Style: Stout (Barrel-aged)

ABV: 11.4

86/100
Aroma: 11
Appearance: 3
Flavor: 17
Mouthfeel: 4

Single Hill Brewing Company Reserve - Osa Major

What the brewers say

"This imperial stout was aged in Westland American Single Malt Whiskey barrels, imparting stellar notes of dark roast coffee, sweet vanilla, and cocoa powder."

What our panel thought

“Alcoholic heat in the nose obscures hints of roasted malt, chocolate, and caramel. Booze carries into the flavor, stripping away more subtle complexities. Roasty, smoky, with pleasantly malty profile.”

What our editors thought

“Herbal hop nose with solvent notes. Flavor sits in a strange middle ground between citrus-pine hops and dry cocoa powder. Finishes with a dry austerity.”

Review printed in: The Route to Stout (October-November 2021) (View All Issues)


REVIEWS FOR YOU >

Brouwerij De Molen Cease & Desist

**Aroma:** “Caramel nose with a bit of chocolate—reminds me of Sugar Babies candy. Some oxidation, divided between sherry and cardboard. There’s also a bit of a spicy phenol that reminds me of pepper and dried oranges. Cherry fruity notes up front with a bit of chocolate hiding in the background. High sweetness.” **Flavor:** “Sweet and malty. Toffee, chocolate, and caramel. Still get Sugar Babies candy, but more malt complexity. Moderate sweetness with fruity cherry and plum notes. Roast malt is restrained, but present. Tastes more like an old ale than a stout. Slight alcohol warming, just enough to let you know it’s there. Light hops toward the end of the sip.” **Overall:** “Tasty and easy drinking. Not a challenge at all, but still interesting. Very drinkable beer, but I wouldn’t put it in the stout category. The fruity esters and the oxidized notes seem more like an old ale. Very sweet and a rather heavy body, but it would make a good fireside sipper or desert beer.”

Single Hill Brewing Company Osa Major

“Nutty chocolate aroma with a tart, carbonic bite. Rich roast malt, licorice, with hints of clove and cinnamon, reminiscent of Mexican hot chocolate. Spicy through the finish. Finish a touch sweet. Medium full body.”

Button Down Brewing Ríastrad

“Pine-like hop notes and gentle hints of peppermint blend nicely with roasted malt in the subtle nose. Coffee emerges in the flavor to complement the roast and chocolate malt sweetness; its bitterness lingers into the finish leaving a pleasant coating of espresso-like flavor.”

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