Yep! Another beer holiday! Are you complaining? I didn't think so!
I started off with the ever classic Founder's - Breakfast Stout. You simply cannot go wrong with that, it's perfect. Then I dug into my treasure chest and found this treat!
The Pike Brewing Co - XXXXX Pike Stout - a 7.0% ABV, 65 IBU Extra/Import Stout. I'm calling this an Imperial, deal with it. Pitch black but light-pouring, the head on this cascades like a Guinness nitro pour! Huge and fluffy! Roasted malts, bitter black chocolate on the nose with some underlying grassy hops and rich fruit notes. It's got the alcohol bite of an Imperial, that's for sure, but the body of any old bold stout. Big, bold bitter chocolate that's actually quite smooth with molasses, dark caramel, black coffee and roasted malts. There's a nice dried fruit/dark cherry note in this that adds an extra layer above and beyond most stouts. This gives way to a muted floral/grassy hop note that is surprising prominent for such a bold stout. The finish is smooth, malty and roasted.. slightly bitter and with the slightest alcohol bite. Lacks a bit in body for a 7.0% ABV stout, but incredibly well-rounded, and I'm sure the 6 months or so that I've been keeping this has helped with it's flavor.. but definitely worth a try!
- - 8 Hops!
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