Serpent's Stout - The Lost Abbey

jondeelee

Massachusetts

4.4/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Serpent’s Stout opens with a rich, malty aroma that can be smelled from quite a few inches away. Deep and complex, the nose bears coffee, tobacco, ash, milk chocolate, chocolate malt, black malt, and a heavy earthiness, as of fresh loam. Mixed in with these darker notes are a few caramels, brown sugar, molasses, and handfuls of fig, black cherry, and date fruit esters. Smatterings of grapefruit and pine speak of a decent hopping. As a whole, the nose speaks to an excellently crafted stout, the ingredients varied and finely chosen to create a wide-ranging series of aromas. The nose does fade slightly after a time, this being about my only complaint here, but still remains enticing.

On the tongue, the beer is as big and dark as the nose implies, being full of ash, coffee, tobacco, black and chocolate malt. The sugars are more present here, however, bringing in heavy cream, caramel, brown sugar, and molasses. Fig and black cherry fruit esters add complexity, and the malts also contribute a thick brown bread and toast crust effect. The most noticeable difference is the larger hop presence, which adds a good layer of grapefruit and, to a lesser extent, pine. The aftertaste is heavy on ash and tobacco, with lingering sugars and breads, and a heavy alcoholic vapor, this last note somewhat detracting from the effect (though it says much that the 11% ABV is hardly noticeable during the main mouthful). Mouthfeel is medium to medium-high, and carbonation is medium to medium-light.

Overall, this is excellent stout, the flavors wide-ranging and complex, but working together in great harmony. The extra shot of ash and tobacco at the end of the swallow is a very nice closing touch as well. I did find the high grapefruit notes somewhat counterintuitive to the blackness, and the alcoholic vapors in the aftertaste were a bit much, but even with that, I’d easily purchase another bottle or three of this one.

Serving type: bottle

05-22-2012 15:50:05 | More by jondeelee

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4.75/5  rDev +12%

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4/5  rDev -5.7%

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4.5/5  rDev +6.1%

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California

4.33/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Dark black with a finger of frothy khaki-chocolate head. Fades fairly slowly.

S - Chocolate and dark caramel malts, molasses, vanilla, black licorice, vanilla, coffee, and a bit of booze.

T - Dark caramel and chocolate malts, molasses, vanilla, black licorice, roasted coffee, vanilla, dark fruits, and some booze.

M - Full bodied with moderate carbonation. Smooth and a touch thick with a roasted, sweet, and warming finish.

D - Great imperial stout. Good overall balance and mouthfeel.

Serving type: bottle

05-04-2013 04:42:43 | More by ngeunit1