Big Stone Stout - Bloomington Brewing Company / Lennie's

zerk

California

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

Probably the best beer I've had from BBC, the stout is a very good example of a dry stout. Black in color with a one finger tan head. The aroma was a mixture of coffee and chocolate with some light herbal notes. Flavor was not overpowering, but a very drinkable mixture of light coffee and chocolate notes with a touch of bitterness in the finish. Mouthfeel was dry and very smooth... carbonation was quite low, as a cask conditioned beer should be.

Serving type: cask

04-11-2004 22:25:10 | More by zerk

rmehughes

Indiana

4/5  rDev +0.5%

02-09-2013 02:24:05 | More by rmehughes

WoodburyMN

Indiana

4/5  rDev +0.5%

08-05-2012 16:34:09 | More by WoodburyMN

robwestcott

Indiana

3.95/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

cold and black from the nitro tap at farmbloomington to a standard pint with a full finger, long lasting tan head leaving a thick sheet of lace to the rim after each sip.

aroma of chocolate and espresso roast

true to the nose, big mellow coffee and chocolate. a bit of toffee.

medium bodied, minimal carbonation, creamy smooth.

overall: creamy sweet coffee like stout

Serving type: nitro-tap

02-10-2012 23:12:19 | More by robwestcott

dustinness22

Indiana

4.45/5  rDev +11.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Served in pint glass from nitro tap at the brewery. Very creamy head that stayed along for the whole glass. Thick mouthfeel with strong malt and coffee flavor almost completely masking the hops. Most impressed as this was my first time at the small pub.

Serving type: nitro-tap

09-21-2011 16:59:17 | More by dustinness22

tykees88

Indiana

3.9/5  rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A- black with small off white head. Minimal lacing through the drink. Nice little bubbles in the head.

S- Smells of malts and barley. I smell chocolate too. No hops in the smell.

T- It really has a nice chocolate taste to it. Very smooth and mellow stout. Very different for a regular stout.

M- Medium bodied, carbonated nicely.

D- It fills you up and makes it hard to want to drink multiple brews.

Serving type: on-tap

01-18-2011 22:16:06 | More by tykees88

emerge077

Illinois

4.1/5  rDev +3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This was the standout on a recent visit to the brewpub.

Inky black with a lighter mahogany ring at the edge where light gets through. Light tan foam, it stuck around an left spotty lace in the glass. Dry woody aroma, charred malt and tobacco. Flavor was similar, also hitting the standard notes of bakers chocolate and coffee. More dry than sweet, which was what I was in the mood for. Balanced, easy feel, a nice go-to stout from Lennie's.

Serving type: on-tap

04-05-2010 15:31:58 | More by emerge077

SirSketch

Massachusetts

4.08/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Lennie's Brewpub is home to Bloomington Brewing Company, and, besides just serving good beer, their food is great as well. This company doesn't bottle its beer for environmental reasons, so I picked up a growler of their stout after eating there last week.

Half inch of brown colored head that was very cream-like and didn't stay around for long. Pitch black in color. Looks about how a stout should! The aroma is just great. Coffee, diacetyls, chocolate brownie and roasty malts make up the smell.

The taste is parallel with the smell. Heavy caramel flavors, toffee and chocolate. The sweet aftertaste makes you want more! This beer is very creamy, possible due to the nitro-tap used to fill the growler. Very drinkable and I recommend giving it a try if you are in the area.

Serving type: growler

08-17-2008 21:35:31 | More by SirSketch

AWolfAtTheDoor

California

3.38/5  rDev -15.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Had this ontap at Lennie's. Pours black with tiny creamy-tan head. Big nose of roasted coffee, malts, a hint of licorice. Taste is as big as the nose: roasted coffee, and slightly smokey. Someone else mentioned a resemblance to Guiness, but I don't taste it AT ALL. Maybe it was different tonight. Mouthfeel isn't overly heavy, but this beer is definitely a sipper. I'd personally take the Ruby or the Pale over this one.

Serving type: on-tap

09-11-2006 01:31:55 | More by AWolfAtTheDoor

SaCkErZ9

Florida

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

Overall a very nice beer. Served on the nitro tap but the head seemed to be a bit depleted compared to other nitros Ive had. Great anyway. Nice and opaque with a creamy tan head.

Tons of coffee malts and chocolate malts as well. Great coffee aroma. Hints of caramel and toastiness. Overall a great smell as well.

Tastes a lot like Guiness. Coffee, small bit of chocolate, a bit grainy and pungent at times. Nice hop bitterness as well. I think the best beer at this establishment.

A nice beer overall. I think this would be my first choice if I were to return here again next Thanksgiving.


Part of the Indiana Thanksgiving pub crawl.

Serving type: nitro-tap

11-25-2005 21:14:42 | More by SaCkErZ9

cerevisiaephilus

Michigan

4.65/5  rDev +16.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Really a fantastic beer. More so on the hand pull!! Very nice looking beer. Light brown head on a jet black foundation. Smells of chocolate malts with just a hint of hops. Incredible tasty brew...not too roasty, but its there. More smooth rich malt flavors that aren't cloying or too much. Nice chocolate notes with just enough hop bitterness to balance it out. Incredible mouthfeel. Just silky smooth without being too much. Incredibly drinkable...I could drink 10 or 15 of these in a sitting...no joke. Really an excellent beer. Tonights was about 20 days old which is pretty old for a cask ale...but it was still really tasty...maybe it had aged for the better?

Serving type: cask

01-15-2005 07:04:01 | More by cerevisiaephilus

baugherlager

Indiana

4.53/5  rDev +13.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

First I would like to say that I love this beer it is one of my favorites

The appearance is very dark black of course. Head didn't last too long but I think that might be because of the growler I took it home in.
The smell is of the charred black patent malt and a hint of hops.
Fuggles maybe?

Tastes of coffee with a slight bakers chocolate aftertaste and not too much hops but you do know it is there.

There was quite a bit of lacing. It is a good example of a dry stout I used to be a Guinness fan but this beer changed my mind on stouts. very nice beer leaves you wanting more.

Serving type: on-tap

09-01-2004 01:03:36 | More by baugherlager

TheDM

Indiana

3.55/5  rDev -10.8%
look: 5 | smell: 2 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 3

By far their best beer we sampled. This brew poured a medium head of fine to large brown bubbles and an opaque black body. It has a very mild malt aroma to weak for a good stout and a strong coffee flavor. I did not taste the typical chocolate or roasted notes that are typical of most good stouts, only coffee. It had a good lacing and was smooth from start to finish. There was no bite at all.

Serving type: on-tap

07-23-2003 23:06:10 | More by TheDM

hotstuff

Indiana

3.13/5  rDev -21.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Poured a medium tan head with fine-small bubbles. There was good lacing on the sides of my glass. This was a smooth drinking stout without the super strong coffee taste; however, I have had better tasting stouts since I have started my rating of beers.

Serving type: on-tap

07-23-2003 14:39:24 | More by hotstuff