Hickory Stick Stout - Olde Hickory Brewery

Stoneyrok

North Carolina

4.9/5  rDev +32.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Wow, I am a stout lover so I am trying not to be biased.

appearance, beautiful black like a porter should be, nice two finger tan head.
smell: awesome, chocolate hint, hops, barley, no alcohol detected
taste: insane, so smooth I couldn't believe it. I wondered what they did to make it so smooth. I drank a sierra nevada stout before and after and the stick stout had no bite like the sierra did. so creamy and delicious. this is one of the best stouts I have had to date.
mouthfeel, so creamy and smooth it is hard to believe.
drinkability, I wish I had more more more, I can't wait to go back to ole hickory tap room. I will load up on this stick stout. if someone out west wants me to pick one up for a trade, shoot me an email and I will get you one!

Serving type: bottle

11-10-2010 04:49:47 | More by Stoneyrok

jpmclaug

South Carolina

4.4/5  rDev +18.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 5

Poured from the bottle into a pint glass. Grabbed this shortly after they started selling these bombers at Brawley's.

A - Black body with a tan head. Quarter inch of head is resting on top that looks creamy and delicious.

S - Nice aroma of roasted malt with hints of smokiness. Also picking up a little coffee and chocolate but not much.

T - Wow. This thing is pretty good. Nice big roast flavor up front mixed with a bitter dark chocolate flavor. Hints of smoke similar to the nose but not nearly as present. This is all dark chocolate and roasted malts. Few beers could stand up to the roasted flavors in this one.

M - pretty heavy body with a lot of little carbonation bubbles. Could be a bit creamier.

D - I'm impressed. The flavor on this sucker is great. I love me some stouts with a big roast and dark chocolate flavor and this fits the bill. Only thing really holding this beer back is the mouthfeel. It could be just a bit creamier. Definitely would pick this up again.

Serving type: bottle

08-21-2010 01:38:10 | More by jpmclaug

wcudwight

North Carolina

4.35/5  rDev +17.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Light black in color is such a color exist. It's black but not opaque like many beers of the style. 1" tan head last awhile and then disappears leaving little evidence that it was ever there.
Wonderful aroma of bitter chocolate and a certain earthiness that I can't put my finger on, but I like it.
Good flavors of baker's chocolate, roasted malts and a nice hoppiness to round it out. Earthy, fruity and could be some citrus. Very dry finish which really makes this beer.
Mouthfeel is good. I really like how dry it is but it could use just a bit more body.
Great session stout. A beer you should try and try and try again.

Serving type: bottle

12-21-2009 05:12:05 | More by wcudwight

BeerAdvocate

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev +14.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Review from BeerAdvocate Magazine Issue #36 (Jan 2010):

Intricate crown of lacing on the glass, two clear shades away from black as well. Slightly burnt, charred wood aroma with some subtle fruitiness and yeast in the back. Charred grain is very prevalent but never acrid or astringent. Hints of coffee and dark chocolate with some mild herbal citric hop. A little burnt sugar flashes some sweetness on the palate. Well- rounded burnt grain character with some dark fruitiness in the semi-dry finish.

Beer geeks, let's remember our normal-strength Stouts. Easy to drink and chock-full of flavor, a wonderful dark quaff.

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2011 01:49:41 | More by BeerAdvocate

veech

Tennessee

4.22/5  rDev +14.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Very meaty robust stout for the dry irish stout style. Gorgeous opaque black with a creamy tan head with lots of carbonation and lacing. Chocolate malts with a strong coffee and molasses taste. Hopped enough to balance out the malts on the back end. Thick viscous coverage that coats the palate nicely. Drinkability is limited by a heaviness of body as far as sessioning goes, but great for just one or two.

Serving type: on-tap

09-23-2006 16:39:29 | More by veech

jgreenearrow

Virginia

4.22/5  rDev +14.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 22oz bottle into a pint glass.

A: The beer pours an opaque, deep brown, nearly black color with a 1/2' creamy tan head forming at the top of the pour. There is some slight lacing on the sides of the glass.

S: Roasted malts dominate the nose. Notes of coffee, dark chocolate, and molasses accompany some slight hop aromas.

T: Sweetness of chocolate and caramel hits the tongue at the outset of the sip and moves into the middle. Roasted malts and coffee follows heading into the finish where some slight citrus hop bitterness rounds out the sip.

M: This is a medium to full bodied beer that feels creamy on the tongue with fairly high viscosity. The beer is well carbonated.

Overall, this is an excellent stout. The roasted malts and chocolate notes balance well with the coffee and slight hop presence in the finish.

Serving type: bottle

09-27-2011 01:24:02 | More by jgreenearrow

StarlightSeraph

North Carolina

4.2/5  rDev +13.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a 22 oz bomber into a Guinness pint glass.

Appearance: Pours black, but not entirely opaque - bare hints of light shine through. Two fingers of pale brown head that subsides slowly. Tons of lacing.

Smell: Burnt, roasted malts, balanced by some sweet smells. Almost a hint of vanilla and some woodsy and smoky scents.
I don't know if any hickory wood was used in this beer (I don't think there was), but that comes to mind.

Taste: Burnt, roasted, and chalky malts - just like it smells. That's the dominant flavor, and the toasty/burnt flavors remain into the aftertaste, mixing with the hops. Maybe a hint of bittersweet chocolate in the background. There is just a hint of citrus from the hops in the aftertaste, adding a little bit of complexity to the beer. As the style of beer would suggest, it's very dry, but also very enjoyable.

Mouthfeel: Nicely carbonated, but a little thin. A little more body would be nice, but even considering the lack of body, it's very full flavored.

Drinkability: I really enjoyed this. It is full of strong flavors, but none to the point of being overpowering. This is also, as the style suggests, very, very dry - could not be more of a contrast between this and most milk stouts. I really liked this beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2010 20:54:54 | More by StarlightSeraph

cavedave

New York

4.2/5  rDev +13.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Thanks to the BA whose name I've misplaced.

It pours a beautiful, opaque brown with a dark beige, thick knit, two finger head. The head never disappears completely, and beautiful slathers of lace cling to glass each time it's tipped.

Light aroma of milk and dark chocolate, light coffee hints, a touch of dark caramel, even lighter hints of herbal hop and roasty malt.

Sweet like a milk stout, but more a malt syrup sweet than candy, followed quickly by chocolate, orange peel, root beer, and finally roasty goodness with a touch of coffee. Nice.

Quite creamy for style, a good thing, clean flavors, bold but juicy finish, tasteful med. carb.

Couldn't help seeing that this stout isn't quite highly rated in this style. I am certainly gonna be higher than avg. Recommended for sure.

Serving type: bottle

05-05-2012 00:30:38 | More by cavedave

Avagadro

New Jersey

4.18/5  rDev +13%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Special thanks to Kevin for picking this up for me in NC

A: Jet black body is topped by a mocha head of impressive retention.

S: Bouquet is a touch shy, but notes of caramel, chocolate, and coffee persevere.

T: Dry, with hints of coffee, chicory, and licorice.

M: Full body with a light creaminess, and little carbonation.

D: Definitely a delicious stout, something the locals should both embrace and enjoy.

Serving type: bottle

12-23-2010 00:38:47 | More by Avagadro

theghost3

Louisiana

4.18/5  rDev +13%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours an deep brown, almost black with a 2-finger khaki head with spotty retention.

The smell is cocoa with caramel malts and a hint of charcoal. The taste is dark chocolate malts with toasty flavors of toffee and molasses; charred aftertaste. Mouthfeel is carbonated, medium-to-full-bodied, and smooth at the end.

This is a delicious stout that looks perfect. The chocolate is nicely subdued with a smooth feel in the end. I'd love to try it again.

Serving type: bottle

05-07-2012 01:56:08 | More by theghost3

readbaron

Illinois

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

pours a muddy black/brown with a plentiful and heavy mocha frothy foam head that shows no sign of dissipating.

Smells malty, earthy, almost peppery and smokey - some faint coffee and chocolate as well. The chicory spice is prominent.

Taste is a lot like it smells - malts, earthy spices, some smoke, and coffee. Also some hops - they are a pleasant addition - gives it a crisp complexity.

Mouthfeel is nearly perfect. The carbonation and head has this feeling light and creamy. A bit thinner and lighter than I prefer, but quite good.

Serving type: bottle

02-28-2011 00:38:49 | More by readbaron

mikesgroove

South Carolina

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

Had a chance to pick up a bottle of this one at Bruisin Ales recently. Served chilled and shared in two pint glasses, this one was consumed on 05/16/2010.

Really nice and very big pour here. Huge dark body that no light could penetrate at all. Big head of dark tan then rose up from the bottom of the glass and reached a height of around three fingers before returning back down to earth.

Aroma is very nice, very well balanced I have to admit with loads of roasted malts, light smoked notes, hints of chocolate and coffee. Warming brings out a nice blend of licorice and peat that mixed with a nice woody, earthy tone. Again really nicely done I have to admit. Each sip was rich, creamy, and very dry. Nice follow through on the palate as well left me looking for another sip of the semi sweet and definitley dark stout.

Overall very, very solid. I have always been impressed with everything I have tried from Olde Hickory and this just showed me one of their staples is just as solid. Really well done.

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2010 01:58:15 | More by mikesgroove

GehenHerzog

North Carolina

4.13/5  rDev +11.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A bomber from Brawley's poured into a Delirium Tremens snifter.

A- Pours a dark black with a mocha color head

S- Chocolate, coffee and alcohol

T- Chocolate and a hint of licorice up front and heavy coffee flavor in the back end and especially in the aftertaste. Very nice. Some hoppiness in the back as well, nice touch.

M- Full body, good carbonation.

D- Smooth but it's a little boozier than I wuld like.

Another solid brew from Olde Hickory. I'm quicly making my way through their entire line-up.

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2011 00:23:15 | More by GehenHerzog

atsprings

North Carolina

4.08/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

22oz bottle into a DFH Signature glass pours a deep almost opaque black that shows just a trace of ruby highlights when held to light. The beer is topped with a nice frothy khaki head that slowly diminishes to a thin layer and leaves slight lacing on the glass. The aroma is a decent amount of roasted malts along with bakers cocoa and mild fresh ground coffee. The taste is a very smooth dry blend of roasted malts, black licorice, fresh cocoa and a trace of coffee. The beer is very light, crisp, and oh so smooth. This is a very enjoyable stout, one I would certainly love to have again.

Serving type: bottle

09-11-2010 01:27:23 | More by atsprings

tdm168

North Carolina

4.08/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A - dark, black; thick quarter inch of brown, thick, cloudy head; great retention

S - creamy, roasty, faint coffee, dark chocolate

T - chocolate, faint roast, coffee, mildly citrusy hops

M - smooth, medium to full bodied, very smooth

This is a delicious, smooth, enjoyable, drinkable beer. The flavor is great though in my opinion it could be bolder. I really enjoy the sweeter, citrusy finish that adds great balance and drinkability to the beer. I enjoyed this a great deal overall.

Serving type: bottle

04-27-2012 23:30:56 | More by tdm168

Bung

North Carolina

4.05/5  rDev +9.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

22 oz. Nearly black pour, small amount of light tan head.

Aroma is quite roasty, some anise and dark chocolate.

Taste is nice and roasty. Malt, charcoal, peat. Dark chocolate and just a faint anise and hop spice make this a pleasant tasting brew. Finishes just a little dry.

Mouthfeel is just a little thin, but goes down a notch easier because of it. The carbonation is just crisp. Almost a little rye likeness.

The few I've had at the brewery were excellent and this one is solid as well. At $4 a bomber, I could be drinking a lot of this now that it's available in Charlotte.

Serving type: bottle

07-26-2010 02:37:07 | More by Bung

GJ40

North Carolina

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

Sampled from a 22oz bottle purchased at Brawley's in Charlotte, NC.

A - Black with very little light coming through. A big tan head with some lacing. Very inviting.

S - Coffee, cocoa, roasted malt and a hint of hops.

T - Silky smooth with no rough edges. There's a small roasted flavor but it's nicely balanced. It's pretty dry and there's a mild hop bitterness that accompanies the malts.

M - Creamy but not especially think with a nice low carbonation.

D - Fun, flavorful and easy to drink. A nice NC beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-29-2010 21:33:42 | More by GJ40

brentk56

North Carolina

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

Appearance: Pours a dark translucence with ruby highlights; the rocky tan head retains nicely and leaves splotchy lacing behind

Smell: Roasty char, black bread and dirt; piney hops peek through

Taste: Black bread, up front, with a growing piney element that is joined by dark chocolate in the mid-palate; after the swallow, the roasty char takes over, though the hops linger into the finish; hints of bitter coffee in the aftertaste

Mouthfeel: Medium body with moderate carbonation

Overall: Not for everybody, this stout packs a lot of flavor; loads of char combined with piney hops make for a jarring clash that not everybody will enjoy - I happen to like it and am quite impressed with the wallop of flavor in a moderately low ABV beverage

Serving type: bottle

05-08-2011 18:22:11 | More by brentk56

PDXHops

South Carolina

4.03/5  rDev +8.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Bomber poured into a Duvel tulip. Handsome ruby highlights in this dark brew. Modestly sized tan head that sticks around for a while and leaves some nice lacing up top.

Nose is full of bold chocolate and roast with a vague fruitiness. Flavors definitely lean more toward the roasted (sometimes charred) end of the scale, but mild semisweet chocolate and a dusting of cocoa somewhat soften the blow. A brief flash of juiciness and a sting of pine. Dryish finish, but not so dry as to discourage extended enjoyment. Very solid stout here.

Serving type: bottle

08-15-2011 23:32:14 | More by PDXHops

sulldaddy

Connecticut

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

Pours a jet black hue from a cellar temp bottle into a snifter.
A frothy yet fluffy tan head of 3 cm foams up from a slightly aggressive pour.
Aroma is some rich roasted malt and dark cacao chocolate bar. I also get just a bit of sweet caramel and some coffee bean.
First sip reveals an average body and fine tingly carbonation.
The flavor is roasted malt and some coffee bean, the coffee bite lingers a bit on the finish and I get no hops or ABV anywhere. Nice roasted malt hits on the burps.
The beer is very easy to drink and enjoyable as a nice stout.
I would drink this brew again.

Serving type: bottle

10-28-2011 04:10:13 | More by sulldaddy

scifan

North Carolina

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

Pours a dark chesnut brown with a slightly tan head. Fairly nice nose here, picking up some dark chocolate, peat, and just a touch of smokiness. Taste as good as it smells. Hints of chocolate, with some coffee, and again a faint smokiness to it. Also some nice hop bitterness to round it all out. It's a little thin for my liking and wish it where a little creamier. But all in all a very nice session stout.

Serving type: bottle

11-23-2009 03:46:02 | More by scifan

smibroncos

New York

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

A. Poured a rich dark opaque brown, with a creamy one finger tan head reak nice in the looks department. Nice lacing on the glass.

S. Rich roasted malts oats carmel leaves earthy light coffee aroma

T. Slight sweetness,doesn't last long the bitterness of this stout is spot on. This brew is a good representation of the style.

M. Medium bodied creamy nice carbonation

D. A really good brew not to sweet, not too bitter, great balance and good taste I will have this again.

Serving type: on-tap

10-21-2010 01:18:29 | More by smibroncos

blackie

Virginia

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

a: piraat snifter, pours nearly black in color with some mahogany around the edges, coated with a nice mocha colored head, good retention

s: loads of rich, dark chocolate roasts and a good balance of earthy dark pine hops, smoky charred barley, old coffee grounds, some toffee sugars peek out, just packed with deep stout character and roasted goodness

m: lightly carbonated, medium-full body, not a thick stout, but appropriate

t: lots of roasted barley char, bitter dark cocoa and bakers chocolate, burnt coffee, just a quick flash of sweetness at the start before going dry, leaving deep roasted flavors and a mild bitterness to linger, might seem touch thin but it hits some dry stout notes quite well

d: really a great stout, not flashy but very well crafted, guess some don't like the black patent - but I dig it, the dry finish and moderate mouthfeel contribute to high drinkability

my first from Olde Hickory, bomber picked up at Bruisin'

Serving type: bottle

10-30-2010 02:43:18 | More by blackie

dirtylou

Washington

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

pint, Taco Mac Charlotte

from notes

appearance: shaker pint, dark brown body with a light cream cap. standard appearance

smell: dry roasted malts, light coffee and cocoa, touch of floral hops

taste: dry and roasty - smooth chocolate body, burnt coffee, some dark fruits, leafy hops. A well done stout

mouthfeel: dry, creamy, light bitterness

drinkability: good

Serving type: on-tap

12-28-2010 05:10:29 | More by dirtylou

Chaney

District of Columbia

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

Served in a tulip.

A: Poured a dark, dark brown (pretty much black) color, with a frothy mocha head that stained the glass as the liquid went down.

S: I got a deep, dark, cocoa scent that almost crossed into Nestle's territory. I got a bit of hop bitterness, probably from the coffee notes.

T: This was almost tasted lactose-infused.... like a milk stout. The full flavored chocolate and coffee was really nice in this setting. I ALMOST got a bit of citrus.

M: There was a good bit of bitterness here, but after a few sips, I noticed that that quality sort of rounded out into sort of a buttery quality on the finish. The lacing was ABSOLUTELY ridiculous.

O: This was a very nice stout and a major redemption from the Olde Hickory: Black Raven IPA that I disliked so much that I tried a few days before.

Serving type: bottle

04-04-2012 00:34:26 | More by Chaney