Class V Stout - Kern River Brewing Company

Class V StoutClass V Stout

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BA SCORE
91
exceptional
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302 Ratings
THE BROS
91
exceptional
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rAvg: 4.08
pDev: 10.05%
Reviews: 181
Hads: 121

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Brewed by:
Kern River Brewing Company visit their website
California, United States

Style | ABV
American Double / Imperial Stout |  8.50% ABV

Availability: Year-round. bottle (166), on-tap (8), nitro-tap (6), growler (1)

Notes:
River rapids are rated by a numeral system. Class V is the most difficult level rapid that can be negotiated.

This non-traditional beer is an Oatmeal Stout, Milk Stout and an Imperial Stout all in one. With a complex flavor profile ranging from coffee to chocolate, the sweetness is complemented with Chinook and Cascade hops to produce an extraordinary finish. But at 8.5% ABV, don't let the smooth taste fool you; this beer is like the Kern at high water - "Not for the Timid".
View:  Beers  (18) |  Reviews  (22) |  Events  (0)

Reviews

Sort by:  Latest | High | Low | Top Reviewers | Read the Alström Bros Beer Reviews and Beer Ratings of Class V Stout Alström Bros  | Show Hads:
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Reviews by TheBeerologist:
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TheBeerologist

Rhode Island

4.25/5  rDev +4.2%

05-17-2012 02:20:55 | More by TheBeerologist
More User Reviews:
Photo of Dirksen
Dirksen

California

4.25/5  rDev +4.2%

05-24-2013 19:20:40 | More by Dirksen
Photo of Clem319
Clem319

California

4.5/5  rDev +10.3%

05-06-2013 21:44:35 | More by Clem319
Photo of Kelp
Kelp

New Hampshire

3.75/5  rDev -8.1%

05-02-2013 06:31:42 | More by Kelp
Photo of jakecattleco
jakecattleco

California

4.25/5  rDev +4.2%

05-02-2013 06:29:02 | More by jakecattleco
Photo of 1424IpA
1424IpA

California

4.25/5  rDev +4.2%

05-01-2013 03:58:37 | More by 1424IpA
Photo of nrs207
nrs207

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -8.1%

04-26-2013 00:19:50 | More by nrs207
Photo of iL0VEbeer
iL0VEbeer

New Jersey

4.25/5  rDev +4.2%

04-21-2013 16:12:02 | More by iL0VEbeer
Photo of BGsWo22
BGsWo22

New York

3.25/5  rDev -20.3%

04-21-2013 02:05:39 | More by BGsWo22
Photo of RashyGrillCook
RashyGrillCook

California

4.25/5  rDev +4.2%

04-15-2013 01:28:35 | More by RashyGrillCook
Photo of Yesdog
Yesdog

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +4.2%

04-15-2013 00:52:54 | More by Yesdog
Photo of AlexChillton
AlexChillton

Arizona

4.25/5  rDev +4.2%

04-02-2013 08:58:18 | More by AlexChillton
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heavenlyStash

California

4/5  rDev -2%

03-28-2013 06:02:35 | More by heavenlyStash
Photo of Sparky44
Sparky44

Illinois

4/5  rDev -2%

03-23-2013 21:52:57 | More by Sparky44
Photo of popery
popery

California

4.03/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

From notes, 3/10/11. Pours black with a hint of rosy brown refracting through the base of the glass. The head is a creamy mass of uneven tan bubbles. Lots of lacing. The aroma is black coffee, milk chocolate, roast and herbal/citric hops. The chocolate and coffee notes are dominant, and it reminds me of a good mocha more than anything. It tastes surprisingly sweet, which works nicely with the coffee and chocolate malt flavor. Hop bitterness quickly reins things in, and the finish is all bitter citrus and roast. Mouthfeel is creamier and chewier than I’d normally expect from an 8% abv beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-01-2013 07:04:15 | More by popery
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cfh64

Texas

4/5  rDev -2%

02-23-2013 18:17:50 | More by cfh64
Photo of Alieniloquium
Alieniloquium

Florida

4.01/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

650 mL poured into a snifter. No bottle date.

Appearance - Pours with a nice mocha head. Nice surface foam and a great collar of chunky bubbles.

Smell - It's quite hoppy. Inordinately so. Almost green smelling. Oatmeal and chocolate behind it.

Taste - Really chocolatey. Still hoppy but much more balanced. Oatmeal is strong and gives it a nice body. Slightly bitter finish.

Mouthfeel - Excellent body. Medium carbonation. Bitterness and chocolate balance perfectly.

Overall - I was surprised by how good this was. Oatmeal is perfect and while the hops put off the nose, they make for an excellent stout.

Serving type: bottle

02-20-2013 03:08:40 | More by Alieniloquium
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phingdong

New Hampshire

3.75/5  rDev -8.1%

02-19-2013 22:36:39 | More by phingdong
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BeerAdvocate

Massachusetts

4.05/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

From BeerAdvocate magazine Issue #63 (Apr 2012):

LOOK: Towering tan head, Stout black

SMELL: Brown malt, sweet oats, floral, rose water, blackberries, spicy hops, cocoa powder

TASTE: Intensely creamy, mild coffee, brown sugar, sweetness, warming alcohol, sorghum, burnt raisins, tangy; charred finish

What we have here is a very different Imperial Stout. Highly drinkable and interesting, with a tangy dryness that keeps you coming back for more. Love the balance and the depth that opens up after each sip.

Serving type: bottle

02-14-2013 00:37:41 | More by BeerAdvocate
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Philousa

California

3.19/5  rDev -21.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 1.75 | overall: 3.25

Imbibed at Gourmet Haus for Kern River tap takeover, 2/11/13.

Pour an inky black with two fingers khaki colored head clinging to the pilsner glass it was served in. This settles quickly, but carbonation is considerable for a double stout, as a quick swirl will show. The aroma is mostly bakery's chocolate and dark malts, making me think of a dark bread such as pumpernickel. The taste is dominated by the dark malts, bringing to mind bakers chocolate and dark roasted coffee. There is some bitterness, but its mild and fleeting. The finish is very dry, to the point o being chalky when coupled with the aforementioned chocolate. Feel is slightly watery for the style. I really like lots of aspects about this beer, but the chalkiness really gets to me by the end of the glass.

Serving type: on-tap

02-12-2013 17:51:01 | More by Philousa
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BarryMaKociner

California

4.75/5  rDev +16.4%

02-11-2013 18:01:40 | More by BarryMaKociner
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RedneckBeerz

North Carolina

4/5  rDev -2%

01-30-2013 13:59:47 | More by RedneckBeerz
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SeaOfShells

California

4.5/5  rDev +10.3%

01-17-2013 22:10:26 | More by SeaOfShells
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n2185

North Carolina

4.49/5  rDev +10%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

A: 0ours a dark brown with reddish highlights and two fingers of creamy head that fades into a dense cap with good lacing.

S: roasted malts with lots of creamy chocolate and coffee. Simple, but nice.

T: roasted malts here as well with semi-sweet chocolate and bold coffee. Slightly charred and bitter finish.

M: medium-thicky body with super creamy carbonation, this beer is deceptively light and creamy.

O: a delicious stout overall. Simple, but very enjoyable.

Serving type: nitro-tap

01-17-2013 03:32:43 | More by n2185
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spycow

Illinois

4/5  rDev -2%

01-12-2013 06:34:54 | More by spycow
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Class V Stout from Kern River Brewing Company
91 out of 100 based on 302 user ratings.