Russian River Brewing Co OVL Stout

**Aroma:** “Unique notes in the aroma: some roasty character, red wine with some chocolate? Sweet and acetic with a hint of umami. Slight prune. Higher alcohols throughout the aroma. Some earthy toasty characters.” **Flavor:** “Sweet dark malt character. Lots of esters: plums, raisin, prunes. Chocolate character is there, and the roast sits behind the fruit sweetness. Some bitterness helps to cut the sweetness toward the finish with some warming character. Much less sour than I expected from the nose. Malty sweetness with dried fruit esters hit first, followed by caramel coffee and alcoholic warmth.” **Overall:** “This is a very sweet and fruity stout with nice dark fruit character, but it lacks some body and roast character. It lacks the richness of an imperial stout and needs more roast malt. Slight bitterness lingers in the finish.”

**Aroma:** “Moderate caramel, a touch of licorice and molasses, dark chocolate, moderate coffee, moderate smoke phenol. Medium alcohol heat, roasted peanuts, hint of cacao nibs, rose esters. Moderate citrus hops.” **Flavor:** “Malt flavors are excellent—dark chocolate, dark roasted coffee, slightly caramelized sweet finish. Moderate smoke. Hint of piney hops bitterness. Light body. Sweetened black coffee with a boozy shot added. Dark fruit reminiscent of abbey styles. I’m not sure what they’re attempting with this one.” **Overall:** “The flavor profile is excellent, but the body is a bit light to support all the malt complexity. Caramel coffee—like a (boozy) specialty drink from the coffee shop. A touch of Belgian ester character.”

“Oaky nose; vanilla, caramel, coffee, toast. Flavor is pleasant mix of bread crust, chocolate malt, light toffee. Vinous wood carries into the finish, drying. Complex without being a performance piece.”