Lake Trout Stout - Sebago Brewing Company

mikesgroove

South Carolina

4.1/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Part of the sebago collection I recieved from my good friend Matt up north. Decided to do the vertical/horizontal/ whatever it is of all of them. Poured into a pint glass,lol.

black as night, dark oil like liquid. Huge tan head had a very very slow fade and left lots of lace all the way down the glass. Looked just like a stout should look....thick.

Smell was very robust, deep roasted coffee and dark german chocolate. Hints of a sugary or caramel sweetness as well. Taste was very thick and complex. Big deep roasted flavor, almost a burnt taste to it. Lots of flavors of coffee and german dark chocolate. Cery thick feel, but not syrupy, great carbonation led to a great silk like feel. Nice big hoppy finish left a very long lingering burnt aroma, I could literally taste it for 20 mins after the last sip, very outstanding full flavor

Serving type: bottle

07-18-2011 17:23:11 | More by mikesgroove

TheManiacalOne

Rhode Island

4.05/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 22oz bottle into an imperial pint glass.

A: The beer is a deep dark brown color, with a thin beige head that fades quickly and leaves a thin lace on the glass.

S: The aroma contains chocolate, caramelized malts, honey and touches of hops & dark fruit.

T: The taste starts out with mildly sweet flavors of chocolate, caramel, licorice and dark fruit. Then a hearty but thin for the style malt character comes in. There is also some smokiness in the background. The hops presence is mild but complementary and brings a good balance. The after-taste is slightly sweet and slightly smoky.

M: Crisp and very smooth, medium body, medium carbonation, finish is dry but very clean for the style.

O: Tasty and complex, goes down very easily, not too filling, mild kick, good representation of style and yet slightly different. At first sip, this was a difficult beer for me to judge. However, as I kept drinking, this beer continued to grow on me. It’s lighter than most stouts and a lot more complexity than your typical chocolate intensity. If you’re one of those people (like I’ve been) that think big stouts are either too thick and heavy to drink for a long time and that the milder stouts are too dry and lacking in flavor to keep your interest, then this is the beer you may want to try. While I’m not giving anywhere close to all 5’s for this beer, this has definitely been one of the more unexpectedly interesting and enjoyable reviews that I’ve written.

Serving type: bottle

08-01-2012 04:02:47 | More by TheManiacalOne

jdhilt

New Hampshire

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

Pours a light brown, two-finger head that goes slowly and leaves some lace. Black as midnight. Light carbonation and heavy bodied. Roasted/burnt coffee nose. Starts and finishes with a burnt chocolate flavor, smooth. $3.75 for a 22oz bottle from the brewery Gorham, Me.

Serving type: bottle
@ Sebago Brewing Company, 211 Fore St, Portland

10-09-2005 22:27:37 | More by jdhilt

jlindros

Massachusetts

4.05/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Got this guy as an extra from rheisler. Thanks Ryan.

A: Thick creamy head of about half a finger. It's also a dark colored head. An almost pitch black color with very small hints of light escaping around the corners. It's not too thick, seems semi thin as I swirl it around the sides of the glass.

N: Chocolate and roasted malts dominate. A nice bakers chocolate aroma with hints of milk chocolate. Also adds to the roasted malt aromas with hints of coffee and a nice roasted aroma. Then some oats add more depth to it. It has some reminiscence of Breakfast Stout on the nose, but a little less coffee and chocolate. I also get the very slightest hint of sweet malts converted to alcohol, with almosta slight boozy aroma.

T: Starts with more chocolate. More of a milk chocolate on the taste. It's accompanied by more roasted malts, and hints of coffee but much less than the nose. It def has a nice roasted malt flavor thought. Nice thick velvety like taste, and feel but that comes later. A slight sweet malt flavor, with some caramel. Then more oats come to fruition, adding a nice oatmeal quality to combine with the chocolate, coffee, and caramel to make a nice dish. A nice stout like flavor, adding some scorched malts, and earthy qualities, also adds depth. Pretty much no alcohol.

M: Thicker than I thought, smooth and almost velvety. Milk chocolate comes to mind, whole milk.Very little carbonation.

F: A very slight alcohol comes through with some warmth. It's still a little sweet and malty, with tons more chocolate, milk chocolate. It also gets semi bitter on the finish. I think its more of a stout like bitterness than a hop based. The starched malts bring out some earthiness. It also gets a touch of spice, which could be from the alcohol or some light hops. More coffee seems to burst out late on the finish, again giving a breakfast stout like taste. It's actually a very enjoyable stout, not too heavy or thick, a nice velvety feel and taste, lots of chocolate and roasted malt flavors, some oats, coffee, and pretty much no boozy flavor.

Serving type: bottle
@ Sebago Brewing Company, 211 Fore St, Portland

12-20-2009 04:38:31 | More by jlindros

ppoitras

Massachusetts

3.78/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

22oz bottle purchased from Julio's, Westboro, MA.

Poured into an imperial pint glass, formed 1/2" brown head over the opaque dark brown/black brew. Head holds its own, with plentiful sticky tan lacing. Aroma is dark grains. Taste is dark malts as well, pretty well balanced between chocolate sweet and rich coffee. Mouthfeel is smooth and easy, and drinkability is very good. Session stout, anyone?

Serving type: bottle
@ Sebago Brewing Company, 211 Fore St, Portland

04-20-2006 21:22:16 | More by ppoitras

mothman

Saskatchewan (Canada)

3/5  rDev -21.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Thanks to knifestyles for this extra.

Poured into darkness snifter.

Pours a very little layer of khaki head. Color is pretty much black.

Aroma: Very muted. Some roasted notes and chocolate. Not to much here.

Taste: Roasted malts and bitter coffee with some chocolate. Almost has a burnt malt flavor. Some vanilla notes, but not much going on here.

Mouthfeel: Roasted and dry. Medium bodied with a medium amount of carbonation. Ends very dry and roasted, just as it starts.

Overall, this beer is a fairly average stout. Not very much going on here. It does pair very well with sweet dark chocolate, however. This beer is simply average overall.

Serving type: bottle
@ Sebago Brewing Company, 211 Fore St, Portland

09-06-2010 20:35:09 | More by mothman

francisweizen

Australia

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

A light black coloured brew with a nice head of light khaki-coloured foam. The aromas are of nicely roasted coffee and malts, with some hints of chocolate, caramel, and butterscotch in the mix as well. The taste is similar. coffee and toffee, i'd say. A really buttery, UK-styled stout that stays interesting until the bottom of the pint. Mouthfeel is creamy/smooth and drinkability is good as well.

Serving type: on-tap
@ Sebago Brewing Company, 211 Fore St, Portland

04-14-2005 20:03:56 | More by francisweizen

Durge

Connecticut

4.03/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thick black colored brew with a hefty tight light chocolate colored head and beautifully full lacing. The aroma is mild malt and light charcoal, not much more but pleasant. The flavor brings a middle level charcoal in a very medium bodied brew with modest carbonation. There is a very subtle but sweet chocolate suggestion with Karo malt. This is a very satisfying stout with reasonable guts and constitution though reasonably drinkable. Charcoal leads the way, finishes with plent left over that gathers at the back of your throat. Godd deal Sebago, and nice new digs moved down the road a bit since my last visit. Definitely recommended, the stout and the place!

Serving type: on-tap
@ Sebago Brewing Company, 211 Fore St, Portland

04-02-2009 04:00:22 | More by Durge

GarthDanielson

New Hampshire

3.9/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured on nitro-tap and served in a tumbler pint, the beer has a great cascade along the chestnut and auburn body, leveling off with a thin, dense, light tan head that looks creamy smooth. Aromas of roast coffee, dark chocolate, and a solid roasted grain in the background. Flavors of coffee, both roasted and bitter, on a light, dry body. Dark chocolate and charcoal lace the tongue and roof of the mouth while you drink, with the solid coffee bitter keeping the palate in check. Smokey and roasted aftertaste, with a curtain of lacing all over the glass. The finish is bitter and dry, just as it should be. Very tasty and smooth.

Serving type: nitro-tap
@ Sebago Brewing Company, 211 Fore St, Portland

08-24-2012 22:47:05 | More by GarthDanielson

cpetrone84

Pennsylvania

4.13/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5

A-pours a dark brown or black colored liquid that barely lets any light through. there is ample dark khaki colored head that is thick and robust looking. the head has solid retention, lingers for quite some time. the glass is completely coated in lace, thick and covering.

S-the nose is not big but it is very well blended. the oak has a great presence with hints of bourbon and nice notes of vanilla. Milk chocolate lies underneath with hints of molasses. The finish brings a light earthy note with hints of grass.

T-the taste is the same, lighter but well blended. Oaky vanilla and a hint of bourbon lay down a solid foundation. Lactic sugars seem to be present in the middle giving it a sweet feel that fades quickly into a big dark chocolate malt and a touch of roasted espresso. Some dark fruits come in towards the back with dark cherry, some ripe plum.

M-this is medium to full body and extremely smooth. there is very little carbonation making it slick on the back of the throat. I'd like to see a little more carbonation to give it a stronger finish. It is slightly dry...ahh where is the carbonation!

D-this is extremely tasty, perfectly blending the barrel and some nice stout complexity. seems like a milk/sweet stout almost and I wasn't sure exactly how to class this beer. The lack of carbonation kills the mouthfeel as it was really a solid beer other than that glaring gap.

Serving type: bottle
@ Sebago Brewing Company, 29 Elm St, Gorham

03-09-2010 02:35:14 | More by cpetrone84

thekevlarkid

Maryland

3.88/5  rDev +1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Out of my last Sebago bomber this beer was a near-opaque, black color. The two-fingers of tan head displayed moderate retention and good lacing. The aroma was rather light, coffee, roasted malt and black walnuts. The flavors were quite dark and considerably more bold than most Sebago products (which was good). I tasted lots of roasted malt and some blackened malt, coffee, a bit of earthiness, baking cocoa and the finish was tongue-coating and bitter. The mouthfeel was smooth, the body full and the carbonation medium. Though it could have used more sweetness in the malt, I considered this a balanced and solid beer as well as one of Sebago's best.

Serving type: bottle
@ Sebago Brewing Company, 211 Fore St, Portland

03-02-2009 23:11:19 | More by thekevlarkid

sulldaddy

Connecticut

3.9/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

I am sampling a room temp bottle poured into a snifter. The beer pours pitch black with creamy tan head of 1 cm foaming up easily. The head fades and rests as a surface layer quickly. The aroma is roasted malt and a bit of grassy hops and just a hint of coffee and dry roasted malt. First sip reveals a lite to average body with very smooth texture. Also very fine rollig carbonation. Flavor starts with a bit of sweet malt and chocolate and roasted notes as well. Moves to grassy hops and this combines with roasted notes and lingers for a bit after each swallow. A nice beer that is easy to drink, but a little thicker body would be an improvement.

Serving type: bottle
@ Sebago Brewing Company, 211 Fore St, Portland

04-21-2006 00:14:55 | More by sulldaddy

Jayli

Massachusetts

3.63/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

This beer was a deep, dark brown - minimal light passed through. There was a thin light brown head, and decent lacing. The scent is slightly smoky, hint of hops, but mostly malty. The taste is decent with hints of coffee. Malts hit you up front,with a slightly dry finish. Overall, a decent beer.

Serving type: on-tap
@ Sebago Brewing Company, 211 Fore St, Portland

09-15-2008 16:56:34 | More by Jayli

donkeyrunner

Massachusetts

4.21/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

My beer review served in a 8 oz. plastic hotel cup.

Black with a showy tan head. Several layers of lace left like one of those sand art things bottles.

Smells like roast malt, char and goey dark chocolate syrup. Has an encompassing leafy, muddy throughout.

Tastes like it smells only stronger. Bittersweet chocolate and coffee with a lovely bitter roast malt back and fade. Mud puddle earthyness.

A bit thin for most stouts but downright chewy at 4.75% abv.

Lake Trout is Sebago's epiphany beer; far better than anything else in their portfolio. Three years ago I actually heard an argument about this very subject break out two rows in front of me during a Phish concert.

Serving type: bottle
@ Sebago Brewing Company, 211 Fore St, Portland

03-03-2013 00:05:20 | More by donkeyrunner

BeerSox

Virginia

4.1/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

22oz bomber into nonic.

Pitch black with only a hint of ruby light coming in at the very edges down at the bottom. A frothy one finger light brown head slowly settles to a razor thin cap with a thick rim.

Bitter roasty malts that mimic dark coffee. Maybe a touch of dark chocolate.

The roasty malts are extra bitter, this almost seems like just a step below a RIS without the massive hops. The plain coffee bean flavor is in the flavor as well. Full bodied, good carbonation. The finish is the lingering bitter malts.

I really like this stout. It's solid, but doesn't put you out like an RIS or Export Stout. Not quite a session beer but it's very drinkable. Plain ol' American Stouts don't have much complexity, but this one has just a touch of it. Recommended.

Serving type: bottle
@ Sebago Brewing Company, 211 Fore St, Portland

06-16-2008 03:02:37 | More by BeerSox

albern

Massachusetts

3.88/5  rDev +1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

This is a fine looking stout, It pours a very dark, cloudy brown with particulates quite evident throughout the glass. The head is creamy, tan, okay retention and some lacing going on as well. The particulates in the stout make this quite a sight and they are just in suspended animation. The nose on the beer isn't all that assertive. There are dark crystal malts, some roasted notes, maybe a wood grilled aroma, a touch of coffee, and just a hint of vanilla. The nose could have a bit more punch.

The taste is quite nice right from the pour. It is clearly a beer with a good deal of dark roasted, almost charred flavors. There is some woody complexity, some leafy drying hops are quite evident, and there is a hint or more of some cherry chocolate, and some semi-sweet cooking chocolate. The bittering flavors linger in the mouth a bit longer than I would have liked, but the assertiveness is appreciated. This is a medium bodied beer, some coffee notes emerge towards the finish with a woody almost tobacco like complexity. A pretty good stout overall.

Serving type: bottle
@ Sebago Brewing Company, 211 Fore St, Portland

04-10-2010 20:49:26 | More by albern

far333

Connecticut

4.35/5  rDev +13.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Deep dark brown, nearly black with garnet highlights. A two-inch high head rises up thick and bulbous and fat and rounded and slowly sinks back to an inch high mound with fat bubbles loudly bursting slowly.

Rich aroma of espresso and dark chocolate, molasses and currant.

Richer flavor of darkly roasted malt, burnt espresso and dark chocolate, smokey and leathery, charred bark, finish of burnt oak. Great flavor, very complex, reminds a lot of an imperial.

Full and creamy mouthfeel upfront, thins out across the tongue, finishes tingly.

Very tasty, highly drinkable, an incredibly flavorful sessionable beer. Happened upon this and had to try just cuz of the name, it was a very happy accident.

Serving type: bottle
@ Sebago Brewing Company, 211 Fore St, Portland

04-17-2009 01:13:23 | More by far333

NEhophead

Massachusetts

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

1 pt 6 fl oz brown bottle served in a nonic.

Pours a deep brown with shades of coal. Inch-high, light brown rocky foamy of a head that slowly recedes from the outside-in. Walls of condensed lacing that last as thin trails.

Big whaffs of roasted malt with a touch of sweetness from vanilla and oatmeal. Hints of heavy cream and an underlying smokiness.

Gruff and chewy roasted malts giving notes of bittered, dark chocolate and espresso beans. Faint hints of grape and unsweetened plum. A touch of oak and smokiness prior to a big, bitter hop bite. Mocha, dark chocolate, and bitter caramel in the aftertaste.

Full in body; rich and chewy yet very dry which works well with the profile of dark, robust flavors.

An easy drinking "dry stout" with some good flavors and aromas, not to mention a head that never breaks. This offering tastes very fresh, and the flavors really come through as this stout warms.

Serving type: bottle
@ Sebago Brewing Company, 211 Fore St, Portland

11-11-2006 15:40:16 | More by NEhophead

yesyouam

New York

4.33/5  rDev +12.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Sebago Lake Trout Stout is a brown-black ale with a thin brown head that fades. It has a very roasty, chocolate, coffee aroma. It smells so roasty! It's quite full bodied and quite smooth. The finish is slightly gritty. It's bitter and roasty with chocolate and coffee notes. There's a touch of anise at the finish. It's a wicked solid American stout.

Serving type: bottle
@ Sebago Brewing Company, 211 Fore St, Portland

06-20-2010 04:17:43 | More by yesyouam

Gambrinus1184

Connecticut

3.98/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served on-tap in a Southampton pint glass at MiKro in Hamden, Conn.

A: Black with ruby-brown edges under a thin veil of creamy, off-white foam. Lacing was minimal but the foam resin hung on for the duration of the brew.

S: Roasted barley and a bit of smoked wood round out the mostly herbal and earthy aroma with a leafy hop scent on the end.

T: Flavorful roasted malts with bits of chicory and anise in the bittersweet, bold entry. Some light, fruity ale flavors round the palate before bittering up and leaving a dry, roasted finish.

M: Full-bodied stout that errs more balanced than creamy. A bit chewy at its center but relatively dry, bitter finish.

D: The 5.8% ABV and herbacious hop balance make Sebago's Lake Trout a fine American stout IMO. Not the best stout I've had in ages, but a steady drinking, balanced stout to pair with a dessert, cigar or on its own.

Serving type: on-tap
@ Sebago Brewing Company, 211 Fore St, Portland

03-06-2011 17:27:39 | More by Gambrinus1184

MuddyFeet

North Carolina

3.95/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured a deep brown. Did not think I could cut through that depth of brown with a knife. However, with a flashlight I was able to get some bright and shiny ruby shimmers around the edges. Thick and creamy head that was lightly dyed brown.

Nose is lightly of roasted malts.

Flavor is a solid American stout. Plenty of roasted and toasted malts up front. Support is quickly followed up with a nice and mild hop base that really is noticeable about a minute after the swallow--comes through as evergreen. Some oatmeal but mostly to provide some body--its addition to the flavor is very mild. Little bit of vanilla is peaking its smooth and tasty way through as well.

Heavy mouthfeel and slightly slick and oily. Little bit dry but not overly.

An easy drinking stout that makes a nice smooth and relaxing nightcap.

Serving type: bottle
@ Sebago Brewing Company, 211 Fore St, Portland

10-28-2005 02:06:53 | More by MuddyFeet

deltatauhobbit

Maine

3.55/5  rDev -7.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a dark brown almost black color with a huge amount of light tan head, maybe too much, fades at a slow rate, leaves a huge amount of lacing too.

Smell is pretty much all roasted malt with little bit of a metallic aroma.

Taste is actively carbonated, pretty much explodes in my mouth like a cola, good amount of roasted malt with a coffee-ish bitter aftertaste, the bitterness doesn't linger too long, feels a bit thin for a stout though and lacking on the creaminess (probably because of the carbonation).

Serving type: bottle
@ Sebago Brewing Company, 211 Fore St, Portland

06-08-2010 00:55:02 | More by deltatauhobbit

Dope

Massachusetts

3.68/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: A dark brown with just a hint of red in there. Thick and dense light brown head. Fades slowly leaving a nice swirly lacework behind.

S: Nice roasty aroma. Mainly coffee with a bunch of oatmeal that adds some nice creaminess. A hint of bitter dark chocolate and a touch of smoke.

T: Smooth oatmeal with some smokey/charred malt. Coffee mainly and just a hint of dark chocolate but not much. Fairly bitter with all the smoke and coffee. The oatmeal tries to smooth it out but doesn't quite make it.

M: Medium bodied, smooth and creamy.

O: Not a bad stout. On the very roasty and smokey side. Low sweetness; quite bitter. Almost no sign of chocolate which probably would have helped balance it out.

Serving type: bottle
@ Sebago Brewing Company, 211 Fore St, Portland

08-16-2012 03:42:05 | More by Dope

BeerResearcher

Massachusetts

4.45/5  rDev +15.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A frothy, creamy beige head rests upon an impenetrable mahogany body. Trails of spidery lace fall slowly down the side of the glass. A sweet malt aroma blends well with coffee and chocolate notes and a hint of floral hops. Heavy thick malt is balanced by the ample supply of hops. Sweet, smoky, hoppy and peaty (sounds like the missing dwarfs). The rich and creamy texture make for a very drinkable stout.

Serving type: on-tap
@ Sebago Brewing Company, 211 Fore St, Portland

05-15-2003 18:00:59 | More by BeerResearcher

DarkerTheBetter

Pennsylvania

4.22/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Thanks to PapaMurph for this one.

This beer appears to be a dark cola color with a think film of dirty tan that leaves a touch of lace behind.

Smells pleasantly of coca and afresh coffee with a dry kicker of oats and rhubarb.

Tastes thin and fruity that starts with a garbled heap of rye bread, apples and grapes with a touch of ashy smoke that transitions into a nice coffee and a faint dark chocolate. The distant thin watery nature of this one really keeps the eclectic flavors at bay so that they work with each other instead of against. This one finishes off with a tart sour candy nip and a smoky coffee.

Feels just about right for the flavors to deliver themselves, with a subdued, slick body and a nice airy carbonation.

A neat take on the style for sure.

Serving type: bottle
@ Sebago Brewing Company, 211 Fore St, Portland

06-26-2008 06:18:08 | More by DarkerTheBetter