Chocolatl Stout - Upstream Brewing Company - Old Market

falloutsnow

Illinois

2.58/5  rDev -33.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

Had on-tap at Upstream's Downtown Location.
Review from notes.

Served in a wide-top pint glass. Arrives with a 1cm head, very dense, dark tan in color. Fades to leave some lacing along the sides of the glass. Head has descended to mostly a ring with some islands a few minutes into the drink. Body is a very dark brown in color, especially in the darkened lights of the bar.

Aroma is fairly muted, picking up a bit of melted baker's chocolate (to make it aromatic) and slight coffee notes. This is fairly average.

Taste opens with fairly mild cacao bitterness and roasted malt flavors, which are quickly drowned out by the spiciness from the guajillo chilies used. The chilies seem to contribute little roasted flavor, as I'm not picking up anything along those lines. Rather disappointing for the amount of cacao nibs (24 pounds?) used. Aftertaste of fairly indistinct roasted malt and cacao bitterness. In general, this was rather bland aside from the heat caused by the chilies.

As seemingly with most Upstream beers, the body is slightly watery, especially for a stout. Finish is semi-dry.

This is more of a chili beer or chili stout than an "American Stout." The lack of substantial body and the total misapplication of pepper spiciness, which ends up decimating what flavor may be there make this a fairly mediocre beverage. One I will not be seeking out again.

Serving type: on-tap

11-11-2011 22:37:42 | More by falloutsnow

ssjkyle

Nebraska

4.75/5  rDev +21.8%

07-14-2012 22:55:02 | More by ssjkyle

antlerwrestler19

Nebraska

4.38/5  rDev +12.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On cask at Upstream Brewing Co. Downtown location.

Pours pitch black with a thick frothy head that resembles the top of a cappuccino - a cinnamon brown color to the head, leaves a thick coat of froth around the entire glass as I sip. Funny I mention the color of the head being cinnamon colored because the first aroma I pull out is strong cinnamon. Bitter chocolate and spices follow with a hint of sour roatiness - excellent. The taste isn't quite as pungent but it is wonderful - a conglomeration of cinnamon rolls with chocolate drizzled over top, spices as well. The mouthfeel is smooth like chocolate milk, thick with low carbonation - warming and inviting. This beer is like eating all of my grandma's homemade cookies at the same - simply delicious!

Cheers!

Serving type: cask

09-30-2011 00:57:09 | More by antlerwrestler19