Backside Stout - Steamworks Brewing Co.

SideBar

Pennsylvania

4.78/5  rDev +33.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Poured from the tap it is an deep dark black pour. It has a great chocolate /oatmeal finish. The brew is very easy to drink with flavor that gets better and better with every sip. One of the better Stouts that I have tried this season/
Very impressed!

Serving type: on-tap

10-21-2010 21:57:34 | More by SideBar

webbcreative

Oklahoma

3.83/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Appearance = Poured black, with light tan head, that quickly dissipated into a thing ring around the beer, and left extremely little lacing.

Aroma = Roasted Barley, coffee smell with just a hint of chocolate.

Taste = pretty dry upfront, but continually gets sweeter as the swallow progresses, and finishes pretty sweet, with the roasty, coffee flavors making an apperance in the middle and also lingers a bit.

Mouthfeel = thin-medium

Overall = Good stout, not great, but this is a really good easy drinking, sessionable stout. Paired really nicely with the double smoked cheddar cheese I had.

Serving type: bottle

11-29-2009 21:20:01 | More by webbcreative

wagenvolks

Texas

3.83/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

22oz bomber into a DFH off-centered pint glass. Side label states best if consumed by "May" with no year indicated, although it only goes up to '07.

Backside Stout pours a deep, brown pitch color--nearly opaque--with traces of mahogany at the edge. A decently retained cap of tan foam recedes to a thin veil and ring of tiny bubbles. Fairly standard American Stout aroma, but a bit fruitier, with notes of raspberry and plum chiming in before softer chocolate and toffee undertones take hold.

Flavor is decidedly more chocolatey and roasted than the aroma, with notes of black coffee, dark berries, and Baker's chocolate all having a go at the palate. Finishes strongly with earthen hops and roasted barley. Mouthfeel detects a medium body with a good carbonation level and a near-creamy consistency; unfortunately, it gets more watery and thin as the beer warms. Still, this is an all around solid stout, and although the bigger, badder boys of the RIS/Dbl Stout world will easily outshine this Steamworks offering, this brew makes a case for subtlety.

Serving type: bottle

05-25-2009 05:16:35 | More by wagenvolks

htomsirveaux

Texas

3.13/5  rDev -12.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

22 oz. bottle tried 14 Apr 2008.

Porus with a small brown head. Medium carbonation. Dark black in color with slight red highlights. Smells roasty, chocolatey, coffee and pumpernickel bread. Starts with a fair amount of roasty malt but somewhat watery. Some green bananas, roastiness throughout. Finishes with a bit of acetone. Light body. Ethanol is slightly warming.

The intial wateriness is a bit offputting.

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2009 05:39:17 | More by htomsirveaux

flexabull

California

3.9/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a dark flat black color with a decent tan head.

Aromas are of dark sugars, roasted malts, and cream.

Beer has a nice dark roasted malt character. Some light coffee, cream, dark bitter chocolate, and a kind of oat like flavor. Finish is a bit sweet, with some pine like hops on the finish.

Nice mouthfeel, about right, thick, but not overpowering.

Drinkability is good. All in all, a very solid, tasty, and easy drinking stout.

Serving type: bottle

02-13-2009 05:26:12 | More by flexabull

Rayek

Colorado

3.38/5  rDev -5.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

On-tap as part of Stout Month at the Vine St Pub in Denver, CO.

A: Coffee black with a small tan head. Head retention is marginal and bits of lace are left behind.

S: Burnt malt with a hint of espresso and dark fruit.

T: Pretty standard stout fare. Very coffee like upfront, with a pronounced charcoal burnt bitterness. Slightly acidic in the finish.

M: Medium light body has the right amount of fizz.

D: This one really didn't do that much for me. Certainly drinkable, just not that exciting.

Serving type: on-tap

02-10-2009 17:10:25 | More by Rayek

tmoneyba

Ohio

3.95/5  rDev +10%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Bottle shared by alexsdad06.

A - Poured black color with an average frothy brown head that mostly lasted with good lacing.

S- Moderate roasted coffee and chocolate malt aroma.

T - Medium to heavy roasted malt and raisin flavor with a medium to heavy bittersweet finish of moderate to long duration.

M - Medium body with a dry smooth texture and flat carbonation.

D - Good drinkable stout that met my expectations.

Serving type: bottle

01-09-2009 14:23:36 | More by tmoneyba

Zorro

California

3.88/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Essentially a black colored beer with a good brown head.

Smell is sweet with chocolate and vanilla strongly represented. Faint carrot stick and patent malt aromas. Notably this has no coffee aroma.

The taste starts out a little sweet and a little chocolate4 with a bit of smoke and charred carbon in the taste. There is a coffee aftertaste here but mostly this is chocolate and char.

Mouthfeel is good.

This kind of straddles the Milk Stout and just plain stout categories. Most certainly this is a beer worth trying should you come across it some time.

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2009 01:19:18 | More by Zorro

thekevlarkid

Maryland

3.55/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Off the tap at the brewery this beer was a black but not quite opaque color with a thin tan head. Scattered lacing and ok retention. The aroma was roasted malt, cocoa and coffee. The flavors were dominated by roasted malt which gave it a dry character. In addition there were the standard coffee and bittersweet chocolate notes along with some earthiness. The mouthfeel was semi-creamy but it felt under-carbonated and the body was too light for a Stout. Yes, you could have a couple due to this lightness but I just wasn't so impressed by the flavors that I would recommend it.

Serving type: on-tap

12-05-2008 16:17:16 | More by thekevlarkid

stumac

Texas

3.18/5  rDev -11.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

pours up black as nizzight with a small bubbly brown head. the nose is dark roasty malts and chocolate. tastes of dark malts, subtle chocolate, good fresh hop balance, nice roasty flavor. medium to light bodied, low carbo, sweet finish. too thin bodied though.

Serving type: bottle

09-03-2008 21:02:15 | More by stumac

briman

Texas

3.45/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Served from bottle into standard pint glass.

Pours dark brown, almost black. Virtually opaque with just a hint of ruby around the edges. About a quarter inch dark brown head dissipates quickly leaving minimal lacing.

Aroma is dark roasted malts, dark chocolate, and coffee.

Flavor has a decent roasted element, with some dark chocolate and a bit of an oatmeal character coming out in the aftertaste. Dry, almost chalky finish.

Medium body, moderate carbonation. Slick but thin mouthfeel, and right on the edge of being watery. Doesn't have that trademark silky smooth character you would expect from the oats. Balance seems ok. Overall a reasonable stout, certainly sessionable, but not memorable.

Serving type: bottle

07-24-2008 02:04:10 | More by briman

DarkerTheBetter

Pennsylvania

3.78/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to BgThang for this one.

This beer pours a dark black with a dark cola around the edges. The head is a dirty tan film.

Smells of watery dark fruits rounded off by dry whiffs of cocoa and old coffee.

Tastes quite juice-like with a touch of prunes and thin caramel followed by a dry coffee and cocoa finish. Not too bad, but a little on the thin side.

Feels light with a slight viscosity that traps in little pinpricks of carbonation.

An easy drinking take on the style.

Serving type: bottle

06-27-2008 08:34:22 | More by DarkerTheBetter

MrHungryMonkey

Texas

2.8/5  rDev -22%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

Initial Notes:
The cap popped right off in a way-too-easy fashion. Looks okay, smells okay.... here goes:

Nose:
The more prominent aroma I catch in the glass reminds me of... canned dog food (or at least the kind my apparently lucky dog eats). Also darkly roasted malt - chocolate/dark bread/coffee. Mild hop twang. Mild fruit.

Look:
Jet black, almost seems like it would be dark brown if it weren't so black. Mild head dies just as fast as I pour it.

Flavor:
Dark roasted malt hits me first, followed by dry, leafy, grassy, bitter hop flavors. Some malt toastiness and mild dry nuttiness. Tart apple and a touch of alcohol. Finish bitterness grows; can't tell yet if it is more hoppy or roasted. Bit of powderiness sets in and the finishes turns more sour than bitter for a moment. More apple-like fruit tones that have a light, buttery influence. Bitterness grows, and is of the over-extracted hop kind.

Final Notes:
About the cap: I guess it just wasn't sealed very well. I thought about scrapping this review altogether, but I studied the cap and it shows no signs of abuse or damage. The seal was maintained (at least to some degree) because there is (some) carbonation and the flavor doesn't taste off (aside from that dog food smell it still has... I'm sure that's just protein or something...).

The Verdict:
Just an average Stout at best. This makes 3 out of 4 less than good beers I've had from Steamworks. The last, Third Eye PA was really good. This, though, is a sadly disappointing beer. I'd definitely stop by and try them in person next time I'm around Durango and am able to but this is the last bottle of Steamworks I buy unless I hear that they've tightened their recipes, brewing process, or quality control.

I'll check back from time to time to see how this beer's doing. If my review is significantly below others' (suggesting that my bottle was tainted) I will definitely delete my review (and just maybe consider buying another, maybe).

Serving type: bottle

06-13-2008 01:31:32 | More by MrHungryMonkey

smellsofstout

Arizona

3.63/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Bottle poured in snifter: Dark nutty color. with a tart organic aroma with slight note of chocolate. Roasted malts and oat taste with a smokey yet smooth finish. palate is pretty thin for a stout but still good consistancy. nothing spectacular but definitely a good brew.

Serving type: bottle

05-30-2008 15:30:00 | More by smellsofstout

ATPete

New Jersey

3.33/5  rDev -7.2%
look: 2 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

22oz bottle acquired through a trade. Best by May....May.

A- Backside pours a very dark red/black with some reddish/amber highlights. Small brown head forms for a few seconds, very opaque, no visible carbonation.

S- Chocolate, very bold malt character, sweet coffee, some baked apples and spice.

T- Prominently malty, some good mellow fruit notes, coffee and a dash of hops make their appearance. Overall pretty bland and uninteresting.

M/D- Medium mouthfeel, not as meaty as i care for in a stout. Very drinkable however, im not sure of the ABV but this one didnt come off as a strong beer. I sure did get a headache from it though...

Serving type: bottle

05-30-2008 00:32:26 | More by ATPete

drxandy

Michigan

3.68/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Got in trade thanks to mhewes!

Dated till may ??

Poured from 22oz to flare pint, pours a ruby chocolate brown, opaque, creamy tan head that fades quick

smells of chocolate malts, yet like a dry irish stout, roasty

tastes of roasty smokey malts, appley, chocolate, oats, smooth and drinkable, texture is inbetween being a heavy stout and a thinner, kind of interesting

mouthfeel is thinner than expected from the oats, smooth with nice texture

Serving type: bottle

05-27-2008 06:14:00 | More by drxandy

HardTarget

Texas

3.3/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Backside Stout

Aroma: Nice roasted malt and chocolate notes, bit of earthy hop.

Appearance: Deep black glass holds a frothy dark tan head that lasts and laces.

Flavor: The roasted malts are close to the edge of dry and burnt, but the beer has enough residual sweetness to back it all up. I like the dark chocolate notes, but the hop selection seems earthy and British. I'm guessing Fuggles, which is a hop I don't care for and doesn't do much for me here.

Mouthfeel: Creamy enough, but not silky smooth like I'd expect given the oats advertised.

Overall Impression: A fair stout and pretty easy drinking. Not a fan of the hop profile though, you might be. Worth a shot

Serving type: bottle

05-27-2008 00:25:27 | More by HardTarget

jbphoto88

Texas

4.1/5  rDev +14.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

From a 22oz bottle with a best by date of May... just May? No year. Initially a bad sign and I have to admit it makes me a little wary during that first sip. Color is very dark and there is a creamy head that is the color of brown grocery bags with a decent retention.

Smell is weak. There is a malty oat smell with a light cocoa nose. Not much in the way of hops.

Taste is mostly sweet and malty. There is a dry dark chocolaty flavor that is slightly chalky. Despite the initial gritty mouthfeel the beer gives way to a nice silky smoothness. Almost milky in its feel and flavor. Not much bitterness to speak of but there is a nice hop flavor in the background.

Low carbonation adds to the smooth feel and to the ease of drinking. A smooth refreshing stout that has some nice complexity. Not a looker but a drinker.

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2008 01:38:08 | More by jbphoto88

roblowther

Texas

2.2/5  rDev -38.7%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 4 | overall: 1

At the brewpub. Black with very minimal tan head and a hint of lace. The smell is roasted, smoky, and cocoa. Not that impressed, really. The taste is creamy up front, then smoky, then very very smoky. Wow. It's like nicobrau. The mouthfeel is creamy with decent carbonation. The drinkability is bad. Unless you chain smoke. Then it gives you a nice liquid smoke break between cigarettes. These guys have much better options, stick with those.

Serving type: on-tap

03-22-2008 00:18:09 | More by roblowther

omnigrits

Texas

4.3/5  rDev +19.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 220z bottle into a 20oz Guinness glass (in two hits, obviously).

I had to pour this very aggressively to get any kind of head, which was tan-coloured and subsided within less than a minute to a scant ring of bubbles around the glass. Virtually no lacing.

It's got a very, very powerful nose despite losing the head so quickly. Mostly coffee and sweetish malt. The sweetness doesn't come out in the flavour though, which pleases my palate greatly. I'm no fan of sweet stouts. Hints of chocolate, and maybe even fine cigar smoke. No hops evident in the finish, but I know that they're there, cunningly hidden. Steamworks' website says 6% abv, which sounds about right. Overall a very nice stout. I had the first half while cooking and the second half with the results - lightly fried beef liver, fried onions, mashed spuds, peas and liver gravy - which it complimented perfectly. If I can't have a meal like that with a beer like this in heaven, I ain't a-goin'.

Serving type: bottle

03-04-2008 00:13:28 | More by omnigrits

BadRockBeer

Colorado

3.48/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Serving Type Sampled: 22fl. oz. brown crown top bottle. Features freshness date.

Appearance: Pitch Black with dark ruby hue. ¼ finger mocha head faded almost immediately after the pour.

Smell: Bitter black patent malt, coffee, burnt chocolate

Taste: Again I taste burnt coffee and chocolate right up fount, slightly sweet. Finishes dry with a very pleasant milk chocolate aftertaste. Hops are very subdued, I con not even guess at the type.

Mouthfeel: Light to Medium in body, I found this to be sort of a turn off as I like my stout to be somewhat chewy. Carbonation kind of lacks.

Drinkability: Fair, I found this to be a pretty tasty stout, however it lacks body and head retention. I do have to say that I obtained this brew from the local brewery rep. after I had a bad bottle of their beer. Steamworks customer service is A+.

Serving type: bottle

04-01-2007 03:47:34 | More by BadRockBeer

russpowell

Oklahoma

3.65/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 2 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

22 Oz bomber with BBD of Jan 07, but this brewery is very conservative when it comes to shelf life of their products IMO

Pours black (purple when held to intense light) with 1 finger of mocha colored head. Zero head retention & or lacing

S: Some coffee & cocoa notes

T: Dryness & then chocolate up front. Some nice toasted grain notes follow along with a hint of iron. Finishes dry & choclatey, with a kiss of iron & lactic acid

MF: Low carbonation & medium bodied with a slight silkyness

Drinks fairly easy, not a great stout, but a pretty good one. This stout skews a little sweet but has enough hops to balance nicely. Asthetics were lacking

Serving type: bottle

01-04-2007 04:04:29 | More by russpowell

mentor

Colorado

3.48/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3

Bottle purchased a while back and stored in my cool dark cellar.Freeshness notch is Mar 05. Hard pour gets a thin layer of brown head that quickly settles to an incomplete ring around the inside of the glass. The beer is pitch, with a thin brown edging when held to light. Smells roasty tempered by chocolate and a soothing creamy. Some black patent sour and very mild caramel.

Tastes roasted malty with a fuggly kind of hop. Very dry. Hint of chocolate, but sweet can't penetrate the ground coffee dry. Coffee flavor is not as prominent as the dry. Tastes a bit empty, lacking much supporting malt sweet or caramel character. Black patent sour is present, but not a standing flavor. Iron, perhaps results from this sour and an aspect of the roasted grains. A roasted and dry chocolatey aftertaste. Md thick body is smooth and quite nice. Only a hint of carbonation, thankfully, as heavier carbonation might have made this beer even more dry. A decent stout, but not one I see myself repeating.

Serving type: bottle

04-22-2006 04:53:45 | More by mentor

Crosling

Colorado

2.68/5  rDev -25.3%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Black but not opaque desperately holding on to a light tan head of foam. Deep roasted malt, cocoa and coffee aroma with hints of fruit and an oaty dryness. Creamy, fairly mild but intense maltiness. Oats. Dry. Chocolate, coffee and very little roast. An ok beer. One of the better Steamworks beers.

Serving type: bottle

04-12-2006 01:46:32 | More by Crosling