Big Shot Espresso Stout (Timberline Series) - Twisted Pine Brewing Company

rwf08

Texas

3.48/5  rDev -5.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

22oz bomber poured into a duvel glass. Sedment at the bottom of the bottle. Yeast or coffee??? I'm assuming yeast since the cap makes a light hissss when opened. Wish it was in there though...

A: Nice dark brown but not quit black. Mahogany hues when help up to the light. No head when poured and no head now. Slight off white ring around the rim. I would expect this to be darker and fulled head.

S: Smells of fresh brewed coffee, roasty, chocolaty, the slight hint of cream maybe?

T: Roasty, coffee, eh that's it. Kind of bland. How did this thing win a medal of any kind?

M: Thin, medium carbonation. Booorrrriiiinnnnggg

D: No idea the ABV but this is kind of like drinking a cup of coffee. I'd rather have my $6 cup of SBux than this for the same price. I need some more chocolate and a silkier mouthfeel.

Serving type: bottle

06-10-2010 23:52:34 | More by rwf08

Mora2000

Texas

3.95/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

The beer pours dark brown to black with a tan head. The aroma is that of freshly brewed coffee with some roasted malt mixed in. The flavor is coffee, chocolate and roasted malt with some light bitterness. The mouthfeel is slightly thinner than expected and the carbonation is low.

Serving type: bottle

06-08-2010 00:42:15 | More by Mora2000

htomsirveaux

Texas

3.88/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22 oz. bottle tried 18 Apr 2010.

A very large dark brown head fills about half of the 0.5 L Adambrau becker. Well carbonated. Opaque, very dark brown color. Aroma is strong of chocolate, coffee, earthy. Flavor is drier than the aroma suggests. Starts with a hint of espresso, dark chocolate and a cocoa finish. Roasty bitterness throughout. Ethanol is moderate. Light body.

Overall a solid coffee stout.

Serving type: bottle

05-05-2010 04:26:12 | More by htomsirveaux

Tone

Missouri

4.13/5  rDev +11.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a black color. 1/2 inch head of an off-tan color. Great retention and great lacing. Smells of strong fresh coffee, roasted malt, and sweet malt. Fits the style of an American Stout. Mouth feel is smooth and crisp with an average carbonation level. Tastes of strong coffee, roasted malt, slight yeast, and slight sweet malt. Overall, great aroma, good body, but lacking in appearance.

Serving type: bottle

05-03-2010 00:10:44 | More by Tone

Mayhem976

Colorado

4.43/5  rDev +19.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A- Black, zero light passes through my glass and hardly any head or fingers present.

B- Strong ground dark roast!

T- Hard espresso flavor in the beginning, it does however finish very smooth towards the end which is quite surprising. Very yummy!

M- Creamy, the body I would have to say is medium to thick.

D- Great espresso beer that seems to go down smoother than others I've tried in the past. The price on this bottle is what really caught my eye, inexpensive and delicious!

Serving type: bottle

06-16-2009 03:31:25 | More by Mayhem976

brentk56

North Carolina

3.6/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: Pours a midnight brown color with a creamy beige head; terrific retention and lacing

Smell: Coffee, ash and dark chocolate

Taste: Chocolate, up front, that turns milky by mid-palate, with a bit of lactic sourness appearing after a while; after the swallow, the lactose fades and is replaced by the coffee; nice espresso finish

Mouthfeel: Light to medium body with moderate carbonation

Drinkability: This beer is all over the map, starting and finishing very nicely; the middle, however, leaves something to be desired (some hops would be better than the lactose) as does the mouthfeel, which is way too thin for the style

Serving type: bottle

03-11-2009 04:27:30 | More by brentk56

rye726

Colorado

3.63/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours near black with a brown head. The nose has roasty malts, faint hops and espresso. More of the same in the flavor. Nothing spectacular, but a good beer to wash down a burger. Body is a bit thin. Drinks easy, but I wouldn't want too many of these.

Serving type: bottle

02-26-2009 17:43:10 | More by rye726

angelmonster

Colorado

3.63/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a 2 finger chocolate head that rather quickly thins down.Black in color, head retention was decent and lacing was good

Smells of sweet chocolate malt, also some roasted coffee beans.

Taste is very light, reminds me of a milk/sweet stout. Main flavors are of chocolate milk and roasted espresso beans, hops really arent present at all.

Mouth feel is very light also, almost on the watery side, was hoping for more creaminess. Carbonation was medium to high, but not too high.

Overall is a good beer, especially at 4 bucks for a bomber. Would have liked thicker, bolder espresso flavors but its still very drinkable

Serving type: bottle

02-12-2009 05:34:45 | More by angelmonster

Oxymoron

Colorado

3.25/5  rDev -12.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 4

What only fathers like coffee? Pours a midnight dark color with a bubbly light tan head. Not much hue throughout the edges. The lacing is limited as well is the retention.

The nose is sweet even for coffee stout standards. Some malty notes with a bit of lactic/milky notes. Some lighter chocolate and a hint of coffee notes with a light roast aroma. Some molasses notes with a bit of metallic/coiny aromas. Some off yeast notes as well, with some phenolics and a subtle butyric aroma.

The taste as more of the coffee aspect. The coffee comes out with a light roast backing but not much on the chocolate notes. Some generic malt notes that blend but coffee is definitely the stronger of tastes. Some minor lactic giving it a sweetness but not as much as the nose indicated. Some wispy notes on the back end. The yeast is a bit cleaner but there is a light butyric note that reminds me of dirty drains. Some chalky notes in the finish.

The body is a bit wispy especially for a stout. Really would have liked more body into the finish. Some creamy up front, the finish is just disappointing. Overall, I think the coffee notes come out because it really needs more of a malt backing. The lactic is really cloying as well.

Serving type: bottle

02-03-2009 23:56:24 | More by Oxymoron

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev +10.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours black with a thin brownish head. Nose is pure coffee. That's about it, but it's pretty robust and thick enough. Flavor profile is a lot of coffee. Coffee, coffee, coffee. Not much else going on besides that. Feel is smooth on liquid and slightly lower on carbonation. This is easy to drink. It's basically just a coffee beer, but I could go on this all night.

Thanks to russpowell for this one and a ridiculous amount of other generous extras as well.

Serving type: bottle

12-22-2008 23:19:34 | More by RblWthACoz

FtownThrowDown

Ohio

3.65/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle thanks to BlackForestCo.
Pours a inky black in color with about a half inch of head. Smell is very faint coffee and even more faint creme/espresso. Taste is slight creamy espresso. A good amount of bittering in the flavor as well. Good, smooth mouthfeel. Still bittering in the aftertaste. Decent beer.

Serving type: bottle

09-11-2008 23:59:50 | More by FtownThrowDown

doppelmeup

North Carolina

4.15/5  rDev +12.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This beer had a beautiful pour into a tulip glass. Very dark and rich, with a dark roasted tan head that was very thick and continually rebuilt itself every time I swirled the glass.

Aromas of roasted malt and fresh brewed coffee.

Taste was not overpowering; instead, it was a nicely balanced stout with a definite coffee flavor. Not overly bitter or hoppy.

Very easy to drink. Not too thick, but still with enough body to satisfy.

Not sure of the ABV, but not too strong, making it a nice beer to sip and enjoy, leaving the palate ready for a refill.

Recommended.

Serving type: bottle

03-01-2008 16:33:19 | More by doppelmeup

Tolann

Colorado

3.25/5  rDev -12.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A - very dark, opaque black in color. Pours a dense head, but it fades quickly. I think there may be some sediment in there.

S - not much of a smell of coffee that I expected. I smell the oatmeal stout part of it. there's a faint smell of espresso that hits the back of the sinuses.

T - Small bitterness and coffee taste. The espresso flavor hits then fades. Lil bit of caramel malty notes to it. As the beer warms up the taste and smell come thru a bit more.

M - really smooth. definitely a stout feel. Has a heavier feel in your tummy that won't let you drink this too fast. Breathe in after a swallow and you can feel the coffee taste in the back of your pallet.

D - Coffee beers aren't something that you sit and drink all nite. This one is ok, but I've had better coffee beers.

Mark another new beer up in my list. =)

Serving type: bottle

11-09-2007 03:51:56 | More by Tolann

BeerBelcher

Ohio

3.9/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I thought this beer was a nice sweet stout. The "sweet" flavor was present but pretty understated. However there was plenty of espresso flavor and a lot of very nice dry-roastiness (burned pizza crust) under a lactose-sugar top-note. Quite a nice flavor combination.

Mouthfeel was quite dry. Aroma was of sweetened coffee. Appearance, as you might expect, was opaque with a lot of very nice (although not durable) tan fluffly head.

Definitely recommended, and probably the best beer I've had from this brewer.

Serving type: bottle

10-21-2007 17:15:34 | More by BeerBelcher

mikesgroove

South Carolina

3.93/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A - Poured a very dark opaque brown with a small tan head. Quick fade here left behind a a nice lace, nothing extrodinary but looked decent enough.

S - Smell started off with a nice bit of roasted coffee, almost a sweet cappucino like smell with a very slight hint of chocolate and a nice well rounded sugary feel.

M & T - Ahh this was very very smooth. Great carbonation and a fantastic consistency made this very enjoyable going down. Had a nice thick, but not too thick profile that just enhanced the overall expierence. Flavor was very big on coffee, you really could taste it, more pronounced then some others I have had. It could be a bit fuller though as it was kinda one sided. A slight hoppy finish tried to make up for it but it was just a tad muted.

D - Overall again this was very very drinkable and I definaly would not turn it down if offered. Only criticism is it really could be a bit fuller in the flavor and bring out some more hidden characteristics. Otherwise very nice and would recommend this to anyone.

Serving type: bottle

04-02-2007 22:49:39 | More by mikesgroove

warriorsoul

Pennsylvania

4.03/5  rDev +8.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to mikeys01 for this one...
Pours a pitch black...quite thick with no light passing thru and a full two fingers of brown head with an agressive pour...limited lacing.
Huge espresso aroma with a hint of sweet toffee tagging along.
The taste is really good...again, huge coffee profile with some bittering hops thrown in to dry it up. Not overly bitter, but barely a hint of sweetness...goes over quite well for this offering. There is no detection of alcohol at any point of consuming this bomber.
Mouthfeel is full-bodied and the carbonation is just where I like to see it...again, the lack of sweetness makes this coffee stout very drinkable. Would love to have the chance to try this one on tap...may need to hunt down a couple more of these. I am quite impressed with my first brew from Twisted Pine.

Serving type: bottle

11-12-2006 22:23:44 | More by warriorsoul

hopsaplenty

Virginia

3.45/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

22oz brown bottle, with no obvious date information. The label was printed with months and years, but nothing was notched or otherwise indicated.

The label reads that this was brewed with Amante Primo Espresso.

Pours silk smooth with a solid black core and ox blood highlights and the extreme margins. Quick building and fading head of loosely packed small espresso crema colored bubbles. Leaves just a thin coat and no lace. Fresh brewed coffee, white sugar, roast chocolate, and a touch of burnt smoke aromas rise from the glass. Medium roast coffee with a teaspoon of sugar leads things off. The roasty flavors are not overly deep and the coffee starts to fade into the background behind a slightly charcoal laced caramel flavor. There is a slowly creeping alcohol warmth. A sugar-like sweetness arrives in the tail end of the finish and a small, bitter burnt flavor lingers. Medium body with a light, thinnish mouthfeel, minimal carbonation and an almost dry quality about it. Average overall, and I would have enjoyed a bigger body on this one.

Thanks to Heath for the recent shipment of CO treats.

Serving type: bottle

10-12-2006 12:02:03 | More by hopsaplenty

russpowell

Oklahoma

3.85/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Bottled may 06

Pours Jet Black with a 1 finger deep mocha head. A little lacing & head retention

S: Big coffee notes, then chocalate

T: Coffee notes then chocalate & dryness. Roasted malt & a slight nuttyness. Finishes dry with coffee & choclate notes

MF: Medium bodied, some oilyness with okay carbonation & balance

Drinks alright, not a huge fan of coffee stouts & this is about middle of the pack

Serving type: bottle

09-05-2006 01:50:23 | More by russpowell

xymyl

Arizona

3.9/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Color: Deep brown to somewhat blackish

Aroma: Coffee, dark chocolate, caramel malt, lightly floral hops

Taste: Dark chocolate then coffee then a brief interplay of light hoppy bitterness and sweetness before a dry finish

Body: Light to medium

It's a nice light stout with an appropriate amount of coffee, not too much. Pretty balanced, a bit better as it warms. Even though it is light, don't drink it too fast.

Serving type: bottle

07-01-2006 03:28:17 | More by xymyl

froggyfrog

Pennsylvania

4.68/5  rDev +26.5%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Packaged in a tall brown 1 pint, 6 fl. oz. bottle wrapped in a classy label marked bottled in Feb. 2006. Transferred by me to snifter Jun. 2006.

A: 30+ SRM very dark brownie brown with rocky mocha head. Opaque.

S: Nice and sweet. Sugary coffee, sweet chocolate, roasted barley.

T+M: Very well balanced. Loads of dark cocoa flavor. Very nicely done espresso levels mixed with some spicy Saaz-like hop notes. While the nose was intensely sweet the taste is very dark-roast and bitter. Full mouthfeel complete with heavy roasted lactic acid-like texture.

D: A meal of a stout. Truly enjoyable to drink.

This is a high quality brew, my first from TP. I love it!

About a shot of espresso in every pint? Whoops. I shouldn't be drinking a bomber of this at eleven o'clock at night. Mwaaah-haha-ha...

World Beer Cup 2006 Silver Medallist in "Best Coffee Flavored Beer" Category (out of 23 entrants).

This beer appears courtesy of my brother. Thanks lil' JE.

Serving type: bottle

06-03-2006 03:37:42 | More by froggyfrog

benito

Oregon

2.35/5  rDev -36.5%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 2 | feel: 1 | overall: 2

From a handsome labeled bomber, this is one of the three offerings currently in Twisted Pine's Timberline Series. Given the quality of the other two (the excellent Northstar Imperial Porter, and the above average Billy's Chiles), I had high hopes for this stout. It pours a deep mahogany with little head. The bouquet is heavy--no surprise here--on coffee.

Unfortunately, the coffee aromas only portend a hint of how strong a coffee taste this beer actually has. I remember reading the Alstrom Bros.' review of Bell's Java Stout once (which I like quite a lot) and it said that the beer reminded them of a cold cup of coffee. To me, it is Big Daddy that tastes like a two-day old, cold cup of coffee. The coffee flavor is so dominant that the beer loses any integrity of body or complexity of flavor. At least they used good coffee, as the most enjoyable part of drinking this was getting a consistent whiff of quality espresso beans.

Hopefully the folks at TP will re-tool this a bit and work to round out the body more. Until then, I'll stick to their Baltic porter and other breweries attempts at coffee stouts.

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2006 17:02:01 | More by benito

Beaver13

Colorado

3.8/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 2 | overall: 4

22 oz bottle dated 2/06. Pours an opaque brown/black with a creamy dark brown head that quickly diminishes.

The aroma is big on the bitter coffee with some graininess and sweet chocolate.

The flavor is sweet and creamy coffee and some chocolate, but kind of watered down. There is a little bitter acidity at the finish. The mouthfeel is kind of thin and very watery.

Overall, this would be excellent if not for such a watery mouthfeel that bleeds into the flavors. On the plus side, the more I drank of it, the more I dug it. I'd like to see a little more bitterness to balance the sweetness. Coffee stouts are fun though, and this is a very affordable example.

Serving type: bottle

04-01-2006 05:46:09 | More by Beaver13

RoBotGod

Colorado

4.43/5  rDev +19.7%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This one is really serious about the coffee. It doesn’t taste like filtered coffee, but real black coffee grounds. You never get the impression that is some sort of artificial flavoring. I would say there is even enough in it to keep you awake. Pours thick and black just like you would anticipate. The head is small with a dark brown tint. When you take in a good sniff, it smells just like the inside of a Starbucks. Most coffee stouts and porters I’ve had only have hints and after tastes of coffee. This one makes sure you know what you’re drinking. The coffee flavor is so potent you can’t miss it. At times its almost a little too much. This would go down great in the morning…...or maybe I’m just a big drunk.

Serving type: bottle

03-31-2006 03:29:30 | More by RoBotGod

Crosling

Colorado

4.1/5  rDev +10.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Probably the best coffee stout I’ve had and I’ve had quite a few. It pours with a dark brown color, with a thin and quickly diminishing light tan foam. The nose is light overall and fairly one-dimensional, but the coffee/chocolate aroma is still pretty vibrant, which is typical of coffee stouts. On the palate, the coffee is surely dominant, but not the sole feature. The malt composition is fairly rich and fruit filled and the coffee chosen, seems to add some chocolate flavors as well. I don’t like coffee (except with 20%-25% cream and lots of sugar), but I can appreciate balance like this.

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2006 05:48:09 | More by Crosling