Foreign Style Stout - Upslope Brewing Company

beergoot

Colorado

4.2/5  rDev +17.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This is an opaque, black brew with a thin, light tan head. Lacing and is minimal and no rings down the glass, but the head sticks around.

The smell is a delicious mix of roasted malt, chocolate, cocoa nibs and rich coffee.

The taste is rich and smooth, much like the aroma. Sweet. The bitterness blends nicely with the robust malt character.

An excellent canned stout...

Serving type: can

01-29-2012 21:33:50 | More by beergoot

kkrez

Colorado

4.18/5  rDev +16.8%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

The stout pours a dark brown/black with an off white head.

The aroma is of semi-sweet chocolate, light smoke, and coffee roast.

Taste is similar; semi-sweet chocolate coffee roast, with a slight earthy smokiness, all being finished up by a drying yeast and hop finish.

Mouthfeel is medium which makes this 6.9% beer highly drinkable and pretty sessionable.

Serving type: can

01-28-2012 20:00:46 | More by kkrez

mastodonj

Colorado

3.93/5  rDev +9.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

From a 12 oz can into a diconic...
I've had an entire 6-pack of this over the last several days and it still stands up as a very solid stout that I will continue to seek out. My next task is to get over to the brewery and try it on tap.

A couple of other reviewers have already nailed the way I feel about this so I'm probably not going to be adding a lot here.

Opaque, nearly black with a dark beige head which is quite small and does not produce much lacing at all.

There is a nice nose of malty, roasted coffee.

Full bodied taste with a little bit of spice (no idea what is producing that). The alcohol content is just perfect for this
hybrid stout.

The feel is good with a nice alcoholic finish.

try it!

Serving type: can

01-29-2012 00:29:41 | More by mastodonj

claspada

New Jersey

3.88/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Pours a extremely dark roasted coffee bean brown color with a small creamy egg shell head that recedes almost immediately; almost nitro-esque.

Aromas begin with some roasted espresso malts, some dark bitter cocoa and some burnt barley maltiness. It lacks the sweet and chocolate malt presence you get in some American/sweeter stouts which is a good thing fotr this style. There is some fruitiess that does emerge as is warms which is hopefully from some English yeast strain.

The tastes begin with some caramelized dark malts, hints of roast, and a bit of dark baker's chocolate. Some light fruity esters emerge but the flavor profile is quite English and clean lacking any abbrassive roasted malts; almost minerally profile.

The mouthfeel is on the heavier side of medium bodied with medium to low carbonation. Finish is clean and crisp which is important for this style but still has the dark roasted malt presence to know your enjoying a quality stout.

Overall this was a solid offering and example of an overlooked style in America. A more drinkable and flavorful version of the most popular example in the world Guinness Foreign extra stout and it's in a can, so I approve.

Serving type: can

02-09-2013 19:53:31 | More by claspada

riored4v

Colorado

3.83/5  rDev +7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a pint glass. Very thin, tan head. Body poured thin with a nice pitch black appearance.

Aroma smelled pretty good. Nice chocolate and roast. Mild sweetness. Some light, earthy hop notes.

Taste has a medium amount of sweetness upfront. Slightly metallic in the middle then a roasted coffee bitterness. Flavor seemed a tad off for me. Light notes of raisin. Good amounts of chocolate. Mild bitterness

Mouthfeel was medium body with medium carb. Crisp finish that leaves a hint of lingering stickyness

Overall a good beer for me. Good flavors without going over the top. No signs of abv. Good drinkability.

Serving type: can

02-03-2012 00:35:18 | More by riored4v

StonedTrippin

Colorado

3.8/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

good stout. not amazing. pours a nice heavy dark roast color with a good creamy almost nitro looking off white head. smells a little more candy-like than a lot of stouts, but the flavor isnt too sweet. just in the nose. also some almost burnt barley type smells, and some definite alcohol. flavor is burnt too, but a nice bitter burnt vibe, hop bitter too, which is nice here. also plenty of mellow flavors, vanilla somewhere, dark chocolate too. mouthfeel is in harmony with the rest of whats going on. full bodied but drinkable, nice bitterish finish, the thing that throws me though is a rubbing alcohol kind of flavor at the end, really makes the mouthfeel kind of tart. just a little off at the end, but aside form that a nice milky thick strong sessionable stout. there is not a bad upslope beer, but they all have that kind of finish. not sure if its the can or what. i love "snowmelt" as the primary ingredient in each of their brews.

Serving type: can

02-10-2012 06:32:16 | More by StonedTrippin

pokesbeerdude

Colorado

3.78/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Purchased a sixer of this from Supermarket Liquors in Ft. Collins, CO for $9. Into a DFH Signature glass.

A: Pours a nice deep brown in color with a few red/brown highlights when held to the light. A small cream colored head bubbles up to about 1/2 an inch then quickly fades leaving a small ring of bubbles around the edge of the glass.

S: Not much going on here, some chocolate and caramel and a touch of roast. Not offensive by any means, just pretty mellow and subdued.

T: A lot like the nose, pretty subdued flavors of chocolate, a touch of roasted barley and a pretty sizable caramel flavor. Pretty sweet beer. As it continues to warm a nice chocolate profile starts to shine. Pretty good.

M: Spot on here, nice amount of viscous body, lower carbonation, somewhat sticky and sweet on the lips and in the finish. Beer as a whole is very slick. Nice here.

O: Pretty good stuff, I'm glad I've got 5 more cans of this to dive into. Not something to brag endlessly about, but a pretty solid export stout.

Serving type: can

02-26-2012 19:59:03 | More by pokesbeerdude

tylerprince

Colorado

3.75/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Had a sample from a can my roommate bought. Fresh in Denver.

A: Pours pretty darned close to pitch black, although a fair amount of light shines through. One finger tan head resolves quickly and doesn't leave behind any lacing.

S: Not overpowering. Chocolate and coffee, of course, but with a fair amount of fresh, not-yet-roasted malt smell.

T: Very chocolatey. Leads with dark chocolate, which slowly fades to coffee; the finishing bitterness is pure espresso. A hint of raspberry throughout. Very nice, although certainly not as mature as world class stouts.

M: Smooth and low on carbonation, but not too creamy. I'd like a little more milkiness should Upslope do another limited release stout in the future.

O: A solid stout. Great taste and aromas, but lacking in the appearance and MO department.

Serving type: can

04-27-2012 00:14:25 | More by tylerprince

tone77

Pennsylvania

3.74/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Thanks again to the creator of the canquest, woodychandler, for this beer. Poured from a 12 oz. can. Has a black color with a 1/2 inch head. Smell is of roasted malts, some coffee. Taste s slightly sweet, chocolate, roasted malts, coffee, a hint of hops. Feels full bodied in the mouth and overall is a solid beer.

Serving type: can

02-14-2013 00:49:05 | More by tone77

wlevando

Colorado

3.71/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75

First half of a shared can into an 8 oz. chalice.
Vigorous pour.
Slurps alternating with mouthfuls of a poorly done Chicago-style pizza.

Appearance: Nearly opaque, deep, deep brown. Beautiful, creamy-looking head fades over ~2 minutes, leaving a murky rim of off-white ~0.1 mm bubbles.

Smell: Toffee on freshly baked, hearty bread, with pressure-brewed coffee coming up on the other side of the kitchen. Subtle, but welcoming and complex, like familial idiosyncrasies. These subtleties beg from calm enjoyment and immediate reflection, however.

Taste: Initial flavor of milky espresso fades to a mildly sweet, woody dryness. Dryness persists, leaving a bitter aftertaste. Swishes nearly renew the flavor cycle.

Mouthfeel: In the same way as the flavor does, creaminess fades to desiccation. After a swish, the decay of that pleasant initial touch is faster than the flavor decay.

My take: Another great showing by Upslope. I would love to try this beer on nitro; a hardy head seems important to the conveyance of the flavor and mouthfeel of this beer. I look forward to a less bready accompaniment to this beer. A mild cheese (bad provolone? good mozzarella?) would go well with this, as would low-garlic hummus.

Serving type: can

01-25-2013 03:19:39 | More by wlevando

Domingo

Colorado

3.7/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Nice to see this style starting to emerge a little more. I like the fact that it walks the line between big and small while having solid characteristics of both.
Brown, pretty much as close to black as you’re going to get without actually being there. No matter how hard I pour it, there’s almost no head. It’s bordering on flat, but there’s a little bit of carbonation to it.
The flavor profile comes across a bit like a kicked up Irish stout. Roasty with notes of coffee and semisweet chocolate. A little bit of vinous character, too, although it definitely isn’t as dry. Alcohol is barely present, though. Hops are more potent than similar beers like Guinness Export or Lion, but they aren’t quite in the range of an American stout.
Texture is thicker than it looks, but it’s still awfully low on carbonation. It’s almost like a hand pull kind of texture, but more still.
A pretty tasty beer that could probably satisfy Guinness fans and LH Milk Stout fans alike.
The low carbonation is definitely something that could be improved upon, but if they can fix that it’s a pretty admirable take on an export stout.

Serving type: can

01-24-2012 16:12:50 | More by Domingo

StoneTSR

Colorado

3.7/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

APPEARANCE: Stark black. No light penetrates even when held up to the light. I have only seen this in a few beers, one of which was Goose Island Bourbon County Stout. The head is a quarter-inch and slightly off-white, but whiter and thicker than most stouts, it dissipates quickly though, leaving a thin film covering about 60% of the surface of the beer in the middle. No lacing at all.

SMELL: The aroma has a pleasant and mild roastiness along with some dark chocolate and a touch of wood.

TASTE: This is a bitter stout. The roastiness from the nose carries over into some very smoky flavors and some coffee notes add to the bitterness. Dark chocolate tows the line between adding more bitter flavor and balancing with a touch of sweetness while a pleasant woodiness pulls all the way through each sip. The finish has an acidic and citrusy kick that remains on the palate through the aftertaste.

MOUTHFEEL: A nice sparkle up front slowly fades into a tickle. It is a little thinner than I would like for a stout, but on the plus side, the lighter body allows this to at least feel a lot more sessionable than its 6.9%.

OVERALL: This is a pretty solid and easily drinkable stout. It is a nice change of pace for a hop head that loves bitterness even though it doesn’t have the traditional hop bitterness.

Serving type: can

03-11-2012 06:54:20 | More by StoneTSR

ucsbmullet

Colorado

3.63/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured aggressively into pint glass and got a fingers worth of foam at the top which went away quick.

Decent dark malt notes on the nose.

Smooth mouthfeel, reminiscent of Lefthand's Nitro Milk Stout. But is darker, has more bite, is roasty and smokier with a touch of dark chocolate.

Recommend if you like your stouts on the less sweet and more smokier style.

I know this beer is selling like hotcakes in the Denver area. It didn't blow me away, but is a very solid and drinkable beer.

Serving type: can

01-25-2012 02:55:52 | More by ucsbmullet

mactrail

California

3.63/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Rather sweet at first sip, but it moderates into a big, rich, well-balanced beer. Dark but a hint of chestnut in the color. Nicely carbonated. Some dark fruit mixed with the roasted malt. Currants, a hint of dates, but more dark caramel. Fairly light bodied. Nutty and a little woody. Really quite an interesting stout, if you like the sweeter and richer style.

Can from Denver. Seems to be in great condition. A pleasant quaff, and stronger than it tastes.

Serving type: can

03-16-2012 06:15:53 | More by mactrail

DividedAvery

Colorado

3.55/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 12oz can into a Bruery Tulip

A: Pours pitch black with a very small head that dissipates incredibly quick

S: Sweet like a milk stout with some roasted coffee and chocolate notes. Seems like a nice aroma

T: A bit thin for my liking. Some sweetness like a milk stout coms through followed by roasted notes and some coffee and a slight chocolate. Bitterness from the hops also comes through strong. Something about the hops that Upslope uses is very unsettling. Never liked any of hop profiles on their offerings

M: Not nearly enough carbonation. Almost flat, but the beer still has a touch of creaminess which is nice.

O: A decent stout. Not roasty enough and too flat in my opinion.

Serving type: can

01-18-2012 05:44:08 | More by DividedAvery

denver10

Colorado

3.55/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Black with a thumbs width brown head that quickly dropped to s a slight surface coating. Toasted barley, some chocolate, some sweet dark fruits, and a little bit of metal. Flavor is strong from the roasted barley, a sharp sweetness carries through it, a little dark fruit, and nutty. Thinner in body a stout but it works. Creamy mouthfeel to it. A decent stout but nothing spectatular. I'd happily drink it again but probably won't be seeking this out on my own again.

Serving type: can

03-25-2012 23:24:49 | More by denver10

BEERchitect

Kentucky

3.55/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Relying on heavy roast and burnt sugars to carry the session, Upslope dives into the taste of Ireland that's build far to strong even for those of their own homeland. Let's see if this ale does what those export versions are meant to do...

The Foreign Stout decants with the darkest brown hues without turning decidedly black. Nearly glass-like in its sheen, the beer is opaque and only slightly translucent. A sheet of foam releases from the beer with excited fashion but only amasses a skirt upon the beer. A collar of foam retains, allowing only spotty lace adhering upon the glass.

High coffee aromas project onto the nose; and does so in the form of French press, bold roast blends. Lightly scorched toffee, twangy malt, grape, and milk-like starch brace against the coffee notes for a latte-like effect. Cocoa, walnut and mild earthen peat offer a damp soil scent that grounds the aromas in rustic character.

While bold coffee roast, chicory, cocoa, and root beer set off the taste, there's a sweeter and softer underpinning that sets in- doing so with powdered sugar sweetness, malted milk, and toffee. Stopping shy of aspartame, the taste takes a turn toward tangy alcohol complements of grape, cherry, and Parmesan. Campfire-like burnt embers are somewhat reminiscent of liquid smoke but is more a testament to roasted barley that commands the taste in finish.

Strong roast commands the balance in body as much as it does at any part of the taste. Near Turkish coffee allows astringent grain compounds to complement scorched earth for a full bodied but medium-dry finish to govern the beer. Alcohol warmth is strong and keeps the beer lightened and dry throughout.

Upslope's Foreign Style Stout does a reasonably good job at replicating the asserted roast character that's displayed in similar version such as Guinness Foreign Extra Stout but it is a little softer on the roast than is expected. Even with the gentle hand, it makes for a very tasty stout that will appease all lovers of the devoted black beers.

Serving type: bottle

03-21-2013 07:45:16 | More by BEERchitect

spoony

Colorado

3.55/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

From a 12 oz can into a snifter.

A-A slightly aggressive pour produces a black, opaque brew. There is no real head, only a thin ring of brown foam.

S-Dark roasted malts dominate the nose giving the aroma of baking chocolate, espresso, and a touch of smoke. This is not a coffee or a bourbon barrel stout, but I still get a decently complex aroma here.

T-The taste is also full of bitter dark chocolate and cold coffee. There is a little char and a touch of raisin or prune. A warm punch of alcohol also pokes through. The taste is a little harsh and simple.

M-The feel is medium to full bodied with a little prick of carbonation. I could have used less intrusive bubbles.

O-This is not my favorite Upslope offering. As noted above, the whole package is a bit simple and the taste is a bit metallic and hot. Perhaps this is the true export style, because I think some time in a cargo hold (or cellar...) might mellow the harsh aspects of this beer.

Serving type: can

03-23-2013 20:46:24 | More by spoony

angelmonster

Colorado

3.5/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a milk chocolate 1/2 inch head, body is black with a hint of brown highlights. Head retention and lacing are barely above average.

Smell is of roasted dark malts, raisin, and some slight copper. Not much else is present, no hops.

First taste is of dry bitter chocolate mixed with dried fig/prune. Metallic bittness comes in and out but is somewhat muted by semi sweet cocoa. As the beer warms, hops come out more and overpower the beer abit. At 7 percent abv, its rather smooth.

Body is alittle lighter than I would have liked. Head died down which didnt help. Carbonation levels were high but not over the top.

Overall this was a decent representation of a foreign stout. I prefer Lion stout more, dont think I'll be buying this one anytime soon.

Serving type: can

03-01-2012 21:53:21 | More by angelmonster

cosmicevan

New York

3.5/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to pokesbeerdude for this one.

a - popped the can and filled my glass. beer poured a shiny watery black with virtually no head.

s - very nice roasted char malt. chocolate with an irish twist.

t - char malts. some powdered chocolate, but mostly roasted char.

m - char. soft bodied.

o - overall, nice export stout nothing crazy, but nice representation of the style.

Serving type: can

09-23-2012 00:11:52 | More by cosmicevan

emmasdad

Colorado

3.45/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Had this one on tap the other night at the Vine Street Pub in Denver, as part of the stout month celebration. Needed a beer to fill out a taster set and chose this one. Black, with a decent head. Aromas of roasted malt, chocolate and malted milk. Medium bodied, very roasty, with baker's chocolate, malted milk and malt.

Serving type: on-tap

02-14-2011 04:22:52 | More by emmasdad

Rayek

Colorado

3.45/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Out of the can and into my Nonic this goes. The beer appears with a deep chestnut hue. An extremely aggressive pour nets a mid-sized soapy tan head that falls away fairly quick to a patchy film. A bit of lace is left behind.

Molasses and baking chocolate do the yeoman's work here. My nose picked up a light grassy aroma too. In the mouth, the espresso notes absent from the nose appear. Bitterness is mild and slightly burnt, with a hint of lemongrass. Interesting. I had multiple cans of this and the one I'm reviewing has a much better carbonation level. It's not as overly fizzy as the other cans, but still a bit much for my liking. The body has a nice heft that isn't too chewy.

Overall, I came away mixed. This particular can is working for me, but the others weren't. Perhaps a quality control issue here? Still, it's a nice little beer that I'm glad I tried.

Serving type: can

02-03-2012 21:37:19 | More by Rayek

Beaver13

Colorado

3.35/5  rDev -6.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 3.5

12oz can. Pours a dark brown black with a thin tan head that quickly goes to a thin collar.

The aroma is roasted chocolate malts and a little coffee and bready yeast.

The flavor is sweet chocolate malts, dark fruit, black licorice and dry roast bitterness in the finish. The mouthfeel is medium bodied and watery.

Overall, a nice dry stout - one of Upslope's better beers.

Serving type: can

05-04-2012 02:36:06 | More by Beaver13

Holland

Pennsylvania

3.28/5  rDev -8.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: black with brown highlights and a khaki head that dissipates quickly, leaving minimal lacing and a ring on the sides of the glass.

S: chocolate, roasted barley

T: heavy on the roasted characteristics with some chocolate flavor, with a bit of malt flavor to back it up.

M: good carbonation and body, with medium both. Right on target.

O: solid, not excellent, but I'd drink this. Roasted characteristics are everything here, and it does it well. Drink fresh, most likely.

Serving type: can

05-04-2012 00:37:04 | More by Holland

rudzud

Massachusetts

3.25/5  rDev -9.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Received this as an extra in a trade, poured into my Duvel tulip.

A - Pours a deep, dark brown almost black with a quick two finger mocha head that fades rather quickly to leave a thin mocha blanket and light side lacing.

S - Hmm, some slightly watery roasted malts, light chocolate. Very soft and light with some slight nuttiness.

T - Taste is rather sweet on the finish. Soem roast upfront along with some like bitter coffee (minus the coffee) though. Not getting much chocolate and there is a slight metallic finish. Almost too burnt.

M - Relatively thin and standard for the style. The roast comes through nicely.

O - Overall this was an average or so beer. Pretty straightforward execution here.

Serving type: can

07-09-2012 04:00:20 | More by rudzud