4 Pines Dry Stout - 4 Pines Brewing Company

ColSanders123

Georgia

4/5  rDev +3.4%

02-11-2013 20:14:25 | More by ColSanders123

rjimlad

Australia

4.2/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

Poured a very deep black chocolate colour with deep tan head. Aroma is chocolate/cocoa. Flavour is the same but intense dark chocolate with a roast beef late palate. Bitterness is perfect and mouthfeel is lip-smacking without cloying. I would like it better with slightly finer, creamier carbonation but as it is it is a very good beer. Will certainly have again. And again.

Serving type: bottle

05-14-2013 08:09:08 | More by rjimlad

sirob

Australia

1.75/5  rDev -54.8%

05-02-2013 08:11:28 | More by sirob

lacqueredmouse

Australia

4.1/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

So, I'm sure I've had this on-tap before (indeed Untappd tells me as much), but I'm not sure I've ever had it from the bottle. So here we go. This particular bottle is a 330ml number, emblazoned with the "Certified Space Beer" pap, purchased from Dan Murphy's in Alexandria.

Pours very pleasantly, a deep dark black-brown, with a smooth, slightly frothy head of pale chocolate. Carbonation is very fine, forming in sheets when the glass is tilted. Som speckled lacing, but not a great deal. Body is firm, but relatively lightweight. Looks pretty good all up.

Nose is very pleasant. Light dusty chocolate, with a slight roast kicker. Some smooth milky flavours as well. There's a hint of something perhaps a little savoury as well: some toasted, buttered dark bread perhaps. It all integrates nicely, making a very pleasant, very consistent whole.

Taste is also very nicely integrated and well balanced. Smooth entry, with some of those mild milk and chocolate characters, before a noticeable but tempered roast character gives some bite to the mid palate. Some lingering cacao overtones towards the back give a bittersweet finish. Feel is smooth throughout, really lingering on the back to give a stronger sensation of depth and breadth to the palate. It's really excellent in a beer only slightly over 5% ABV.

Really smooth and drinkable. Have I actually had this before? I don't remember it being so good. This is really nice, smooth, clean and balanced, with enough flavour to keep it exciting. I would love to drink this more regularly.

Serving type: bottle

03-02-2013 07:49:48 | More by lacqueredmouse

staticmaneuver

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +3.4%

02-24-2013 21:56:29 | More by staticmaneuver

MenInVen

Australia

3.75/5  rDev -3.1%

01-26-2013 10:31:44 | More by MenInVen

liamt07

Ontario (Canada)

3.78/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Bottle shared by Jason, 12oz into a tulip.

Black body with a tan head, leaving some whisps of retention. Nose has smoke, roast, sweet chocolate and a bunch of coffee. Taste is roasty again, gentle smoke, bitter chocolate. Medium body and some light roasty tartness. A nice flavourful dry stout, one of the best Austrailian beers I;ve come across.

Serving type: bottle

11-23-2012 19:23:45 | More by liamt07

pin

Australia

4/5  rDev +3.4%

08-15-2012 02:57:22 | More by pin

braican

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev +16.3%

08-03-2012 18:40:17 | More by braican

DavoleBomb

Ohio

3.28/5  rDev -15.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a pint glass. Big thanks to SteveFinny for this.

3.5 A: First pour yielded 90% head. After several additional pours, I got a full glass. Black color. Big foamy, light brown head. Retention is too good and lots of lacing is left.

3.5 S: I don't think this is a coffee stout, but it sure as hell smells like it is. Tons of coffee, dry roasitness afterward, and a bit of cocoa powder.

3.0 T: Coffee dominates the taste as well. Dry roastiness to follow. That's about all there is. It's not bad, but could use a bit of sweetness to balance.

3.5 M: Lighter body. A bit too much carbonation, but not that bad. Not too creamy, but not bad.

3.5 D: Decent beer, but I'd prefer a bit of sweetness.

Serving type: bottle

07-19-2012 21:41:02 | More by DavoleBomb

doktorhops

Australia

3.18/5  rDev -17.8%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

We have lift-off! 4 Pines, cheeky bastards they are, have created the worlds first space beer (aka an ale produced to be quaffed whilst sitting in a $100k seat on a Virgin Galactic space-plane in the outer stratosphere; duh!). "Worlds first space beer" withstanding it has some big boots to fill being a Stout ale amongst such (pardon the pun) stout competition the likes of which Cooper's, Guinness, Harviestoun's, Sheaf, et al, all stand so proud tall, black and delicious. Question is: is it as good as the rest or just another pale imitator [OK pun quota for this review has now been met].

Poured from a 330ml bottle into a nonic pint. My glass looks half full.

A: Not much fanfare here; it's a typical poured stout - obsidian body with a tan 1cm head. The head thins out to almost nothing.

S: It has a lighter-than-most-Stout's aroma of dark chocolate, chicory and wet coffee grounds. There is also a sweet toasted biscuit base in there as well. Overall quite a pleasing smell, not too pungent like some other Stout's, but likewise alarmingly light... let's hope the flavour isn't diminished.

T: Yep: boring Stout. There's not a great deal going on in the flavour department... maybe our taste-buds get excited and space and they're brewing to take this into account, otherwise the flavour is mundane at best. It has the usual Stout suspects; heavy toasted malt base with chicory and bitter dark chocolate and a dry none-too-bitter finish, but it's like a 5 in intensity when an 8 to 10 is what I'm looking for.

M: Light carbonation with a medium body.

D: Verdict: hide some Duvel in your carry-on. Hell if you can afford a $100k space flight you can doubtless afford Duvel, which is an awesome brew... it's not a dark beer but if I was in space I think I would prefer a blonde beer anyway. Other than that I am a little disappointed in this 4 Pines brew, it doesn't even come close to great Stout's like Cooper's or Harviestoun's Old Engine Oil, and it's more pricey... remind me why I'm drinking this 4 Pines.

Food match: Classic Stout fare; rack of roasted meat (any dark meat), side of roasted vegetables and heavy gravy, or a nice warm stew. Dessert: dark chocolate. Follow with a glass of port.

Serving type: bottle

06-20-2012 08:07:51 | More by doktorhops

mungus

Australia

4/5  rDev +3.4%

06-18-2012 00:33:34 | More by mungus

whartontallboy

New York

4/5  rDev +3.4%

05-04-2012 03:39:41 | More by whartontallboy

hopnerd

Australia

4.25/5  rDev +9.8%

04-15-2012 08:09:52 | More by hopnerd

sonorb7

Australia

5/5  rDev +29.2%

03-24-2012 12:28:43 | More by sonorb7

bostonryan

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev +16.3%

03-05-2012 10:13:21 | More by bostonryan

heygeebee

Australia

3.48/5  rDev -10.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

First of style.

Pours a black 'n' tan 1 finger coarse head. Head fades to lace.

Aromas of roasted malts, chocolate. coffee.

Taste is as smell, however, the 'dry' certainly kicks in. Hop bitterness on back palate.

Mouthfeel lacks the creaminess factor than can make or break a a stout. Light.

I was really looking forward to this beer, but it hasn't lived up to expectations, due to dryness / due to style.

Serving type: bottle

02-12-2012 08:28:34 | More by heygeebee

MrKennedy

Australia

3.63/5  rDev -6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bottle thanks to bluebetty. Poured into an Amager tulip.

No light getting through this black coloured brew. Not even around the edges. Has a creamy and pillowy looking head of tan foam that poured to a couple of fingers, before settling above film. No real lacing.

Smells of dark chocolate, creamy chocolate along with licorice. Smells quite nice and it lingers around which is nice.

Tastes of roasted malt early, then turns to chocolate. Plenty of chocolate as it opens up.

Mouthfeel is has a smooth base to it, some prickly carbonation on top and some bite in the finish is most welcome.

I prefer this to the tap version after this first bottle. 4 Pines seems to still serve beer a little too cold, but the chance to drink this at a temperature you choose, helps bring out the nice chocolate aroma in this. Quite a good sessionable stout and one for chocolate lovers. I'm not sure its a true Irish Dry Stout, lacking the consistent roastiness. Still it does what it does well.

Serving type: bottle

02-10-2012 10:38:11 | More by MrKennedy

argon

Australia

4.22/5  rDev +9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Was sent a bottle direct from the brewery for sampling.

Very dark brown almost black with perceptible ruby highlights when held up to the light. Thin light brown head that laced the glass well.

Aroma of pale chocolate and light coffee. Not overly roasty, but some present at low levels. Some pleasant fruity esters of mild dark fruit.

Flavour same as aroma with coffee being more prominent than chocolate. No caramel. Hop bitterness and some roastiness bringing through some earthiness to offset a subtle chocolate sweetness as it warms. Enjoying the complexity in a beer that is only 5.1%

Medium to low carbonation leaving a medium body finish.

Most enjoyable beer of the night. Will be my go to stout from here out. In my opinion head and shoulders above the 1 dimensional and harsh Coopers Stout.

Serving type: bottle

01-10-2012 00:55:33 | More by argon

dansmcd

Australia

3.7/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A - Black with a fizzy brown head with no retention. Fleeting strands of lacing.

S - Dark chocolate, coffee, prunes, raisins, raspberry and other dark fruits.

T - Quite dusty and bitter, dark chocolate, bitter coffee and ash.

M - Very dry thin body with moderate level of carbonation.

O - Solid, fruity, dry stout.

Serving type: bottle

12-13-2011 02:23:05 | More by dansmcd

Raebies

Australia

2.68/5  rDev -30.7%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Dark black appearance. Poured gently into a glass, didn't manage to create much of a head on this one and it's fairly low on fizz. Not much going on in the aroma. Fairly straight forward malty flavour with a slight touch of vanilla and caramel. Medium bodied, easy drinking and quite nice, but not great.

Serving type: bottle

11-23-2011 07:02:45 | More by Raebies

nanobrew

California

4/5  rDev +3.4%

11-14-2011 20:40:44 | More by nanobrew

laituegonflable

Australia

3.9/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Pours a dark mahogany brown with beige, dense head. Settles slowly to a thin film of tiny bubbles, but some gorgeous lace. Pretty pale for a stout, but nice.

Smell is roasty and sweet. Plenty of rich espresso with a hint of licorice bite and some dark but sweet chocolate. Hint of raisin and port wine as well. Quite sweet, but a good roasty balance to it.

Taste is fairly sweet, with some vanilla and coconut-flesh notes early, mixing with roasty grain notes on the mid. Touch of spice with black pepper and cinnamon, then finishes sweet and dark with nice cocoa-rich chocolate and a dry, woody touch at the back. Very pleasant palate.

A bit thin on the body and empty, really. Goes down smooth but hard to notice while it's in the mouth.

Could be darker and I wouldn't be complaining, but it's been a while since I drank such a drinkable, tasty Irish-style stout.

Serving type: on-tap

10-09-2011 01:01:52 | More by laituegonflable

Kulrak

Australia

3.8/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours a deep, thick brown with about 1cm of creamy head that fades away fairly quickly. Smells of coffee and malt, not much in the way of hop aroma. The taste is very sweet with chocolate and coffee notes. There's a lot of bitterness to offset the sweetness, but not so much that it's overpowering. There doesn't seem to be much hop flavor, though. Mouthfeel is very heavy and creamy. Overall, it's a flavorsome beer and even though I'm not a fan of stout, I think it's a tasty beer.

Serving type: bottle

08-13-2011 10:25:48 | More by Kulrak

Macca

Australia

3.6/5  rDev -7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This pours black with a solid beige head that likes to hang around.

On the nose it's fine dark chocolate, light coffee and cola.

On the palate there is a big hit of burnt malt. Quite astringent. Coffee comes through as well. Not as much chocolate as expected.

Medium bodied. Prickly carbonation.

A reasonable stout.

Serving type: bottle

07-21-2011 14:19:00 | More by Macca