Pisgah Valdez - Pisgah Brewing Co.

dirtylou

Washington

3.15/5  rDev -24.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Consumed a few times in the past 2 weeks, both on-tap and bottled

Classification as a Double Stout is quite misleading. The bottled version is over-carbonated and may be confused as *gasp* infected. It just isn't right - fruity and tangy with a metallic finish. On-draft, its an iced coffee overload and is really a nice beer. Unfortunately, the most recent bottling doesn't translate and I was really quite embarrassed to open this for people not familiar with Pisgah.

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2013 07:04:06 | More by dirtylou

brentk56

North Carolina

3.8/5  rDev -8.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottled January 2009 (discovered today in my cellar)

Appearance: Pours pitch black with a massive, creamy tan head that coats the pint glass with a sheet of lace

Smell: Coffee, coffee and coffee....with sugar; smells like a Cuban coffee

Taste: Cuban coffee with chocolate underneath; the sweeter aspects grow in the middle, with chocolate building in the finish

Mouthfeel: Medium to full body with creamy carbonation

Overall: While it is a bit too sweet for my palate, that may be a function of age, with the hops falling by the wayside; other than that, the beer has held up pretty well over the past four years

Serving type: bottle

12-28-2012 21:17:40 | More by brentk56

brewdude1982

North Carolina

3.9/5  rDev -6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A: 4.0 this beer has a very light translucence and a deep dark hue
S: 4.5 has an amazing aroma of dark chocolate and cinnamon
T: 4.0 surprisingly hopper than I expected. Very bitter on the end.
MF: 3.0 kind of flat for my taste overall, the body is not as deep as I expected.
O: 3.5 I could have one of these as an ender in an evening but would definitely crash your pallet if an opener. Great smell.

Serving type: bottle

11-24-2012 21:08:10 | More by brewdude1982

tdm168

North Carolina

4/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - black with a thin brown head that has decent retention

S - coffee and roasted malts

T - also simply coffee and roasted malts

M - smooth, well carbonated, medium to full bodied

At first I was a bit disappointed that this was one-dimensional. Honestly, the one dimension is flavorful and enjoyable so I'm not mad about it. This is a nice coffee stout that you can enjoy on your own or share. I would have it again.

Serving type: bottle

11-21-2012 02:16:23 | More by tdm168

womencantsail

California

3.58/5  rDev -13.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours black in color with a finger of tan head. A bit of spicy coffee to go along with lots of roasted malt and maybe a hint of dark chocolate. There is just a bit of vanilla type sweetness. The flavor is slightly sweet but still fairly heavy on the coffee, which adds a little bit of spiciness. Lots of roasted malt and a bit of dark chocolate. Just an okay coffee stout.

Serving type: bottle

07-17-2012 17:36:58 | More by womencantsail

Dope

Massachusetts

4.35/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: Pour a very dark brown with a big fluffy medium brown head. Fades slowly, leaving a decent film of lacing on the glass.

S: Huge coffee aroma. Like fresh roasted beans. Pretty much dominates, maybe a little chocolate creeps in.

T: Oddly not a coffee overload. It's got a bitter coffee flavor up front but then turns into a nice roasted malt char with lots of dark chocolate. Surprisingly well balanced and delicious.

M: Medium bodied, smooth. Bit of coffee bitterness lingers in the mouthfeel.

O: Was expecting a coffee bomb but wow this one surprised me. Wonderfully drinkable stout with a strong and tasty coffee element BUT it's balanced well for a great brew. I'm not even a coffee drinker and I'm pretty "meh" on most coffee beers. This is a must-try for ANY stout lover, but especially a coffee stout lover.

Serving type: bottle

05-24-2012 02:45:42 | More by Dope

Jeffo

Netherlands

3.9/5  rDev -6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bomber of this one provided by jbeatty. Thanks for the trade man!

From a bomber into a snifter
Vintage: 2010

APPEARANCE: A dark brown pour yields a two finger, medium looking, noisy, crackly, dark tan head with decent retention. Black body, opaque and medium carbonation evident. Head fades to a full film on top. A half wisp and a ring remain until the end leaving some nice lacing down the glass. Very nice looking beer, though noisy heads are never that appealing.

SMELL: Medium strength nose of roasted malts, roasted coffee beans, sweet cream and vanilla notes. A hint of caramel as well. Like a latte or a very milky, creamy coffee. A very nice nose for the age, though is has mellowed quite a bit at this point I fear.

TASTE: Some roasted and caramel malts up front with sweet cream and milky, roasted coffee through the middle into the finish. Sweet cream and vanilla mesh well with the coffee flavors, making it much like a latte, as the nose had advertised. Milder aftertaste of sweet cream, roasted coffee and a light bitterness lingers nicely on the palate. Very nice and appealing, but much like the nose, this has probably mellowed quite a bit over time.

PALATE: Medium body and medium carbonation. Light and creamy smooth on the palate, goes down smooth and finishes slightly dry. Nice and creamy feel.

OVERALL: I wouldn’t call this an imperial stout, but as an American coffee stout, this one is quite nice. I would think the nose and flavor profile was much bolder and forthcoming when the beer was fresh, but after over a year in the bottle, it’s certainly a nice drink; people who enjoy coffee stouts that are more restrained will definitely be extremely pleased with this. I certainly enjoyed this one and the bomber disappeared far too quickly. Thanks again for the brews jbeatty!

Serving type: bottle

01-22-2012 13:24:55 | More by Jeffo

zep9865

Indiana

3.65/5  rDev -12%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured into Aecht snifter courtesy of aasher. Pours a solid black with mocha-tan foam head that leaves about a quarter-inch.

All kinds of chile on the nose with some coffee and dark chocolate. Am i reviewing an Imperial Stout?

Chile on the nose, just like the smell. Coffee is real solid as is the chocolate. More tangy than one would think.

Carbonation is slightly high for the style, but the coffee and chile help to balance it out.

Decent beer, but too much carbonation and lack of chewiness. Perhaps i should let it warm a little bit more?

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2012 06:59:32 | More by zep9865

aasher

Indiana

4.22/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

I received this bottle in a huge in person trade with thagr81us down in SC in September. Thanks for hitting this want Calton!

This beer pours a dark chocolate brown I color with a one finger beige head. It poured medium in body. The aromas are rich of fresh coffee grounds and bitter chocolate. The nose is actually quite similar to that of Founders Breakfast Stout. The flavors too, pretty similar to FBS. the coffee and chocolate are both there Ina knock you upside the head type of manner. This beer just isn't nearly as smooth or full in body as FBS but the flavor is very close. I'm taken aback by this one. It's a phenomenal coffee stout and definitely worth trying. This is definitely a beer to seek out.

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2012 06:50:20 | More by aasher

CapitolCrusher

District of Columbia

4.75/5  rDev +14.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

what a nice way to start a new year's when you are seriously jet lagged and have some cotton mouth! thanks for the gift Alex it is very kind of you

poured out into my brandy glass (only appropriate glass i could find) and this beer had very little to no head on it at all. yet i loved the appearance it had an oily black look with just a bit of cappucino head trace in it

smelled like an espresso with a dash of maple syrup in it. wow is this going to be a crazy concoction?

way way roasted in the front then coming at you with coffee in the end and some hops to finish it off. just simply delicious and i loved every sip of it

great mouthfeel almost silky but just enough bubbles to keep it from being too sticky.

this got me wired too! glad i had it as i was feeling pretty droopy at the time. :-) happy new year indeed

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2012 15:57:52 | More by CapitolCrusher

coreyfmcdonald

Georgia

3.38/5  rDev -18.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Bottle poured into a goblet

A: Pours black with a finger of dark tan head. Great retention.

S: Intense roast, burnt coffee, that's about it.

T: Again, intense roast and burnt coffee. Spicy, medium hop bitterness.

M: A bit thin and a tad overcarbonated.

O: I'm thinking this isn't overly fresh. The coffee flavor is no longer fresh, but the stout characteristics are quite nice.

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2012 01:51:48 | More by coreyfmcdonald

EgadBananas

Louisiana

4.22/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Received via round-about trade with mulder1010...thanks Pat (and Nick)!

Pours stout dark, with a surprisingly brown chocolate head. It wasn't massive, but nice looking still. Aroma was big coffee, with an equally big chocolate note and roasted backing. Big chocolate and coffee taste, nicely roasted, with a bitter coffee finish. Had a nice creaminess to it. With the ABV, I'm curious if there's some confusion as to the style here... Either way, this was a shining coffee stout example.

Serving type: bottle

12-04-2011 05:45:46 | More by EgadBananas

homebrew311

Illinois

4.35/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Received in trade with McNuts. Thanks man!

A: pours deep dark brown, tan colored head, only a collar sticks around, completely opaque, quite dark for a 6.8 % stout.

S: the nose nails the coffee stout thing... huge robust bold roasted coffee intertwined seamlessly with roasted malts and cocoa. Very similar to the nose of Breakfast Stout or Peche Mortel... this is a good thing.

T: tastes starts off with burnt roast, a touch of bitterness from the coffee, this is followed by waves of coffee, espresso, and dark chocolate. The finish is all chocolate with an aftertaste of coffee beans. Delicious.

MF: thin body for style, but not unexpected considering the abv, somewhat high carbonation

O: this one is a winner. Two of my favorite beverages packaged into one. Yum.

Serving type: bottle

10-27-2011 21:12:11 | More by homebrew311

corby112

Pennsylvania

4.65/5  rDev +12%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours pitch black with faint mahogany edges and a one finger beige head that immediately fades into a thin ring.  Sporadic spots of lacing left behind.  
Rosted coffee bean aroma with lots of dark roasted malt and coffee presence. Gourmet coffee is prominent with a nice roastiness without smelling overdone or burnt.  Hints of hazelnut, toffee, chocolate and toast.  Slight liactic cream presence.  

Medium bodied with a blast of smooth, deep roasted coffee that dominates the flavor but never becomes overpowering, abrasive, acrid or burnt.  Hints of hazelnut and toffee as well as some bittersweet dark chocolate and a slight lactic creaminess that balances things out while adding to the palate.  Perfectly balanced and extremely quaffable.  One of the best coffee beer I've had.  

Serving type: bottle

10-23-2011 00:15:43 | More by corby112

jsanford

Georgia

3.8/5  rDev -8.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22oz bottle poured into a Tulip Glass.

Poured a bark black with a creamy mocha head. Big, sweet Stout aromas of dark malt, chocolate, coffee, milk, sugar, and cream. Taste is quite similar, getting lots of that coffee-and-cream thing going on. This reminds me a bit of Terrapin's Depth Charge, which is definitely a good thing. Mouthfeel is very creamy, with a medium-full body and solid carbonation. Overall a great coffee Stout, certainly one of the best I've had!

Serving type: bottle

10-18-2011 03:57:16 | More by jsanford

xnicknj

Pennsylvania

4.15/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

22oz bottle poured into snifter - big thanks to CarolinaKevin for this

Pours an opaque black color with a froth of heavily tanned head. Some cloudy retention and a few spots of lacing left behind.

Wonderful scents of coffee beans and roasted warmth. Tones of dark malts, chocolate, and nuttiness. Practically no alcohol scent, a light touch of hops.

Eruption of roasted bean coffee flavor right up front. Nutty and sweet with chocolate and a light touch of molasses. Faint hint of caramel and vanilla as well. Layers of dark malts with roasted warmth. Faint hoppiness towards the finish with more coffee flavor.

Fuller body, higher carbonation, pretty smooth but prickly on the tongue. Really delicious coffee profile on this one, both in the nose and flavor - I'd definitely drink this again.

Serving type: bottle

10-10-2011 23:12:14 | More by xnicknj

rhoadsrage

Illinois

3.58/5  rDev -13.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

(Served in a snifter)

A- This beer pours a jet black cocoa color with a tan head that boils away after a bit. There is a few tiny bubbles that glide up the side of the glass.

S- The ground coffee has a light breakfast roast quality with some earthy oat note in the finish.

T- The ground coffee has a slightly tart note and a fruity ester quality in the coffee's finish. There is a vegital capsicum flavor without any heat in the finish. A light inky hint lingers on the lips. As the beer warms there is a soft mellow black malt quality that comes through in the finish.

M- This beer has a medium-light mouthfeel with a tight fizz that scrubs the finish and no real alcohol.

O- This beer has some nice mellow coffee flavors but not much stout support and it finishes a bit vegital. As the beer warms the coffee takes on a bit of a stale quality.

Serving type: bottle

06-22-2011 21:30:11 | More by rhoadsrage

azdback

Arizona

3.93/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to McNuts for this freebee at an in person pint at Papago.

Poured into a tulip glass. Dark, dark, dark brown in color. No light penetrates this one. Head is three fingers and a beautiful light brown, dolloped on, sticky masterpiece. Lace is starting out like a champ, but doesn't stay around to the end.

Smell is of dark roasted coffee. Not so much coffee grounds or beans, but the aroma you get from fresh brewed coffee. Maybe just a hint of chocolate and some smoke or char.

Taste is kind of like burnt coffee. Not in a bad way though. Just deep roasted flavors that come to me as that. There is ash or smoke flavor there also. End is a bit tart and the taste of a raspberry or cherry. I don't get any chocolate flavors and at 6.8% I defiantly don't get any alcohol.

The mouth is probably where this one falls off for me. For it being called a Double or Imperial Stout it is pretty thin. I could name quite a few Imperial Porters with a better mouth than this. It is thin and watery. More a Porter than an IS.

Overall I was very happy with this. Valdez has an excellent smell and taste, but falls short of the category with it's weak mouth. That being said... I still recommend this to any one that has access.

Serving type: bottle

05-23-2011 04:55:16 | More by azdback

JamnesCameron

Illinois

4.93/5  rDev +18.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

This bottle is from September 2008. Poured into a MJ tasting glass. Pours a very deep russet brown with garnet highlights near the bottom of the tulip glass. Big, three finger mocha colored head, that drops fairly quickly, leaving a wisp of foam.

Aromas of dark roasted coffee. Some caramel and roasted malts, but the main attraction is the coffee. Coffee also lends a nice roasty bitterness.

Flavors are big, dark roasted coffee, bittersweet cocoa, some roasted graininess. No hop flavor to speak of. This is not just a coffee stout, it's a COFFEE stout. Lingering bitter roasted coffee on the finish, that fades into a nice bittersweet cocoa.

Mouthfeel is big and chewy, not thick and syrupy, but gives a big presence in the mouth, coating everything.

Overall, an excellent coffee stout. Once of the better balanced examples, with lots of flavor.

Serving type: bottle

05-10-2011 01:16:13 | More by JamnesCameron

zeledonia

Minnesota

4.35/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Thanks to n2185 for including this in a recent trade.

Pours black, no light even at the edges, with a solid two-finger medium-tan head. Head retention is okay, and lacing is good.

Smell is all nice smooth slightly bitter coffee. The malts are there, but they definitely take a back seat to the coffee. More like coffee than beer.

Taste is, well, delicious. Really nice coffee flavors throughout, with a hint of bitterness, but not the overbrewed bitter character that brings so many coffee stouts down. The malts again have second billing, but they bring in a bit of chocolate and a decent richness. Finishes smooth, with a gentle lingering bitterness.

Body is mid-way between a typical stout and imperial stout. Not light, but not the syrupy thick stuff that many impys are. Goes down smooth. Carbonation is on the high side; enough to tickle the mouth.

This is one of my new favorite coffee stouts. A step below Founders Breakfast Stout and Wake 'n Bake, particularly in the complexity of the flavor, but really freakin' good. The coffee flavors are present but smooth, without the sharpness and high bitterness that many coffee stouts deliver. The ABV is lower than a lot of the big coffee imperial stouts, which is nice - drinking a bomber of this myself isn't going to knock me flat.

Serving type: bottle

04-30-2011 02:56:30 | More by zeledonia

Azurescens

Washington

4.05/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

22oz bottle with no bottled on or freshness date poured into Maudite stemmed glass, reviewed on 4/27/11

A: Pours black with dark tan head and moderate retention. The head fades to a collar and leaves some lacing around glass.

S: Smooth freshly roasted coffee up front with dark malt and a hint of chocolate lingering behind the huge coffee aroma. Lots and lots of coffee, if I were to take a blind sniff of this I would definitely think this was a cup of coffee instead of a beer.

T: Bitter roasted coffee dominates the taste with dark malts and some hops and alcohol barely coming through all of the coffee. Long lingering taste of freshly brewed coffee after each sip.

M: Nice medium body with a bit more carbonation than I would really like in a stout.

O: If you want lots of coffee in your stout, this is the beer to go for. Pretty drinkable for a 6.8% ABV brew. Some more body and less carbonation would do wonders for this beer. Still great none the less.

Serving type: bottle

04-28-2011 03:07:29 | More by Azurescens

Lunch

Maryland

4.55/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Bottle gifted to me a generous extra courtesy of Marine1975 during and in-person trade at Sexual Chocolate 2011, thanks Shane!

Poured in my Troegs Troegenator mug from a 22oz bottles right after arriving home from SC'11. Pours thick and creamy and it bascially black in color, looks delicious and I can smell it already. Strong coffee aroma that smells incredibly fresh. Some cocoa, coffee steal the show and I am really enjoying this already. Taste is equally as nice with coffee, espresso, cocoa, milk chocolate and hints of bitter dark chocolate. Mouthfeel is fuller than some people are of themselves on this site.

Overall this is a great beer and one that I would have on hand at all times if it were available in my area.

Serving type: bottle

04-24-2011 22:39:00 | More by Lunch

Pencible

Virginia

4.18/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: This poured pitch black with a bit of tan head.
S: It smelled like lots of coffee, with a little cream and vanilla.
T: It tasted like strong coffee, with a bit of dark chocolate and cream and sugary vanilla. It had a lasting bitter aftertaste.
M: It was watery with a little carbonation. A bit too light.
D: This was up there with Peche Mortel and Brunch Weasel for super strong coffee beers. Very nice scent and taste, but the body was sort of weak. Easy enough to drink anyway, as long as you like coffee. Nice beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-13-2011 20:10:20 | More by Pencible

mactrail

California

3.53/5  rDev -14.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Cold coffee in your cup.

Very attractive brownish foam on chestnut colored beer. Modestly fragrant with coffee. Medium body. I keep thinking of Hostess cream-filled chocolate cupcakes. Coffee flavor is main thing, much like Kahlua liqueur. Just a touch of black patent malt sourness. Some sweetness. Vanilla malt on the lips. Hops not very strong.

Tastes stronger than it apparently is. Flavor gets tiresome after a few swallows, but it's certainly one of the better coffee flavors.

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2011 23:49:38 | More by mactrail

ncfranklin

Alabama

4.13/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22oz bomber into a tulip.

A: Impenetrably black. Even holding this to the light, this rejects all temptation to give a hint of color. Small half finger tan head recedes quickly.

S: Big coffee dominates. Some chocolate to the nose as well, with toasty malt.

T: Not as powerful on the coffee as the nose would suggest. Lots of chocolate and toasted malt pour through. Sweet mostly, till a nice coffee layer comes in on the finish.

M: Very smooth till swallow where a light dryness comes in with the coffee flavor. Quite nice combination.

D: A very abundantly flavorful stout at such a small ABV%. Finishing the bomber was not a problem. Really enjoyed this stout, though at $9 for the 22oz it is not something I'd get often.

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2011 14:44:49 | More by ncfranklin