Stillwater Artisanal Ales Surround

**Aroma:** “Hops! Fruity passion fruit, orange, lemon, grapefruit, dank resinous in the background—if I didn't see the color, I’d expect an IPA. Some dark roast and chocolate sweetness sneak through once your nose is dead to the hops. Light tart note. As it warms, a slight molasses note starts to mix with the hops.” **Flavor:** “High hops flavor up front with bit citrus notes. Moderate chocolate with big roasty notes support the hops. Quite sweet up front. Sweetness slowly fades into a low bitterness. Toward the end, slight smoke note but big hops that continue into the aftertaste with a mix of roast. Dry, bitter hoppy finish. As it warms, the smoke turns into a burnt molasses note. Very fruity: passion fruit and pineapple. Finish is sweet and lingers. Rich chewy body that doesn’t come across as thick. Big pine and orange flavors from the hops. Chocolate from the malt gives it a chocolate orange flavor. The sweetness comes together with all the different bold flavors and finishes with a slightly dry finish.” **Overall:** “A nice balance of stout and hops, but if you don’t like hops, this stout is not for you. Strong flavors all around with a touch of alcohol warming in the background to fill it all out. Good balance of hops flavor and bitterness. This is a very different take on a stout—kind of a black IPA more than a stout. This beer tastes like a better, less sweet version of those chocolate-covered orange candy sticks, but with a heavy dose of pine richness. Very tasty!”

**Aroma:** “Fairly mild aroma. Slight alcohol and chocolate. Medium coffee and roast notes. Hints of cocoa nibs along with a light smoky phenol and very mild metallic hops. Nice cocoa and caramel, like a classy milk chocolate bar. Dark fruit esters. Everything I want in the aroma!” **Flavor:** “Oily coffee roast hits first, satisfying that stout character. Moderate sweetness ushers in a simple chocolate flavor. Warming alcohol joins with the long-tail roast fade for a lingering finish. Caramel and toffee come out. Suporting hops bitterness. Hops flavor is resinous, woody.” **Overall:** “Alcohol is not as forward as other examples and is more warming and subtle. Good chocolate, coffee, and roast notes. Slight fruity esters in the background. If you’re a big roast fan, this might be your cup of Joe. Smooth and balanced, a finely crafted beer. The flavors play off each other wonderfully, building to a crescendo of roasted sweetness.”

**Aroma:** “Fairly heavy roasty aroma, with chocolate, coffee, light smoke, and light alcohol. A really nice earthy, woodsy, aroma emerges as it warms, along with some cherry notes.” **Flavor:** “Heavy roast and chocolate up front quickly transition into a bitter roast and alcohol harshness that grows as it warms. Intensely sweet, with dark stone fruit esters, malt, and vanilla. An earthy, almost herbal-like character adds a nice level of depth and somehow complements the other flavors perfectly. Some heat, but it works with the overall smooth body. The mouthfeel is fairly chewy with smooth carbonation, and the alcoholic heat finishes with a slight numbing effect. Overall, it’s a very intense beer.” **Overall:** “Crazy intense all around, still somehow mostly balanced, even if it’s like Clash of the Titans flavor-wise. Lots of roast and dark chocolate, with acrid bitterness and a warming/numbing effect from the alcohol that grows as you drink more. The chocolate and roast play well off each other, making it nicely rounded. It’s a delicious beer that slightly tweaks convention within the style and creates a unique and awesome beer. Check this one out if you’re a thrill seeker.”