On tap at Growler & Gill, boldly pepper-spiced stout allows brazen chipotle peppering and mild Mexican cinnamon seasoning to penetrate bittersweet caramel-burnt black coffee and dark chocolate over dry rye malting. A hint of black cherry wavers below mocha-spiced enticement.
NESHAMINY CREEK MUDBANK MILK STOUT
On tap at Poor Henry’s, superb winter stout offers oats-flaked lactic sugaring to creamy brown chocolate sweetness, molasses-draped carapils malting and dry vanilla-beaned nuttiness.
WESTBROOK 6TH ANNIVERSARY HAZELNUT CHOCOLATE IMPERIAL STOUT
Superfine Imperial Stout matured on candi-syruped cocoa nibs, roasted hazelnuts and vanilla beans utilizes sweet black chocolate spicing to contrast dry black coffee influence. Flirtatious bourbon and burgundy warmth deepens dark cocoa aspect as well as bittersweet vanilla splurge and black grape-cherry tease.
DEPARTED SOLES A DARK NIGHT BLACK IPA
On tap at Poor Henry’s, legit gluten-free dry body takes on Cascadian Black Ale style with relative success. Designed to taste like a “Black & Tan shaken up,” robust ebony-hued Jerseyite layers charcoaled medium-roast coffee bittering atop hop-charred black grape, pineapple and grapefruit illusions. Resinous pine tones deepen the bitter end.
STONE ENJOY BY 02.14.17 CHOCOLATE AND COFFEE IPA
On tap at Growler & Gill, “decadent” mocha-affected India Pale Ale overloads the sharply perfume-hopped yellow grapefruit spicing and lemony orange respite, allowing the creamy black coffee and dark chocolate blend to diminish more than expected.
STONE / HARDYWOOD / ARDENT GIVE ME STOUT OR GIVE ME DEATH
On tap at Growler & Gill, well-designed dark ale collaboration between three respected Virginia breweries brings black-malted dark chocolate richness, walnut-smoked cocoa powdering and vanilla bean creaming to recessive raspberry-blackberry adjuncts. But its mighty mocha magnitude and dry hop-charred hop bittering almost completely hide the dark-fruited nature.
FEGLEY’S ARCTIC ALCHEMY
Highly approachable Brit-styled barleywine lifts majestic caramel-malted chocolate molasses malts above candied dried fruiting and sugared spices in soft-toned manner. Subtle sherry, cognac and brandy illusions as well as light medicinal cherry tones further enliven chocolate-fruited delight. Latent red grape, hazelnut, pecan, fig, plum and raisin wisps remain in the distance.
BALLAST POINT RED VELVET NITRO
On tap at Taphouse 15, unconventional nitro-injected oatmeal stout breaks traditional mocha mode, instead retaining mellow beet-sugared, vanilla cream-fluffed mouthfeel, billowy pinkish white head and silken ruby body. Cotton-candied watermelon, raspberry, cherry and strawberry illusions straddle soft honeyed wheat spine of delicate dessert treat. In the bottle, initial vanilla-creamed red velvet cake theme and Black Forest cake uprising get pushed aside by heavily charred hop astringency.
THE BRUERY MELANGE NO.14
On tap at Poor Henry’s, vintage strong ale (13.4% ABV) saturates mighty mocha fudging with bourbon-barreled sherry-port-cognac sweetness and caramelized molasses richness. Elegant bourbon chocolate pleasantry picks up latent candied fig, toasted coconut, plum wine and blackberry accents. A perfect mélange.
THE BRUERY 8 MAIDS-A-MILKING IMPERIAL MILK STOUT
On tap at Poor Henry’s, spirited Christmastime milk stout spreads candi-sugared Belgian yeast spicing across rich black chocolate malting and light cayenne peppering. Lactic milk-sugared vanilla creaming lingers beneath alongside bittersweet cocoa powdering and black cherry tartness.
THE BRUERY 9 LADIES DANCING
On tap at Ambulance. Inspired by lemon custard-based tiramisu Italian dessert, hybridized Belgian strong ale (11.3% ABV) allows Imperial Milk Stout adjuncts to affect its overall impact. Cacao nibs, vanilla and coffee get top billing, picking up sappy molasses sinew as tart tangerine, orange, cherry and sugarplum illusions coddle decadent Armagnac-brandy warmth at the chocolate ladyfingers finish.
TRACTOR 2014 BOURBON BARREL AGED LUNA DE LOS MUERTOS IMPERIAL STOUT
Resilient limited edition Russian Imperial Stout (aged in bourbon barrels and then bottled) retains bittersweet cacao nibs and black chocolate richness alongside bourbon vanilla sugaring. Creamy mocha center gains coconut toasted sweetness as well as fruit-caked plum, black cherry, raisin, apricot and burgundy niceties.
