Style: Imperial Sweet & Flavored Stout

ABV: 9.0

98/100

Aroma:	12
Appearance:	3
Flavor:	20
Mouthfeel:	4

Trillium Brewing PM Dawn

What the brewers say

“American stout with cold-brewed coffee.”

What our panel thought

Aroma: “Huge morning java, aromatic dark roast coffee that’s robust and inviting. It’s almost oily and acidic, and if it were warmer, I might guess it was a fresh cup of specialty coffee. It has a slight ashy edge from being over-roasted, with some dark and milk chocolate, vanilla, dark fruit, and tobacco.”

Flavor: “The flavor delivers the same rich coffee effect, with a stronger sense of vanilla and brown sugar. It’s roasty with a touch of acidity, and it’s sweet without being cloying. A very nice base stout with plenty of chocolate and vanilla character, brown sugar, cherry, and date. The chocolate malt and caramel remind me that this is a beer.”

Overall: “This is an exemplary coffee beer in terms of balance and the blend of the coffee character and stout—it’s a great complex mix of flavors. It’s sweet, but thanks to the alcohol warming, it’s not cloyingly sweet, and that’s to be expected for an imperial-strength beer. There’s no perfect beer, but this is incredibly smooth and drinkable for an imperial stout.”

What our editors thought

Review printed in: Sweet, Roasty, and Delicious (February-March 2017) (View All Issues)

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**Aroma:** “Cocoa powder and roast, with some whiskey and cherry esters peeking out here and there. Dark chocolate and rich malt, along with vanilla and toasted marshmallow. Heavy roast and French roast coffee.” **Flavor:** “Rich and slightly sweet cocoa powder, with something approaching the perceived tartness of cherries. Lots of chocolate, with a bit of vanilla and oak. The medium dark roast helps to dry things out, but the sweetness carries through and fades at the end of the sip, making way for a bit of bitterness and alcohol on the finish. The velvety body drives this beer, heightening the chocolaty base, and accentuating the vanilla barrel character. Well balanced.” **Overall:** “This is a really nice beer. The roast and tartness play off each other well, but the flavors are kind of overpowering. The alcohol becomes slightly harsh as it warms. The beer and barrel are in great balance—neither outshines the other, and that makes for a pleasant drinking experience.”

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