Silva Stout - Green Flash Brewing Co.

BB1313

Ohio

4.95/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Ok, my mind has been blown by this one. I love stouts, but to be honest, I've had alot of letdowns when it comes to BBA stouts. I've also found some that I really love, but this one is perfect for me. I'm not saying I'll never come across one better than this, but wow. I've been lucky enough to have this on-tap during Cleveland Beer Week, and didn't think I'd ever see a bottle on shelves.. lucky me.

12oz bottle poured into a snifter. Pours black, nice 1 inch mocha head. Beautiful wicked lacing and retention, I'm talkin beautiful lacing and retention. Smells like tons of milk chocolate, dark chocolate, coffee, vanilla, and a touch of bourbon. Smells like a double chocolate cookie. All of that can be found in the flavors as well. The bourbon is blended harmoniously. There's a nice sweetness, but far from cloyingly sweet. Not bitter. Chocolate and coffee/expresso dominate. Every once in awhile I catch a blast of vanilla. Oak/wood is there, but not dominant. There's also a touch of caramel and butterscotch. Mouthfeel is perfect. It's not milkshake thick, but thick enough. Perfectly carbonated, so damn smooth. This beer can be dangerously drinkable, because it's so good you'd never want to stop. Such a treat, very complex. Aromas and flavors are extremely bold. This is the REAL deal.

I'm confident this is the best stout I've ever had, to date. World class, phenomenal.

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2012 22:20:06 | More by BB1313

QuentinCall

Georgia

4.75/5  rDev +6.3%

05-23-2013 19:54:34 | More by QuentinCall

Nugganooch

California

4.59/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

12oz stubby bottle dated 12/18/12 (from the 2nd release I believe)
*Notes from 05/17/13 – FW snifter glass

A: Jet black body with more of a dark coffee edge. Not terribly thick as expected with a sizeable frothy turbinado sugar colored head. Impressive stay power for a barrel-aged beer. Waves of speckled stick lace the glass after each sip.

S: Dark roast and chocolate malts meld with some very nice bourbon barrel notes of vanilla, spice, and earthy wood. There is a brown sugar sweetness with some dark fruit additions and more bourbon coming through. Has a light vinous character of rich leather and dried tobacco at the trail end. Alcohol is rather tame in the nose. Very complex and not overly burdened with the bourbon which is nice.

T: Taste is a delicious blend of dark chocolate, dark fruits, molasses, bourbon, vanilla, spice, and charred wood. Almost crème brulee like with the creamy vanilla and caramelized sugar flavors. I get a glimpse of light licorice on the backend. Bitterness is a touch on the lower side and alcohol is rather tamed albeit noticeable. Incredibly complex yet delicately balanced. Simply delectable chocolaty bourbon goodness.

M: On the thinner side for an Imperial stout but not in a distractible manner. Moderate and not too heavy or fulfilling from the very creamy texture and even carbonation. Light warming alcohol and some drying on the finish with a clean exit.

D: One of the better bourbon barreled stouts I have come across. Complex like a bourbon chocolate cordial. Yet balanced with a more restrained approach with the barreling that compliments the base beer rather than drown it out completely. Simply an incredible blend and up there with some of the best of them. Now I just need MOAR!!!

Serving type: bottle

05-23-2013 19:30:05 | More by Nugganooch

visionaries

California

5/5  rDev +11.9%

05-23-2013 15:28:57 | More by visionaries

velcrogrip

Florida

4.75/5  rDev +6.3%

05-22-2013 03:46:15 | More by velcrogrip

SkeeterBoganski

Colorado

4.5/5  rDev +0.7%

05-22-2013 01:31:19 | More by SkeeterBoganski

mikeincharleston

South Carolina

4/5  rDev -10.5%

05-22-2013 01:08:15 | More by mikeincharleston

SPLITGRIN

Kentucky

4.79/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

A vigorous pour gets me two full fingers of chocolate malt colored head. The foam actually sits in two different levels the top being slightly lighter then the bottom level. Lace is consistent and leaves a ramp to the glass. Body is the purest of ink blot black. Nose is absolutely delectable with chocolate brownies, chocolate malt, and rich mellow bourbon tones. The smell is amazing and truely inviting. As I take first sip I quickly have to check the label and verify the alcohol content. This beer is so chocolatey, creamy and rich there is no trace of the 10.1% content. Sweet bourbon soaked heavy bread and coco dance on the palate. I consider myself a huge long time fan of big stouts and this is nothing short of spectacular. Granted this one is definitely on the sweeter side. This makes the perfect night cap or desert beer. Finish is long sweet and heavy but in a good way. I will be seeking out much more of this gem in the future.

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2013 00:59:54 | More by SPLITGRIN

Kreko7

California

4.75/5  rDev +6.3%

05-19-2013 16:18:41 | More by Kreko7

eyeenjoybeer

Indiana

3.5/5  rDev -21.7%

05-18-2013 18:26:58 | More by eyeenjoybeer

KingEdward

North Carolina

4/5  rDev -10.5%

05-15-2013 21:29:51 | More by KingEdward

Zbeetleman

California

4.5/5  rDev +0.7%

05-15-2013 03:26:34 | More by Zbeetleman

tourdot

Wisconsin

4.5/5  rDev +0.7%

05-14-2013 06:25:55 | More by tourdot

IPAyForHops

California

4/5  rDev -10.5%

05-13-2013 00:19:27 | More by IPAyForHops

CoryR

Oregon

4.25/5  rDev -4.9%

05-12-2013 06:13:31 | More by CoryR

themind

New Jersey

4.51/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Magnificent! Wow! excellent brew from Green Flash. This is the best brew I have had from them. Pours a nice head with a strong bourbon stout aroma. Fairly creamy mouthfeel with a little ABV burn. This for sure I would purchase again id I could. If you like bourbon stouts this is one to seek out. Up against the big boys this guy can throw some hands!

Bottom Line: Very, very good BB stout!

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2013 00:37:38 | More by themind

strongaf

Washington

4.5/5  rDev +0.7%

05-11-2013 07:25:50 | More by strongaf

hilgart1

Illinois

5/5  rDev +11.9%

05-11-2013 01:07:08 | More by hilgart1

sukwonee

Washington

4.25/5  rDev -4.9%

05-10-2013 23:12:31 | More by sukwonee

Adamostella

Washington

4.5/5  rDev +0.7%

05-10-2013 19:52:30 | More by Adamostella

BMart

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +0.7%

05-08-2013 19:10:12 | More by BMart

mindspin315

New Jersey

4.4/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Silva Stout Batch 2 (12/2012) poured into Firestone Walker snifter

Apperance: Poured a nice thick 2 fingers worth of light brown head. Settled to a solid cap. Legs stay hanging around the glass with nice lacing after each sip. Dark body with the lightest of brown on the edges.

Smell: Silva Stout really takes on the aromas of the wood it is aged in. Lots of charred oak, very woody, touch of dark fruits, dark chocolate, and licorice in the back of the nose. Rich dark chocolate comes through more and more as the nose is taken in.

Taste: Chocolate, pitted cherry mixed with plenty of charred oak. Very bourbon like, dries out in the finish with some tannin & heat on the back end...light ash left in the aftertaste. The taste and feel are def reminiscent of bourbon. Not the huge vanilla, coffee, chocolate notes you get in a lot of barrel aged beers, but more of a showcase of the woodiness in a beer. Different than other BA Stouts, but non-less delicious. A light metallic taste comes through in the middle to end, which might be the one thing that makes this less than world class to me. Overall the finish is clean and long much like a bourbon. Left with a nice coating of flavors.

Overall: This is a BA stout that has a huge American whiskey feel to it. Plenty of white oak char and bourbon barrel presence while chocolate is the strongest flavor. This beer is more about the feel than the flavor...not that the flavor is anything less than tasty. The dry finish, with the tannin and bold chocolate flavor make this one to savor and enjoy. This may not be as in your face as many BA beers but it is incredible in the way that the wood/bourbon play their way though this stout.

[95/100]

Serving type: bottle

05-08-2013 05:23:26 | More by mindspin315

mcdonald422

California

5/5  rDev +11.9%

05-06-2013 16:54:43 | More by mcdonald422

CaptCleveland

Ohio

4.61/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bottle poured into Huna snifter, no dating. Big thanks to zchall23.

Black, opaque elixir, huge 2-finger, tan-brown head, dissipates to stable rim. Plenty of lacing with the first few sips, clears as the brew warms.

Wonderful vanilla, bourbon, oak, char and burnt malt aromas. The vanilla and oak predominate and are quite enjoyable.

More chocolate and cocoa come through at the forefront. The bourbon is understated but comes through at the end. A nice amalgam of dark fruits, cocoa, burnt malt and bourbon. Nicely balanced and create a very complex brew.

Full body, nicely carbonated, rich.

Well done and another example of the craftsmanship that pervades GF. Seek this out. It has been a want of mine for some time and well worth the effort.

Serving type: bottle

05-03-2013 04:37:07 | More by CaptCleveland

TheBeerTruck

Michigan

4.75/5  rDev +6.3%

05-03-2013 02:58:29 | More by TheBeerTruck