Onward Stout - Yazoo Brewing Company

Veryunclever

Tennessee

4.35/5  rDev +14.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had at the Yazoo taproom 2/22/09.

Poured opaque with a nice, thick head. Smelled mainly of chocolate and espresso. Very smooth and creamy mouthfeel. Excellent drinkability, very smooth and tasty. Even my fiancee who normally hates stouts enjoyed it.

Easily one of the better stouts I've ever had. It's a shame this hasn't made it to widespread distribution and is only available at the Taproom (and a few bars around Nashville). It's easily one of Yazoo's better brews. I was terribly disappointed that there was no way to take any home with me.

Serving type: nitro-tap

02-22-2009 00:10:13 | More by Veryunclever

treble

New York

4.25/5  rDev +12.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

This is one of the best irish stouts I've had. I tasted it when I visited the brewery in Nashville, it was poured into a sampler glass from the nitro tap, and then I had another in a tumbler.

Goodness! Beautiful pitch black opaque coloring, slight hints of amber but no light shine-through! Fine carbonation. Quick moving, rippling and abundant cascade, very wavy when poured. Gorgeous thick, fluffy/creamy dark tan head, when poured it was a good 3 fingers, probably a little more. It dissipated very slowly, there was a little less than a finger's head toward the end of my drink. The lacing was fairly thick as well, forming horizontal sheets on the side of the glass, slowly giving way to some holes.

Smells of, yes, definitely warm coffee, but also has a smokiness. Very appetizing, the beer was cold but the smell had a very warm roundness.

Tastes also like coffee, malty molasses coffee. And smoked Gouda. Very robust, almost too flavorful. The mouthfeel was so silky, as irish dry stout is not as heavy as it seems, so was this.

Drinkability is a tough one, it is quite flavorful, I want to rate this as being very drinkable, but I need to have more than 1 and 1/2 of these to judge if the flavor becomes too much.

Serving type: nitro-tap

01-28-2009 21:54:53 | More by treble

jxhowell

Mississippi

4.28/5  rDev +12.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

This was the first beer I tried after entering the premises.
It had an excellent creamy pour from the beginning that ended with a nice thick head settling on the top.
I coud immediatly smell the rich espresso aroma as I lifted the pint.
The taste was dominated by the espresso-like flavors with hints of chocolate in the aftertaste.
Although rich, the beer was very drinkable....I only wish I could have left with a few growlers of it. However, I was told that due to it being a nitro stout that they were unable to do so.

Serving type: nitro-tap

12-08-2008 18:37:09 | More by jxhowell

Tilley4

Tennessee

3.53/5  rDev -6.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

My first nitro tap brew here....

Appears looking really good... Nice thick creamy head atop an almost black brew...

Aroma is weak malts and a bit of coffee....not much else...

Fairly non-descript here...its not bad but it doesn't stand out either... Just ok...

Serving type: nitro-tap

11-11-2008 17:58:14 | More by Tilley4

ckeegan04

Texas

3.1/5  rDev -18.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 3

A - Gourgeous dark dark brown color, almost black, Thick creamy brown head with excellent retention. About what you would expect froma nitro-tapped beer.

S - Weak aroma of roasted coffee. The beer does not smell bad, it just lacks aroma in general.

T - Not an overpowering taste at all. Hints of coffee and toasted grain. A good tasting stout. Just a little hop bitterness comes through.

M/D - Thin bodied and an almost flat feeling. Just does not feel like a stout in the mouth. Decent taste which does make it drinkable, but I feel it is much better on standard tap.

Serving type: nitro-tap

08-09-2008 14:33:25 | More by ckeegan04

dashirey

Pennsylvania

3.73/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

This was poured from a growler that I received from unclejedi in the March Growling at the Moon exchange. Thanks so much!

A - Very dark brown/black, no light shines through when held to the light. Nice mocha/tan head that sticks around through the entire pint even though there was not much lacing left on the glass.

S - Coffee is the most abundant smell, but there are some chocolate "undertones" with a deep nasal inhale.

T - Surprisingly not much taste at all upfront in fact the taste really doesn't show up until after you swallow. When you finally get the taste mostly you are hit with some coffee, a little smoke, some roasted nuts, and a little metallic taste at the end.

M - Smooth. Carbonation is spot on, however in my opinion it was a little thin on the mouthfeel. Does leave you with a drying sensation in the mouth.

D - Despite the problems with the taste and mouthfeel, overall this is very drinkable. It is not filling and with an ABV under 4% I could drink this all evening and be great.

Thanks for introducing me to the Yazoo Brewing Company unclejedi!

Serving type: growler

03-30-2008 03:30:13 | More by dashirey

dfried

Minnesota

3.45/5  rDev -9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Little to no head in the one I tried, but I think that was because the bartendress over filled it, I did get a tan ring to form. Dark in color, but you can pick up a little ruby color even in its center, yep it looks Irish anyway. The smell is of roasted malts, coffee and chocolate. More of the same in the taste, it almost seems like a darker roast that is in some stouts, the coffee malt was quite bitter, I think that is what stood out most about this beer to me. There is a slight hop zing in the background. I felt like the mouthfeel was a bit gritty, no so much chewy or creamy, I wasn't a big fan. I would put this beer in the "worth a try" category, but I wouldn't revisit it a lot.

Serving type: on-tap

06-22-2006 13:56:00 | More by dfried

veech

Tennessee

2.4/5  rDev -36.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 1.5

Of all the beers in the sampler served at their taproom, I anticipated liking this one the most and was sorely disappointed. The beer poured with an opacity and creamy tan head that were true to the stout style(although I wouldn't consider this a dry Irish stout). The predominant smell was one of charcoal which was my first hint that I would not care for this beer. No other scents could be detected due to the overall burnt character both in the nose and on the palate. I've tasted and enjoyed smoked porters and stouts before, but they were much milder than this. It literally tasted as though liquid smoke was added to the glass. I don't think storage, temperature, or age were to blame as it was sampled at the brewer's taproom, so I have to assume that it was a legit representation of their beer. I'm much more a porter/stout fan than a hophead, and I literally had to choke down the small sampler glass. I spent 2 weeks in Ireland last summer, and through exhaustive personal research, really got a feel for what a proper pint of Irish stout should taste like. This wasn't it. Stick with the Sly Rye Porter, Dos Perros, or the Pale Ale when visiting Yazoo. I will be in Nashville soon, and will give it a 2nd chance. I'll update if hopefully, change is noted.

Serving type: on-tap

06-07-2006 04:50:22 | More by veech

brentk56

North Carolina

3.35/5  rDev -11.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: Has a very dark brown body with a dark tan head; looks good at first, but has poor head retention and leaves virtually no lacing

Smell: Weak roasted malt character

Taste: Starts out with a coffee flavor that quickly thins out and leaves a phenolic plastic aftertaste with a touch of tobacco

Mouthfeel: Surprisingly thin body with low carbonation

Drinkability: I hate to rain on this parade of accolades as I am a big fan of local beers but this is an unimpressive stout; really more like a porter if the truth be told; I had high expectations and saved this one for the last of the four Yazoo brews I tasted on my Nashville trip but I cannot say that any one of them passed muster in my view; a real shame as the brewery is trying some unusual recipes but all of their beers seem to lack body

Serving type: on-tap

11-30-2005 04:01:13 | More by brentk56

xduderx

Tennessee

4.38/5  rDev +15.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

As stated already, this isn't exactly your stereotypical "irish stout" but that that is one of the things that makes this beer special.

appearance - very dark brown/black with a 1/2" tan head

smell - coffee and sweet-ish

taste - coffee and chocolate with no noticable bitterness

mouthfeel - a lot thinner than guinness or murphy's but creamy nonetheless

drinkability - a good drinker that I would have a few times a week.

Serving type: on-tap

11-04-2005 13:34:13 | More by xduderx

fromage

Ohio

4.33/5  rDev +14.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Really a fantastic beer--I'm quite impressed with the Yazoo guys on this one. "Irish Stout" is not quite the style that comes to my mind when tasting this one, but I'll forgive it. Got a refill on a growler two days before getting around to drink it. Drunk in a pint glass. (Can someone explain these prices, btw? 4$ for a pint or 7$ for a growler (4 pints)...)

Looks great, surprisingly so, since I don't have much experience in growlers. I was afraid I'd lose carbonation. They haven't started bottling this one yet. Near black, with just a bit of brown on the fringe. A big, soapy, muddy head that faded into lacing that lasted the whole glass. Not much bubbling to be seen.

Smells even better. Lots of coffee and chocolate, sweet cream, and sugar. Is this beer or something I might buy at Starbucks? It's beer--some apples and anise testify.

Taste does not dissapoint. Very little hop bite, but a roasted bitterness. Not astringent either. Quite refreshing on a miserable, rainy day. The sweet and bitter mingle in the back of the throat for a satisfyingly complex aftertaste.

Mouthfeel is full, not gritty. Not cloying or too bitter. It's just right!

I could easily drink a growler of this stuff and never get bored. Some beers I feel like the full impact of them is only on the first sip and smell. This one keeps on challenging the palate and rewarding subsequent pours!

Serving type: growler

10-24-2005 13:29:43 | More by fromage

IPABrewer

Tennessee

4.75/5  rDev +25.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Onward Stout, what can be said about this beer that will serve it justice. This is by far one of my favorite stouts. It has a nice tan head and is almost jet black in appearance. It has got a great coffee flavor and exceptional mouth feel. I know a lot of people try this at the Flying Saucer but if you get a chance try it from the source; you will be even more impressed by this amazing beer.

Serving type: on-tap

04-29-2005 14:07:17 | More by IPABrewer

otfiddler

Texas

4.22/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Served by Beer Sellar in Nashville.
Very dark brown, opaque beer, wtih half-inch wide cocoa-colored head, dissolving rapidly to narrow band, with moderate to fine lacing.
Hint of chocolate or coffee smell, but very light aroma; would have liked more "nose".
Light to moderate carbonation.
Taste was dry, with hint of chocolate and/or coffee undertones with a mildy bitter aftertaste.
Mouthfeel somewhat oily, but not unpleasantly so.
A very tasty stout, not the best I've tried, but definitely worth drinking another time.

Serving type: on-tap

03-19-2005 23:22:33 | More by otfiddler

JiminKY

Kentucky

4.4/5  rDev +16.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Very interesting stout. Certainly not as heavy as an Imperial, but quite complex. Very smooth, with strong coffee and malt tastes. It almost reminded me of a cup of espresso (especially in the little 5oz glass in the build-your-own sampler at Nashville's Flying Saucer). Appearance was a nice dark black, but the subdued lighting in the bar made it difficult to discern subtleties about the appearance. Smell was not as strong as I normally enjoy, but a larger glassful in a quieter setting may be more revealing. Very enjoyable beer that I would certainly recommend if you can find it.

Serving type: on-tap

03-19-2005 16:51:56 | More by JiminKY

clvand0

Kentucky

3.9/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Had this on tap in Nashville. Pours a very dark color with a moderate white head that leaves nice lacing on the glass. Aroma of chocolate and a little coffee - good malt character. The brewer told us he uses English pale malt, roasted barley, black patent, and flaked barley for this one. Along with EKGoldings and Target hops. It is very well balanced and has a great finish. Great beer.

Serving type: on-tap

11-01-2004 16:08:36 | More by clvand0

Brent

Kentucky

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

On tap at the Flying Saucer. Creamyness and dry tartness spot-on for the style. A very prominent smoked malt flavor. I've never had an opportunity to smell burning peat, so I don't know if that is what was used, but this seemed to me to be a hardwood smoke, maple burned in a fireplace comes to mind. The smoked malt, while fairly assertive, is not overdone and adds a nice depth to the beer. Very nicely done.

Serving type: on-tap

04-12-2004 22:56:31 | More by Brent