Tsunami Stout - Pelican Pub & Brewery

homebrew311

Illinois

4.1/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: pitch black, minimal brown head with small amount of retention

S: roasty charcoal character along with bitter hops, bitter chocolate present, deep tobacco quality

T: taste is dry and bitter, lots of earth character along with chocolate, ash, coffee and roast, lots of flavor

Mf: medium body, high carbonation

O: tasty stout, lots of character, plenty of roast and ash

Serving type: bottle

06-10-2012 00:44:03 | More by homebrew311

Florida9

Illinois

3.9/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Dark dark brown. Almost black. Forms a thin dark tan head that sticks around. Some light lacing. Aroma is roasted malts and coffee with a metallic note to it. Flavor is heavily roasted malts, dark coffee, chat, and some brighter hops on the finish. Heavy medium body with appropriate carbonation and a moderate hoppy bitterness. A decent beer: fairly aggressively roasted and hopped for the style, but it works.

Serving type: bottle

06-10-2012 00:40:46 | More by Florida9

AwYeh

California

4.13/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

22oz bottle with "1" on the top (maybe indicating 2011?) poured into oversized wine glass.

A: Half an inch of tan, thick, creamy head, which is pretty uneven around the glass– thicker in some places than in others. Lots of lacing with big bubbles in it, great looking all around.

S: A rich chocolaty smell really dominates things at the beginning, and is quickly joined by the aroma of toasty, roasted malts– there's just a hint of a burnt character to them. Complementary coffee, smoke, and earthy (maybe even slightly piny) hops add depth.

T: Big, roasty, bitter flavor controls things here, accented nicely by the chocolate which has elements of both dark chocolate and cocoa. Coffee, vanilla, licorice, and a subtle, earthy hop bitterness all supplemental.

M: Crisp body; lighter than I expected considering the ABV but contributes to a lasting, dry finish that really brings some of the bitter flavors of the beer through. Smooth and moderately carbonated.

O: My glass went down pretty quickly, and considering that I don't have easy access to this beer wish that hadn't been the case. Will have to resist the urge to buy this at the expense of other, brand new beers next time I have the chance to pick some up.

Serving type: bottle

06-03-2012 08:58:26 | More by AwYeh

draheim

Washington

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

22oz w/ "10" handwritten on cap, I think October 2011. Into a snifter. Pours a nice deep black w/ a thick crackly mocha head that settles pretty quickly to a thin film.

Aroma is dark, bitter roasted malt and rich chocolate. Some dark fruits too.

Taste is highly bitter and roasty, but somehow also dry and drinkable.

Mouthfeel is smooth and dry. Vanishes off the palate, leaving just a slight bitter aftertaste.

Overall a really solid, if not especially complex, stout from Pelican. Closest I think I've come to a "session stout."

Serving type: bottle

06-03-2012 05:05:23 | More by draheim

Takahiro

Oregon

4.08/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Written "10" on the cap

A: Pitch black, with a thick tanned foam that stays fluffy for a long time. very nice.

S: very faint whiff of roasted coffee, caremel,

T: mix of roasty malt, some prune, some tartness. It finishes with a lingering coffee-like flavor. slight alcohol warmth after several sips.

M: not too viscous, but oily enough. feels very light when 7% alcohol is considered.

O: very impressive stout. I consider this a sipper.

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2012 03:09:27 | More by Takahiro

dirtylou

Washington

3.75/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

22oz bomber

used as the base for a pot of penn cove mussels, paired remainder with the dish

appearance: served in great taste taster chalice, deep ebony body - light garnet hue, thin creamy mocha cap

smell: deep rich aroma - charred malts, espresso, chocolate, smoke, sugars.

taste: The mussels turned out great, but the stout was a bit dry and bitter for my taste. espresso, char and smoke, heavy roasted malts, bitter bakers chocolate

mouthfeel: bitter from the roast, dry

overall: to-style, but not a style I'm too crazy about

Serving type: bottle

01-04-2012 21:31:47 | More by dirtylou

Phelps

Arizona

3.95/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Shared by ottovon and whiterascal, poured into a Russian River glass.

Ebony as a piano key, but kind of thin-looking. Any color besides black only emerges when the glass is right next to a light bulb. Above, one finger of fuzzy, cinnamon-colored head becomes a wispy ring. Below, some yeast chunks settle at the bottom of the glass.

Chocolatey nose, full of tangy dark and crumbly cocoa nibs. Bitter coffee and some earthy hops are also noticeable.

Very earthy flavor. I get touches of toasted sourdough, cocoa nibs, chocolate syrup and light roast coffee. Deeper down, I find hints of raisin and other dark fruits. Altogether it’s very roasty/bitter, though some sweetness rolls in at the swallow. A smooth blend of flavors with lingering cocoa bitterness.

The thinness perceived in the flavor is apparent in the mouthfeel — the body’s a thin, soft medium-light. Gentle, tingly carbonation fizzes the brew softly. Feels silky and light on the palate. Touches of heat in the nose and numbness in the tongue.

Tsunami Stout isn’t a giant wave of flavor, but rather a smooth, rolling tide delivering good amounts of fruit and a lot of chocolate, both of which I like. It may be a bit thin, but it’s a quality foreign export.

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2011 22:02:44 | More by Phelps

oberon

North Carolina

3.73/5  rDev -8.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours jet black with a deep mocha colored quick to fade head,even when held to the light nothing gets thru this body.Coffee roast and molasses mainly in then nose,a bit of rawness to it.Not as creamy and full as the label suggests,its not thin or fizzy but not quite what I expected.Earthy and roasted flavors with mild molasses-like sweetness,it's a litle raw in the finish with some woody tomes.Its pretty good but not great,the sweetness creeps up more as I drink more.

Serving type: bottle

12-25-2011 20:55:17 | More by oberon

mikesgroove

South Carolina

4.03/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

thick black with you nice nitro layering of the creamy caramel colored head. Lots of settling carbonation and great head retention made this one a keeper from the start. Smell was nice, caramel sugars, hints of roasted chocolate and a nice nutty presence filtered through. Very well rounded and fresh scent. The taste was right on board. Very creamy, and full flavored. Very nice smooth feel going down, awesome. Even better as it warmed! Main flavors were choclate and a nice caramel sweetness

Serving type: bottle

12-15-2011 02:53:12 | More by mikesgroove

sweemzander

Illinois

4.05/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

22oz. bottle poured into a nonic. Got this awhile ago from hopsbreath, but just never got around to it. Thanks again Jason!

(A)- Pours a fairly pitch black color. Produced a nice sized cap of brown froth. Good retention and plenty of lace.

(S)- A rich profile indeed! Deep roasted malts. A "beefy" bread/yeast profile. Lots of raisin and molasses. A bit chocolatey as well.

(T)- Same as the smell was pretty much. A deep yet smooth roasted profile with thick bread notes. Some raisin, molasses, and cocoa. Well done and balanced.

(M)- A good carbonation level and a great balance to it as well. Thick; almost chewy, but with a smooth and rich roasted malt and dark fruit with cocoa feel.

(D)- This is a solid stout. Smells and tastes great with a classic profile. Easy to enjoy without being too sweet or thick. Well done Pelican.

Serving type: bottle

11-26-2011 18:06:02 | More by sweemzander

NWer

Washington

4.03/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured dark into tulip. Dark brown head. Nice lace. Foamy creamy retention. Thin layer of foam throughout.
Milky burnt roast chocolate notes.
Decent Stout but not an earth shaker.
It's a stout. It's decent. I would gladly drink one again if offered to me but I won't go out of my way to seek it out.

Serving type: bottle

11-20-2011 21:51:52 | More by NWer

grittybrews

Washington

4.13/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured black with two fingers of dark mocha head. Roasty aroma with dark cocoa, coffee, and a hint of smoke.

Moderate carbonation and a creamy, somewhat light mouthfeel. Roasty espresso and dark chocolate up front are nicely balanced by some caramel sweetness and hints of vanilla. Bitter roast and traces of hoppy bite on the lingering finish.

Drinks lighter than the ABV and initial roastiness would indicate -- a very nice stout.

Serving type: bottle

11-04-2011 03:33:13 | More by grittybrews

julian

Washington

3.9/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Dark brown, near black with a cap of dirty beige head.

S: Smells sweet, notes of toffee, mild dry chocolate. alcohol.

T&M: On the backend a little roasty with chocolate, fairly high carbonation, some dark chocolate and alcohol in the finish and clean bitterness throughout, perhaps slightly higher bittering than is desirable for the style and flavor presented.

O: Not bad, slightly sweeter and thinner body for the style than expected, but good aroma and taste that follows.

Serving type: bottle

10-31-2011 02:57:02 | More by julian

dpnyby

California

4.28/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 22 oz bomber with a 1/2 inch tan head.

A great nose that is full of malty sweetness and toffee flavors.

As others have mentioned, the taste is somewhat betrayed by the nose. There is not quite as much sweetness in this stout as the nose implies. However, the taste is well-balanced with a big malt flavor and subtle hints of smoke and dark chocolate. The finish is bitter, but once again, balanced enough to create a very pleasing overall experience. This is a well-crafted stout that I will definitely drink again.

Serving type: bottle

09-25-2011 03:18:58 | More by dpnyby

theghost3

Louisiana

4.05/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours black with a 2-finger khaki head, which dissolves into a thin film that remains throughout. Moderate layered lacing.

The smell is sweet cocoa & caramel malts with a little vanilla. The taste is toasty malts, dark chocolate and bread; not sweet like the scent would imply. There is also a slight hoppiness that adds to the bitterness of the toasty malt flavors. Mouthfeel is medium to full-bodied with some crisp carbonation.

This is a drinkable export stout. I would like a bit more chocolate but the smell and taste of this will all of the roasted malts is dead on for the style.

Serving type: bottle

09-19-2011 02:06:30 | More by theghost3

Kegatron

Pennsylvania

4.33/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On tap @ the Pelican Pub & Brewery (Pacific City, OR) on 8/30/11. Served in a pint glass.

Pours black, with a ½ finger of mocha colored head. This maintains some rich edges, along with near ½ finger flare-up that throws up a foamy cascade of lacing which hangs in sticky swathes down the sides of the glass. Chocolate and dark roast control the aroma, which melds nicely with some underlying earthy green hops. The sweetness here and smokiness from the roast are giving off a bit of an acrid twang in the nose at times.

Things get switched up a bit in the taste, with a tight feeling green bitterness that unfurls into bittersweet chocolate character. A flush of dark grains comes out across the back, while the hops hang in there, lingering a bit in the finish along with a mostly dry roasted feel. The mouthfeel is medium bodied, maybe a touch fuller; with a pretty lively and sharp feeling carbonation that luckily doesn’t overstay its welcome. This fills up the mouth nicely upon each sip, with any alcohol presence for that 7% merely intensifying the already robust roasted character here.

Man, this was really great Stout, full flavored as heck, and just drenching the mouth with a well balanced mix of sweetness and bitter flavors. I just love when a beer that you didn’t have many expectations for just blindsides you with its sheer goodness the way this one did. The Pelican has a real winner here with this one.

Serving type: on-tap

09-16-2011 17:13:57 | More by Kegatron

muskabeatz

Indiana

3.75/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

I can't for the life of me remember who this was an extra from. Whoever it was, I thank you for this bottle and I'm excited to try it!

Poured from a bomber into my trusty Portsmouth tulip.

A- Just about as black as they come with a nice light-brown head that inflates to about two fingers high. Eventually dissipates, leaving a thin, sudsy layer of khaki foam.

S- Bitter chocolate, a bit smokey, black malt, milk chocolate, a hair of roastiness, and a twinge of alcohol on the back end. Not really a fan of the smokiness in the nose, and the overall aroma is slightly muted.

T- Fair improvement over the nose. Much more chocolate comes through, with a bit of roasted malt and coffee grounds. Pretty big flavor. I'm not the biggest fan of beers that are so heavy on the chocolate flavor, but it's still pretty good.

M- Very lively carbonation, which sort of masks the fact that the beer is just a little on the thin side. Flavors linger for a long time on the palate.

O- Overall, a pretty good offering from Pelican. Not my favorite thing in the world, but I would definitely drink it again.

Serving type: bottle

09-06-2011 01:52:09 | More by muskabeatz

Beerenauslese

California

4.03/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Body is jet black. Poured to a half inch of tan foamy head, about average retention, leaves some spotty lacing on the glass.

Smells of toasted bready malt, chocolate and coffee.

Tastes of charred malt, chocolate and coffee, with a light hop bitterness in the finish.

Body is light and the carbonation is smooth, giving this a lightly creamy mouthfeel.

A pretty good light stout. Lacks the tartness and depth that more higher gravity stouts possess.

Serving type: bottle

08-23-2011 04:51:34 | More by Beerenauslese

GodOfBeer

Ontario (Canada)

4.28/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a nice black with an exceptionally thick brown head. Very frothy, lots of lacing, wonderful looking beer!

Smells of rich chocolate, coffee, caramel, vanilla beans and milk chocolate!

Tastes like it smells, absolutely wonderful! Lots of smooth chocolate and coffee here.

Very smooth and creamy mouthfeel, indescribably drinkable and irresistible. This is like Guinness Foreign Extra on steroids, one of the best stouts I've ever had!! I need to get more of this.

Serving type: bottle

08-08-2011 00:44:18 | More by GodOfBeer

Cyberkedi

Georgia

4.03/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Aroma is strong and oily with tones of coffee and unsweet chocolate and an overtone of molasses. It pours a deep, warm sable with a thick chocolaty brown head - would have gotten a perfect score in this department if the head had been a little more persistent. Flavor is smoky and sweet, tones of quality coffee, molasses and licorice with a touch of chocolate. Texture is smooth and fizzy, a teensy thin for a stout but still good.

Serving type: bottle

07-14-2011 01:23:35 | More by Cyberkedi

Rutager

British Columbia (Canada)

4.13/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance. Pours a deep brown, almost black with a thin light brown head that leaves a little lace.

Smell. Not strong on smell but some roasty coffee and toasty grains with a hint of citrus.

Taste. Roasty grains and molasses. Some chocolate a and a little bitter hops in the middle with roasty coffee in the end.

Mouthfeel. A little heavier than medium body with medium-low carbonation. Some warm alcohol.

Overall. Big roasty stout. Good stuff.

Serving type: bottle

06-12-2011 01:53:30 | More by Rutager

billab914

Virginia

4.05/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 22oz bottle into my Three Floyd's glass. It poured black in color with a nice sized, tan colored head to it.

The aroma shows a good amount of milk chocolaty, cocoa like flavors to it. I get a moderate roasty, bitter, coffee flavor out of it as well, but the chocolate is the stronger of the flavors.

The taste also mixes the milk chocolaty, cocoa flavors with some roasty, bitter, slightly burnt flavors. I get some vanilla and dark chocolate coming out towards the finish. It's very flavorful and also pretty balanced between the sweet and roasty which was nice.

The mouthfeel is about average for the style and carbonation is moderate to maybe a little above average. Overall it was a very flavorful, easy drinking and relatively balanced beer for the style. A very enjoyable stout to start out the night with and an excellent version of the style.

Serving type: bottle

06-04-2011 00:09:09 | More by billab914

johnmichaelsen

Oregon

4.43/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On tap at the brewpub today.

Tsunami stout pours a blackish brown color with good head retention and lacing. The nose is very attactive, showing considerable licorice, but then with an impressive amount of dark chocolate, vanilla and light coffee as well. The flavor profile replicates the nose, but the licorise isn't as prominent, and I'm impressed by the excellent balance in this moderately sweet beer. Also, there's just enough underlying hoppy bitterness to counter the licorice and vanilla, which dries this beer out on the finish, and really enhances this beer's drinkability. Mouthfeel is pretty full, with a long, vanilla and licorice, light bitter finish.

Really, this is just an excellent beer from Pelican brewing.

Serving type: on-tap

05-02-2011 02:36:49 | More by johnmichaelsen

stoutfiend27

North Carolina

4.25/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

another bomber in the surprise box from james...thanks again ...into the snifter..

a-black no doubt about it...no highlights just pitch black...small off white cap....ample bubbles..

s-a little muted for me but there is some caramel and roasted grains...no hops detectable..a little coffee on the nose..

t-rich dark chocolate up front followed by some caramel and coffee...the toffee really doesnt make an appearance...the hops are in the taste as apposed to the nose and hold this thing together..finishes on a bitter note from the hops id be curious to know the variety as they mesh well with the grain bill

m-just right for this stout..not to thick or thin...its slick and coats the mouth well...the carbonation is perfect...its dry and bitter and lingers

o-a very solid example of a foreign stout and a great beer...ill try to squeeze some more of this from my good friend who sent this my way...thanks again for everything

Serving type: bottle

04-26-2011 00:10:03 | More by stoutfiend27

vkv822

Oregon

4.05/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

32oz growler into goblet.

A - Dark brown, almost black with a bubbly tan head that leaves a thing ring around the edge and a light swirl across the top.

S - Roasty malts and baker's cocoa predominately.

T - More lightly roasted malts and a pleasant bready, cocoa backing.

M - Full bodied with subtle carbonation that fits very well with the taste and body.

D - Very easy drinking and enjoyable. May not go out of my way to try again, but wouldn't mind a couple pints on tap sometime.

Serving type: growler

02-24-2011 04:27:02 | More by vkv822