Teddy Bear Kisses - Upland Brewing Company

mikesgroove

South Carolina

3.9/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

dark chocolate hints were very noticeable from the very beginning. A touch of hops on the back end, and the ever present ABV smell came through after it started to warm.
dark chocolate flavor, very pronounced and noticeable. As it mellowed lots of roasted coffee and some notes of cookie dough and even a touch of vanilla were becoming noticeable. Very sweet and sugary on the palate, with a very present abv warming thoughout. It was not a light brew by any means. A very full flavor and feeling coming off of this one. Reminded me of some of thee other breakfast stouts I have had in the past.

Serving type: bottle

06-16-2011 02:07:51 | More by mikesgroove

womencantsail

California

2.3/5  rDev -35.2%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

Thanks to Mark for this one.

A: The pour is primarily a dark brown color with some reddish notes when held to the light. A sizable tan head with very nice retention.

S: The nose starts off with roasted malts, bitter chocolate, and acrid coffee. A bit of a burnt thing going on here as well as some smoke.

T: A weird spicy, smokey flavor to begin. This is followed up by lots of intense roasted malt flavor, bitter, burnt sugar, ash, and alcohol. Delicious.

M: The body is medium and the carbonation is a bit on the high side.

D: This beer was just too burnt and bitter. Really not something I would look forward to having again.

Serving type: bottle

11-30-2010 05:45:28 | More by womencantsail

Thorpe429

Illinois

3.45/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Thanks to Azurelimits for sharing this bottle. Served in a tulip.

Pours black with a single-finger tan head. This quickly recedes into a thin collar around the edges, though no lacing remains on the glass. The nose brings quite a bit of dark chocolate as well as some roast. A bit of a creamy, milky character in the nose as well. The taste brings some more chocolate and a lot of roast. The feel is quite dry with a roasted finish. It's also a bit harsh with some bitter astringencies there a well. Oddly, this actually gets less appealing as it warms and I didn't particularly wish to finish my pour.

Serving type: bottle

12-20-2010 00:20:19 | More by Thorpe429

BEERchitect

Kentucky

4/5  rDev +12.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A tremendously characterful and balance Russian Imperial Stout with a softer/sweeter body that allows for way too much ease in drinkability.

Very dark brown, maybe opaque black, the beer carries a dense and viscous appearance. From the sheet of barley-stained foam to the swirl of legging on the glass, the beer promises powerful flavor and succulent textures.

Boastful elements of espresso, bittersweet cocoa, molasass, licorice, charred berries, cherries, and raisons all weigh in in intermitten waves and give new aromas and flavors as the beer warms. Very creamy and full with the initial sips, but the beer transitions nicely into a a velvety smooth finish, leaving only a mild abrastion of alcoholic head and roasty bitterness for which to account. A deep and long linger of burnt caramel, coffee, and cocoa outlast the other flavors for a simplified and rewarding aftertaste.

Teddy Bear Kisses is among my new favorites, with the complexity and flavor that remind me of Dark Lord but with a smooth mouthfeel nearing Samuel Smith's Imperial Stout.

Serving type: on-tap

11-27-2010 23:25:54 | More by BEERchitect

TMoney2591

Illinois

3.68/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Served in a Half Acre shaker pint glass.

Thanks to cptnspeed1 for this bottle!

I hate Virgin Mobile commercials. just sayin'. This creepy thing pours a nice onyx topped by a finger of light tan foam. The nose comprises cocoa, black cherries, soil, greens, and dark roasted malts. The taste follows a similar route, adding some astringently bitter coffee and what seems like a bunch of earthy hops. The richness that was hinted at in the smell is drowned out by this bitter, almost grassy character. The body is a hefty medium, with a light carbonation and a semi-chewy feel. Overall, what could have been a great stout is ruined by the astringency. Beyond that, though, this thing is pretty nice. If only...

Serving type: bottle

11-21-2010 02:34:07 | More by TMoney2591

zeff80

Missouri

4/5  rDev +12.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Poured out an opaque, jet-black color with a one-finger, tan head of foam. It had good head retention and left some sudsy trails of lace.

S - It smelled of chocolate and mild coffee notes. Some toffee and caramel, too.

T - It tasted of chocolate, coffee and burnt molasses. Carmal and toffee flavors are faint.

M - It was crisp, sharp and smooth. A medium to full bodied ale with a dry finish.

D - This is a good RIS. The coffee flavors are not as strong as I hoped.

Serving type: bottle

02-01-2011 16:04:09 | More by zeff80

metter98

New York

3.65/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

A: The beer is jet black in color. It poured with a thin beige head that quickly died down, leaving lacing on the surface along with a thin collar around the edge of the glass.
S: Light to moderate aromas or roasted malts and cocoa nibs are present in the nose.
T: The taste has flavors of dark roasted malts along with a moderate amount of bitterness plus notes of cocoa nibs. The bitterness lingers through the finish.
M: It feels medium- to full-bodied on the palate and has a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: This beer definitely tastes like a Russian Imperial Stout with the roastiness and bitterness with some added complexity from the cocoa nibs. The alcohol is rather well masked from the taste.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2013 03:38:49 | More by metter98

MasterSki

Illinois

3.43/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to eyeenjoybeer for this extra. Served in an Alvinne snifter - pretty sure this is the 2011 release.

A - Gorgeous beer. Late-rising but voluminous dark tan foam that settles to a thin cap, leaving behind glass-coating lacing. My only complaint is the body fails to hit midnight on the shade of blacks, instead running a very dark brown.

S - The cocoa nibs dominate the aroma, imparting flavors of melted chocolate and fudge. There's a light caramel note, as well as some deeply roasted malts. I also get a hint of anise, and that 'green' character that I occasionally get from cocoa nibs. As the beer warms up there's a faint hint of alcohol, but nothing unexpected or excessive.

T - The taste is a little less convincing. There's some semi-sweet cocoa powder, a touch of char, stale coffee, and a chalky sort of flavor going on. The roasty bitterness of the finish is formidable but thankfully keeps from getting out of hand. Not bad, just kind of uninteresting.

M - Medium-high carbonation for an RIS, slightly thin medium body, smooth texture, and negligible alcohol presence. Not bad, but more appropriate for a 7% export stout.

D - A competent but somewhat unrewarding RIS. This batch doesn't seem to suffer from some of the burnt and acrid qualities described by other reviewers, but it could use a little sweetness (or roast, or anything, really) in the flavor. Goes down very easily, but mostly because it lacks the heft and intensity a good RIS needs to be successful.

Serving type: bottle

12-17-2011 17:07:28 | More by MasterSki

emerge077

Illinois

4.08/5  rDev +14.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Working on a bomber, served up in a Duvel tulip. Sheets of lacing coat the glass, no point even trying to look through. Black obsidian.

Sweet milk chocolate, cocoa, and mild roasty char in the nose. Gets a little bit leathery at room temperature.

Roasty char hits first and resonates with an undercurrent of herbal hoppiness. Espresso and dark bitter chocolate with high cacao content. Some honey notes in the aftertaste, but the sweetness isn't overpowering. Balanced sweet, bitter, and roasty elements. Lip smacking, sticky finish. Full bodied thickness, beefed up with a ton of malt and possibly lactose. Rich and fudgy. Perfect sipper released just in time for winter...

Serving type: bottle

11-28-2010 04:31:07 | More by emerge077

HopHead84

California

3.48/5  rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

11/6/2010

Bottle opened by Stawn at Stone at the Firestone Walker 14 release party during San Diego Beer Week. Thanks, Chris!

A: Deep brown, near black, creamy dark brown head.

S: Lightly roasted malt, chocolate, blackstrap molasses, and a touch of coffee.

T: Moderately bitter with an upper moderate roasted malt profile. Dark chocolate is evident, with a touch of coffee. Lightly astringent. Lots of blackstrap molasses.

M: Full bodied with a creamy, sticky mouthfeel.

Overall: Tasty, though nothing stands out.

Serving type: bottle

11-07-2010 16:37:12 | More by HopHead84

stakem

Pennsylvania

3.68/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to TheCPJ for sharing. Bomber into a snifter, the brew appears a dark brown cokor. A brownish stained head sits atop with decent retention. Some reddish hints of coloring are noted around the edges. Fingers of stringy lacing stick to the glass.

The aroma is roasted with suggestions of coffee along with dark and fruity alcohol. All the while cocoa quality emerges throughout. Not a bad smelling brew, I find no fault in it, just prefer my stouts to have more roasty impact instead of fruity tones.

The taste includes quite a bitterness that seemingly comes from a combination of hops and roasted grain that imparts flavors of coffee. Some earthen tones come out towards the back with hints if chocolate and a bit booze.

This is a medium bodied brew with a modest amount of carbonation. It is quite bitter from a combo of different elements that comes together to form a pretty decent brew. This isnt something I would go out of my way for but i also wouldnt say no to having it again.

Serving type: bottle

12-04-2012 15:54:48 | More by stakem

thagr81us

South Carolina

3.95/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Big thanks goes out to beermeX2 for sharing this one at a recent tasting! Poured a massively dark reddish brown with a one finger khaki colored head that subsided to a minimal amount quickly. Maintained decent lacing throughout the glass. The aroma was comprised of sweet malt, dark fruit, dark chocolate, roasted malt, and alcohol. The flavor was of sweet malt, dark fruit, dark chocolate, alcohol, and roasted malt. It had a medium feel on the palate with mild carbonation. Overall this was a fairly good brew. Pretty much every aspect of this one was very solid, but the mouthfeel left a little to be desired. It just felt a little thin, but had a nice carbonation level going on. Definitely worth trying if you are a fan of the style as all of the proper flavors and aromas are there, but you just have to forgive it for the thinner mouthfeel.

Serving type: bottle

02-19-2012 04:53:33 | More by thagr81us

largadeer

California

2.05/5  rDev -42.3%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Thanks, Andrew.

Black with a huge dense head that retains solidly. Smells bland, smoke with some cocoa. Roasty on the palate, borderline burnt. Little cocoa and tar. Medium body, slightly thin. Lot of roast in the finish, pretty astringent with lingering cigar smoke. Not my favorite Upland beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-28-2010 07:50:25 | More by largadeer

jrallen34

Illinois

2.9/5  rDev -18.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Bottle poured into my Darkness glass...A dark brown, just not yet turned black. A nice big creamy mocha head of at least three fingers, good retention and great lacing. Way to start!...The aroma is so strong! Burnt cocoa nibs and alcohol, this is just charred and not good at all...The taste is even worse, charred, burnt destroyed cocoa nibs. Bitter bakers chocolate, so bitter I can't even drink this. As it warms its slightly better, but not much.

This is really bad, big avoid unless you like burnt cocoa.

Serving type: bottle

01-05-2011 02:46:18 | More by jrallen34

BeerFMAndy

Wisconsin

4.5/5  rDev +26.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

22 oz bottle poured into a snifter.
10.2% ABV, Bottled on: O '12 notched on label.

A - Noticeably clear and dark Teddy Bear brown in color though the pour, this stout an inky jet black in the snifter. A fast-forming mocha head piles on the beer but disappears just as quickly, doting the glass in fine points of lace.

S - Thick and rich, this starts fluffy and cuddly with an open smoothness. Cold espresso and mellow cocoa nibs expand the depth of the roasted malt aroma. Suggestions of gentle sangria-soaked raisin and dried prune rise in the background as it warms.

T - The aroma is big and bold but doesn't quite foreshadow just how intensely roasted the malt is. Charred oak, a waft of peat smoke, and bitter, strong espresso come together for an assaulting first few sips. Soothing alcohol sets in and cocoa nibs turned milk chocolate and dark fruit esters follow.

M - Teddy Bear Kisses is creamy and smooth with a voluptuous, full body and chewy feeling that sticks around throughout the duration as roasted bitterness kicks in and adds a very dry, gritty finish. Lingering alcohol warmth encourages some sweetness to emerge for balance which is quite a nice attribute in the colder months.

O - The label poses a contradiction; cute and cuddly name with a dark and ominous image. The beer mirrors said label with a smooth and inviting aroma with deep malt complexity that shifts to an aggressive flavor and feel for an intriguing and complex stout - I enjoy the twist. Upland does a great job at keeping the booziness of bigger stouts at bay while letting their warmth show through; the perfect compliment to a long, cold day.

Serving type: bottle

11-28-2012 01:03:16 | More by BeerFMAndy

FosterJM

California

3.2/5  rDev -9.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

1631st Review on BA
Bottle to Snifter
22oz

2012 Vintage
Thanks to Daysinthewake for the extra

App- A very dark brown pour with a ton of red behind it. A good and deep thick center. A huge two finger khaki/brown head that was very tightly clung. Had a pretty good amount of cling behind. I wouldve thought this was going to pour much darker.

Smell- It was a nice little simple aromatic beer. Wasnt anything too crazy for a stout. A nice combination of standard stout aromas. Started off a bit boozy and melded into a good but malty, dry and ashy chocolate aroma.

Taste- I am still not sure what happened to this thing. I think it might have caught a cold. I dont wanna use the I word. It was like a quad stout thing that was ashy and didnt work for me. Had a bit of a chocolate, prune, flat dry balance. Just off.

Mouth- This was a deception. Had a bit of a light body with a medium carbonation. Was a bit dry and ashy and didnt hold up well with the cocoa nibs. Not sure what happened.

Drink- Just a weird beer. Seems to be off. Probably wont try more.

Serving type: bottle

11-30-2012 00:10:06 | More by FosterJM

bluejacket74

Ohio

4/5  rDev +12.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22 ounce bottle, bottled October 2012. Served in a snifter, the beer pours dark brown/black with about a half inch light tan head. Head retention is OK, and there's a lot of lacing. The brew smells mostly like roasted malt and dark chocolate, along with some coffee and dark fruit. It tastes like roasted malt, dark and milk chocolate, coffee, burnt/charred malt, and some dark fruit. There's a nice lingering sweet chocolately finish. I think it tastes better compared to the aroma, the flavors just seem stronger to me. Mouthfeel/body is medium, it's creamy and coating with a good amount of carbonation. Definitely worth a try, I wouldn't mind picking up a bomber of this again. $7.99 a bottle.

Serving type: bottle

04-13-2013 23:43:38 | More by bluejacket74

blackie

Virginia

3.63/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

a: unibroue tulip, pours a murky brown in color, essentially black, with a nice mocha head showing average retention

s: solid roasted barley nose - lots of dark chocolate notes, roast char, slightly sweet under, some citrus rind hops, more dark cocoa, sweet alcohol after warming

m: lightly carbonated, body rides the line between medium and full

t: big on the barley roast, burnt grain and bittersweet chocolate, smoky coffee notes after the swallow, full citrus pith hop flavor and a full bitterness, a little piney in the finish with very heavy char, decent flavor set but nothing out of the ordinary, fairly unbalanced towards the harsh char

d: drinks well enough for the elevated abv, it's a passable ris if without anything to set it apart from the pack

bottle from dirtylou paired with some basketball (in)action

Serving type: bottle

02-03-2011 03:45:04 | More by blackie

woosterbill

Connecticut

2.88/5  rDev -18.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 2.5

Bomber into a snifter; thanks to Dan for sharing.

A: Midnight black body with a finger of fine light-brown head. Decent reteniton and spotty lace. Nice.

S: Husky roasted malts dominate, with some chocolate, coffee, and lightly smoky notes peeking through the generic bitter roastiness. Meh.

T: Coffee, bittersweet chocolate, some hoppy bitterness, and alcohol. Very bitter, astringent, and just not enjoyable.

M: Medium to full body with rich, mouth-filling carbonation. Excellent.

O: Disappointing. This was my first Upland beer, and I was expecting more. The bitterness and astringency completely outweighed any enjoyable complexity, and it was a chore to finish even a modest pour. There are far too many great imperial stouts out there to spend time on this one.

Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2011 23:26:17 | More by woosterbill

Jwale73

Rhode Island

3.63/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Thanks to jdiddy for sharing. Pours the color and clarity of cola with a rocky, khaki-colored head embedded with bubbles. Nose is roasty and earthy and also expresses a trace of cooca towards the back. Taste expresses a burnt/acrid quality as well as cocoa and roast. Mouthfeel is medium-light, with an even carbonation. A nice traditional RIS. Many current examples of the style tend to be more towards the sweeter side of the spectrum (which is actually more to my preference); however, the burnt/charred character really contributes nicely to the character of this beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-05-2010 00:10:58 | More by Jwale73

brewdlyhooked13

Ohio

3.71/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75

Appearance - no light is getting through this one. A thick creamy head of mocha foam is going nowhere and is very sticky. Excellent retention, a thick wall of lace is around half the glass.

Aroma - dark roasted grain, a touch of soy. Not very expressive, though some chocolate emerges with warmth.

Taste - huge blast of roasted grain, dark, slightly burnt. The swallow is a touch ashy, the hop bitterness is drying to enhance that even more. No sugar to this beer either, a very dry experience all around. A bit metallic early, excellent dark chocolate flavor on the aftertaste and finish. A couple elements taken on a deep dive. Very tasty, wouldn't mind a hint of malt sweetness though.

Mouthfeel - weighty but not as much as I was expecting. Very fluffy, that should tame down if I am patient. A bit thin for an imperial.

Overall - excellent sipper on the last evening of Winter '13. Nice job Upland!

Serving type: bottle

03-20-2013 01:34:08 | More by brewdlyhooked13

DavoleBomb

Ohio

2.55/5  rDev -28.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2

Poured into a snifter. I think this is a 2010, but I am not sure (label torn a bit).

4.0 A: Black color. Two fingers of medium brown, creamy/frothy hybrid head. Retention is pretty good and lots of lacing is left.

3.5 S: Cocoa nibs come through really well and lend a tangy quality to the beer. Moderate roast with notes of coffee, caramel, and peat. The tanginess gives this brew a uniqueness that I haven't really encountered before. I like it. A light booziness, but hidden well overall.

2.0 T: The taste doesn't work as well as the nose. Acrid, charred astringency is too apparent. A certain burntness exists reminiscent of puffing on a fairly cheap cigar or chewing on deeply roasted coffee beans. Caramel and the tanginess of the cocoa nibs manifest in a strange sweet and sour flavor. There isn't enough sweetness to realign the aforementioned flavors to acceptable limits.

3.5 M: Heavier medium body. Good moderate carbonation. Reasonably creamy, but not particularly smooth. Acrid, burnt aftertaste.

2.0 D: This is a pretty rough beer. It seems like they threw a couple too many sacks of roasted barley into this. I would sit on this for a long time with hopes that some of these flavors diminish.

Serving type: bottle

08-19-2011 01:22:04 | More by DavoleBomb

johnnnniee

New Hampshire

3.81/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75

Received in trade from ajzy, thanks for thew opportunity!
Pours a solid dark brown/black color with a decent sized tan head that persists for a while before falling to a cap on top. Smells of roast and chocolate with a solid earthy hop edge and a faint plastic phenol. The flavor is roast and chocolate up front with enough roast and earthy hop flavor to provide more than enough balance. Light bits of dark chocolate and Hershey's syrup mixed with a faint oxidized character round things out. Thick body with a light level of carbonation and a sweet rich chocolate mouthfeel. Nice brew, a couple of minor flaws, I enjoyed it for what is was.

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2013 01:00:00 | More by johnnnniee

Overlord

California

3.48/5  rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to a generous trader!

Pours a dark brownish black. Dark tan foam head that quicky dies down to a persistent crust. Gobs of carbonation on glass.

Let me start with mouthfeel: Too thin. For an RIS, one of the more watery efforts I've had.

I don't know why, maybe the name, but I expected chocolate. There's some in the aroma and flavor, but it ain't earth shattering. Mostly some acrid, roasted malt, a bit of coffee and some roasted chocolate ... maybe a faint burnt cocoa aftertaste. Bit too dry.

Eh. Okay.

Serving type: bottle

11-23-2010 10:03:55 | More by Overlord

Arbitrator

California

1.55/5  rDev -56.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 1

Chilled bottle into a glass. Generously shared by womencantsail. Thanks, Andrew.

A: Pours black with a substantial mocha head. It looks like it might be infected.

S: It's not, at least not in any obvious (to me) manner. No bacteria could produce the unnatural flavors of char, tar, and cigar (hey, that rhymes!).

T: Burnt coffee, burnt cocoa, char (like overdone roast), cigar. These pull into the finish for a really bitter, acrid aftertaste. I see other reviewers mention the words "burnt" and "acrid" a few times, so I'm inclined to think this isn't an off bottle. Just not something tuned to my palate. I found it unpleasant to say the least.

M: Thin-medium body that is especially foamy in the finish.

D: Not the worst imperial stout I've ever had, but there are many better ones, assuming this is a representative bottle.

Serving type: bottle

11-28-2010 20:20:54 | More by Arbitrator