Pike Street XXXXX Stout - Pike Pub & Brewery

marc77

California

4.55/5  rDev +13.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Virtually jet black in hue, topped by a thin, but dense and persistent russet head that leaves intricate lace. Assertive barrage of sharply burnt unmalted barley and smoked tinged espresso hits the nose at first, then diminishes slightly, allowing rich, yet rounded chocolate malt to lend a distinct mocha impression. As the beer breathes, buttery malt and slightly salty tamari notes lend an odd, yet enjoyably savory sensation. Akin to a more robustly malty Shakespeare Stout in aroma without the grapefruit notes. Continuing nearly seemlessly, smokey, smooth dark roast coffee bitterness upfront in flavor yields to softer, citrus laced hop bitterness. Mocha surges in after a brief deliberation concomitantly with toffeeish dark caramel malt sweetness providing deep malt presence that would be dessert like, if not for the pronounced, well integrated, persistent burnt bitter component. Fruitness is subdued, but complementary, providing a mellow, imperial esque pruneish contrast. Moderate in body, with a light, yet soft and velvety mouthfeel conducive to easy quaffing. Finishes satiatingly cleanly bitter and rich, not unlike hopped espresso cut with Irish Cream. XXXXX is an absolutely delicious stout that only improves as it breathes. It approaches the depth of overall character of a good imperial stout, but packages it into a relatively light and highly drinkable brew. Reminscent of a Full Sail Imperial Porter meets Rogue Willy Shakes. Its excellence precludes satisfaction from a 12 ounce portion. A bomber would be most appreciated.

Serving type: bottle

05-04-2003 17:53:26 | More by marc77

HardTarget

Texas

4.55/5  rDev +13.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

A) Dark black with a sticky leather tan head that coats the sides of my glass.

S) Mmm... chocolate syrup on waffles. Plenty of base sugars, nice roasted grain edge that is restrained, and a West coast sappy citric hop profile. Everything an American Stout should be. Oh, ok, FES, sure.

T) Tastes a lot like Yeti to me. Rich chocolate and coffee notes but a very genteel finish to all the roasted grain. The fresh hop notes really help to keep it all pleasant and satisfying.

M) Pretty slick, maybe some oats in there somewhere, leaves my mouth coats with a slippery feel. Body is medium heavy and carbonation is pretty strong.

O) Very yummy beer. I wants more. Welcome to Texas Pike's!

Serving type: bottle

11-17-2008 06:00:34 | More by HardTarget

Duckmancgy

Alberta (Canada)

4.55/5  rDev +13.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

22 oz bottle to pint glass

Fantastic.. Not much else to say - but I will go through the list.

Upon opening and pouring the experience begins, great pour with a very very dark almost black colour to it. Can't see through the glass (always good with an extra stout), and finishes with a nice 1.5 finger caramel head. The head started to melt away and within a few minutes it was all gone.

Smell was strong with coffee, and a sweet malty almost burnt chocolate smell. Definitely sweeter than floury or bitter. The flavour mimics that quite a bit. First across the tongue was slight bitter espresso flavouring, which led to a smooth finish. It was nicely carbonated and was very easy to finish the entire bottle.

I started drinking it with some home made pizza which didn't harm the flavour but didn't really add to it. Finished with a nice piece of 70% dark chocolate, and that pushed this from an excellent beer to a freaking fantastic beverage of glory.

Definitely a must buy and must drink. I haven't had anything else from Pike but this would make me like to try others.

Serving type: bottle

02-27-2011 01:35:00 | More by Duckmancgy

freed

Oregon

4.53/5  rDev +12.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Dark glass bottle, dark label, pop the lid, and the pour is dark is well. No false advertising here. This is a dark beer. The copper head dissipates quickly leaving a veritable mirror.

The smell is reminicent of coffee, with a slight suggestion of malt. The flavors of coffee, roasted barley, and some more coffee. The mouthfeel is significant but clean. The mouth is left dry though, and wanting. If coffee was this good....

Serving type: bottle

03-05-2003 19:43:11 | More by freed

Gaisgeil

Michigan

4.53/5  rDev +12.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Now THIS is creative, just what I like!

I was very impressed with this one, I'm sure I could drink quite a bit of this, seriously. Pours a smooth jet black with one of the darkest browns I've ever seen, with great retention. Tons of lacing all the way through. Nose is quite brilliant, so smokey it reminded me of homemade beef jerky. Daddy like! Slight background of char and espresso. I could just smell this and be pretty happy about it. The taste is really great, very very nice, tons of smoke and roast, vaguely coffee-like, but less so than quite a few stouts out there, certainly not the main attraction. Bits of cocoa thrown in for good measure. Just enough hops to balance things out nicely and just the slightest bit of carbonation. Just a little bit milky as well. Very nice! Mouthfeel is just a tad thin for my tastes, but still very nice, coats the palate well. The really good thing here is there isn't a whole lot of differance in the taste no matter what temperature it's served at. I first sipped it at about 40 degrees and let it warm to about 60 or so and there wasn't a whole lot of variance. I like that! Who wants to be rushed?

I'd drink this a lot if I lived in the region, very, very good stout, the smoke really makes it for me. I could drink a good many of these! Yum!

Slàinte!

Serving type: bottle

03-25-2005 07:51:49 | More by Gaisgeil

TheBungyo

Washington

4.53/5  rDev +12.7%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I reviewed this before but ownership has changed and the supposedly the recipe along with it. It is now listed as 6.6. I'm greatly enjoying this stout ... I watch as the liquid tumbles out of the bottle into my pint glass and think "I've seen that body before ..." Yes I have, I've seen it in some of the best Imperial Stouts there are, which would be Stone, Silver City, and Fish Tale. This being a Foreign stout still measures up to the aforementioned. The head is only a quarter inch thick but a lovely sandy color. There's also a bit of lacing going on. Nose beats you in the face with hammerfists of chocolate, cocoa and fudge ...it screams "tap out wimp" whilst in it's corner espresso and some roast bitterness cackle with glee. Man, this is WAY better than last year and I am absolutely loving it. Mouth is servicable enough but nothing to write home about. As far as drinkability goes, damn this is a special stout. If you like stouts this should have a parking space in your fridge. If it doesn't, then you're a pretender at the game of stout love.

Serving type: bottle

10-28-2006 09:24:57 | More by TheBungyo

istarilord

Hawaii

4.53/5  rDev +12.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Both bottle and tap are good, tap is of course preferred (growler++).

Pours a lovely black with nut-brown head of decent density.

Lovely malt aroma with a good balance of floral hoppiness.

Overall flavor is well balanced, good strong northwest stout with coffee & chocolate malt balanced by just the right amount of hops.

Very smooth and easy to drink (a little too easy!), excellent flavor, excellent beer.

Serving type: on-tap

08-10-2009 10:45:57 | More by istarilord

warriorsoul

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +11.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Imagine that...me following bjohnson around.
Another gem on tap at Redbones...you better get there soon.
Arrived jet black with no speck of light passing thru this bad boy...a half a finger of cocoa-colored head. Would have been more if I was pouring, but they like to pour 'em this way...I ain't complaining and I won't dock it any in appearance. This beer was gorgeous and the lacing was so incredibly tight, unlike most...most of the foam sticks around for the duration of the pint.
Milk chocolate in the nose...a touch of sweet malt pierces the nostrils calling me in for closer inspection.
The taste is as good as it gets...perfectly balanced, not overly sweet and even a bit green, drying out the finish. Very nice chocolate profile, a roasty element is there with no burnt or off flavors. Alcohol peaks thru as it hits room temperature, but ever so slightly.
Mouthfeel is full bodied and the carbonation is perfect...I could easily drink this one all evening and appreciate every sip.
One of my favorite stouts to date.

Serving type: on-tap

11-09-2006 02:08:40 | More by warriorsoul

DogFood11

California

4.5/5  rDev +11.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This is a piece of work to look at. Rich thick brown head eventually falls to a solid cover and leaves ring lacing. Black body and a late rising carbonation sets in to support the growing head.

Dark black coffee aroma and taste. Teeters on being astringent but it pulls itself together to finish with a flash of hops and then creamy and chocolaty milk close the deal. Mouthfeel is thick and rich. 6.6%abv is not noticeable at all.

Notes: If this was available to me on a regular basis it would be a staple in my arsenal. Chewy malted goodness. It has the "Bigness" of a Imperial stout without the inflated alcohol. Loved it.

Serving type: bottle

01-21-2007 04:07:21 | More by DogFood11

ritzkiss

Ontario (Canada)

4.5/5  rDev +11.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

22oz bottle pours a dark dark brew, hints of light around the edges, tan head that has some staying power.

This is exactly what I'm looking for in an export stout. Full flavors and smells, lots of roast, dry finish and all for less ABV bang than your average RIS.

Espresso, lots of roasting malts, hints of baker's chocolate, a touch of hops in the finish. Some sweetness in the body to balance to the roast, providing just the right foil. Rich and yet smooth, dry finish. Alcohol nowhere to be found. This is fan-frickin-tastic. Would gladly drink this again!

Note: my bottle states 7% ABV

Serving type: bottle

09-13-2009 15:44:49 | More by ritzkiss

tchenery

Virginia

4.5/5  rDev +11.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Beer looks great poured in a pint glass. It is jet black, with maybe only a shade of the darkest brown when held up to the light, but you'd have to look real hard to find it. The head is an off-white, tan color that dissipates and leaves a nice lacing.

It smells like dark chocolate, raisins, chocolate covered cherries, plums, hints of tobacco, and cocoa. The beer tastes very cocoa-like. It is a very thick bodied beer and has a bit of grainy taste on the end of it, kind of like tasting dry instant cocoa mix. I love it though. There are dark fruit flavors towards the end of the taste and it leaves you with a toasted sweet taste, almost like a roasted marshmallow.

It has a silky mouthfeel, but not too sweet, and is incredibly drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

06-01-2010 01:14:12 | More by tchenery

Drew966

Florida

4.5/5  rDev +11.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Pike Street XXX Stout pours an absolutely opaque black with nice chocolate milk colored head. The aroma has some coffee notes, some dark chocolate notes and dark malt qualities. The body is appropriately thick. The flavor is very nice, not only are dark chocolate and coffee like flavors very noticeable, but a very nice citrus hop flavor runs right through it. An excellent stout.

Serving type: bottle

12-27-2010 13:24:59 | More by Drew966

kemoarps

Washington

4.48/5  rDev +11.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a beautiful opaque black with a big silky foamy head the colour of almonds. It lingers. And lingers. And lingers. Is beautiful. As is the glass upon which it leaves its trace.

Nose is a little sweet, with a roasty toasty invitingness... I'm quite excited.

There is a roasty malt backbone, makes me think of a warm winter evening by the fire for some reason. Not as sweet as the nose, but more burnt bitterness than hoppiness.

Well well well. This is excellently well done. Creamy and smoothe. Light carbonation balanced perfectly well, with only a minimal alcohol aftertaste. Definitely one of my favourite representations of this style, which happens to be one of my favourite styles. I will be picking up a couple more to bring back to Texas with me.

Serving type: bottle

07-18-2012 06:33:38 | More by kemoarps

NeroFiddled

Pennsylvania

4.47/5  rDev +11.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Beautiful dark appearance. The body is a completely opaque black and the head is a creamy orange-brown. It drops quickly to just a collar and thin surface covering, but it leaves some very nice lace as well. The aroma expresses a sharp fruitiness, but it's not exactly the "burnt currant" aroma that's so common to the style. I expected it might lead into a tart flavor, but there's nothing like that here. With further investigation and a few swirls of the glass, some smokiness and even light caramel become apparent. It's not a really complex or rich aroma, but it's quite intriguing! The body is full with a mild and exceptionally fine carbonation that's silky smooth across the palate. Quite velvety! The flavor delivers the fruitiness promised by the nose, but it's awash in rich bittersweet chocolate and espresso-like roastiness. A bold bitterness balances and dries things out in the long finish where a distinctly smoky and acrid roastiness lingers. An exceptional stout that stands out for its unique character. Well worth seeking out!

Serving type: bottle

02-24-2003 18:33:56 | More by NeroFiddled

EnojysAnyBeer

Colorado

4.47/5  rDev +11.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

A- Molasses-dark in the pour settles to a black body with a slow-forming head that jiggles like jello. Looks thick. Greatest lacing I've ever seen on my mug. Dark orange highlights

S- Sweet, roasted malts, a touch of dark fruit, and a whiff of alcohol. Hops are nice and subdued.

T- Bitter and roasted in the mouth and sticky sweet on the tongue. Alcohol plays an interesting role, it wisps the brew through the mouth and leaves you wanting more.

M- Viscous and chewy, just the way a sweet, dark beer should be.

D- Very basic brew, but interesting enough to go through a bomber vigorously.

Serving type: bottle

09-07-2009 04:26:28 | More by EnojysAnyBeer

dedrinker

Kansas

4.47/5  rDev +11.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A stout looks like a stout already.

What I want to talk about is how this beer brought my buzz back. 20 years ago I had my first sip of Guinness Extra Stout. I thought I was chewing on a leather belt soaked in coffee; nothing like the bud light and Olympia I had cut my teeth on. Then as times changed and formerly venerable international brewers dumbed down for wider market share, beers like Guinness seemed so...whatever.

But tonight Pike Stout brought back that initial wonder and awe at a bold brew that tasted so compelling. Sure this is no bourbon barrel coffee chocolate wild yeast indian spit porn and murder stout, but the purity of its concentrated roasted malt (black coffee, roasted chicory) with that sharp edge of hop + alcohol fruity finish is really awesome when considering how the robust honest deep roasted/toasted/burnt malt flavors roll across the tongue so easily - such great mouth-feel and drinkability! It was brilliant with a little spicy jambalaya number I improvised.

Basically it blew me away because the classic deep dark roasted malt flavor was there, but was so easy to drink.

Serving type: bottle

04-12-2011 04:04:47 | More by dedrinker

DarthRadb

North Carolina

4.47/5  rDev +11.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: Pours a nice 60w Motor oil Black, Small Tan Head, leaves Nice Lacing.

Smell: Roasted Malt, Chocolate, Coffee and a slight woody note.

Taste: Awesomeness in a Bottle, Chocolate Malt, Bittersweet Dark Chocolate and Coffee flavors, as with the smell a slight woody note is present in the taste, Great Balance of flavors. Taste very good at Fridge Temp, but gets better as it warms. Alcohol is not really noticable of a 7% ABV.

Mouthfeel: Full Body and very Nice, but not overly heavy. Very Balanced.

Drinkability: Very Drinkable, not a session beer at 7% ABV. A 22oz bomber goes down very easily.

Serving type: bottle

07-22-2011 19:42:57 | More by DarthRadb

MAB

Alberta (Canada)

4.47/5  rDev +11.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

OMG, is this ever a great beer!
Had it on-tap at Hop-In Brew (Nov. 16th).

The darkest brown head (on a pitch black stout) that I have ever encountered.
Roasted malt aroma is heavenly.
Flavors come at you fast and furious. It's malty, it's smoky, it's caramel, it's....absolutely delicious.
My only complaint was that, because the higher alcohol level, I couldn't have more than one and still drive home that night.

Serving type: on-tap

11-18-2011 20:50:52 | More by MAB

cokes

Wisconsin

4.45/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Virtually jet black, with just a few hints ruby. Deep brown head builds quickly and fades almost as fast.
Mocha, smoke, hints of berry sweetness and subtle hops enter the nose.
Enters the mouth with a smooth roasted flavors. Not harsh roasted, more of a mellow mocha. The chocolate notes are never explicit, but the seem to lurk within the other flavors. There is a pronounced smokiness here as well as some dirty, earthy flavors (in the best way possible). Deeper within the black heart of the beer lies some carmel sweetness and hints of fruit (cherry). Prickly hops end this one. Big enough to balance the heavy load, but nothing showy in themselves.
Silken smooth body, with a fair deal of carbonation. I could stand for just a little more heft, but now I am splitting hairs.
This is a nice one. Sorry to see it gone so fast.

Thanxxxxx, jreitman.

Serving type: bottle

10-22-2002 20:57:50 | More by cokes

wagenvolks

Texas

4.45/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On-tap at the Pike Pub & Brewery, Seattle, WA. (listed as 7% ABV)

The pint glass cane filled with an opaque, seal brown brew that turned amber at the edges when held up to the light. A thin wisp of burnt tan foam receded to a ring of bubbles, leaving behind thick webs of attractive lacing. Initially, I figured this to be a milk/sweet stout based on the aroma, with its rich notes of espresso and vanilla creme. But then, an onslaught of roasted malts, bold coffee roast, and a pinch of baker's chocolate let me know that this was not going to be "sweet". All was nicely balanced by a peat-like earthiness from the hops.

Hellooo roast! HUGE notes of dark chocolate malts with charred coffee beans and smoked earth abound in the flavor. Absolutely delicious, although as a Foreign/Export stout it might be a bit overbearing to recieve a perfect "5.0". Mouthfeel is spritzy and well-carbonated with a medium-thick body. A massively bitter, roasted baker's chocolate finish lingers for days. Pike Brewing hit it out of the park with this one. I hope my bomber survives the plane flight back to Raleigh. *crosses fingers*

[EDIT: the bottle held up well, consumed on 10/21/08. Excellent flavor & appearance, although the aroma is slightly diminished from the bottle. Mouthfeel not as bitter and strong, drinkability is the same.]

Serving type: on-tap

07-20-2008 22:07:49 | More by wagenvolks

Nowhereman529

Florida

4.45/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: This arrived at the table with a decent amount of head that left a good bit of lacing around the edge of the glass. Color-wise, it's a velvety deep brown to black.
S: Chocolate upfront with a bit of coffee and malt in the background. A very chacteristic stout-type smell.
T: Everything I hoped it would be: dark malt, dark chocolate, a little coffee, even a little molasses thrown in there as well. A well rounded flavor that did not disappoint.
M: This is a thick, chewy sort of beer, the kind of feel that a good stout should have. Moderate carbonation, slightly syrupy, but very nice overall.
D: This is a very drinkable beer, although with the "weight" of it, I could maybe only handle! three at a time. Definitely recommended if your in the area!

Serving type: on-tap

03-08-2009 01:41:15 | More by Nowhereman529

CampusCrew

Florida

4.45/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I had a 4 oz taste sample in greenville, sc Total Wine.

appearance: pitch black with some good head rentention and lacing

smell: roasted malt, coffee/chocolate

taste: a solid stout. dry and on par with Guinness extra. nice dark roasted malt flavors. a little anise flavor. nice well rounded atout

mouthfeel: medium bodied

drinkability: good overall stout and best beer of their lineup

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2010 13:36:32 | More by CampusCrew

sergeantstogie

Afghanistan

4.45/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

This stout was nice and dark with a medium head but lacing that lasted the whole way down.

I got a lot of charred wood and coffee and roasted malt on the nose. Exactly what I was expecting.

The taste followed the nose exactly but was much more pronounced than the nose.

Overall I think this style gets overlooked and quite often overly complicated. Pike did a perfect job of brewing a very solid American Stout. Too often the ABV, hops, additional flavors etc etc try to complicate an already great style. Pike kept it simple and perfect. Well done!

Serving type: on-tap

07-18-2011 04:40:13 | More by sergeantstogie

hogrider

Florida

4.45/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured in a goblet and developed a one half inch head, good lacing all around the glass. Roasted coffee and chocolate hit my nose; the taste is as if I am drinking strong unsweetened coffee with chocolate added. I like it, it leaves a bitter after taste that some might dislike. HOG

Serving type: bottle

02-02-2012 00:00:02 | More by hogrider

Immortale25

Florida

4.45/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a Dogfish signature snifter.

A- Pours an incredibly opaque black color with a 1/2 inch dark tan head that has good retention before riding down to a thick ring around the edge of the glass and random bubbly surface foam. Solid sheets of lacing.

S- Roasty and nutty with elements of dark chocolate and molasses. Some sweet caramel is involved as well.

T- Delicately smooth roasted malt with small notes of oak and smoke. The 7% ABV is concealed incredibly well. There's some bitterness on the back end but the highlights are in the chocolaty, nutty and sometimes coffee-like malt base.

M- Chewy, creamy and soft with medium carbonation and a hefty body.

O- Another winner from Pike. These guys don't get enough exposure in the beer community IMO. Would love to have this on nitro pour and/or cask.

Serving type: bottle

10-15-2012 03:41:17 | More by Immortale25