap at Jealous Monk, prominent roasted coffee nuttiness from cold-brewed Honduran java dominates awesome lactose-heavy oatmeal stout. Dark chocolate fudging coats hop-charred Blackstrap molasses oats in the back.
FORGOTTEN BOARDWALK LUCY THE ELEPHANT
Distinct upfront coffee roast waft bitterer than milk-creamed java entry of soft-toned, eclair-headed, pale-toned cream stout. Smoked maple molasses glazes tertiary almond-praline-pecan conflux as finishing hop astringency contrasts mild vanilla froth.
TOX SLUDGE
Fudgy marshmallow-fluffed brown chocolate sweetness rampages thru brown-sugared candied yam adjunct above honeyed Graham Cracker base of ‘toxic’ 11% ABV winter warming pastry stout. Creamy chocolate-vanilla center gains bruised black cherry, star anise and toffee illusions for perfect sweet-toothed nightcap.
ASHTON FRAXINUS MAPLE SYRUP BARREL AGED BARLEYWINE
Maple syrupy barleywine fits laidback currant-dried raisin, sultana and fig sweetness into spiced rum buttering as mellow brandy fruiting, dry bourbon mildness and teasing rye snip play possum while sharp hop spicing adds tongue tingle.
JACK’S ABBY SAMOA FRAMINGHAMMER BOURBON BARREL-AGED BALTIC PORTER
Impeccable bourbon-aged Framinghammer variant stuffs bittersweet cocoa nibs and chewy coconut caramel inside richly floured cookie dough sponging. Sturdy bourbon vanilla sweetness, fudgy dark chocolate creaming, milked coffee splendor and nougat-y toffee confectionery reach mildewy brown sugared oats base for lusciously decadent porter.
DESTIHL PEANUT BUTTER PORTER
On tap at Schatzi’s – Poughkeepsie, creamy chocolate-y peanut buttering smoothly spread on honeyed Graham Cracker base. Caramelized nut roast sweetens the rich mocha finish.
KENT FALLS PAUSE AND REFLECT PORTER
On tap at Jealous Monk, dry specialty malts enjoin light hop-charred nuttiness and dark cocoa bittering as ricey emmer flouring and rye-like triticale graining provide brown breaded base.
