The Pike Brewing Company XXXXX Stout

“Rich peanut butter and brownie batter rule the aroma and flavor with hints of cashew, caramel. Vanilla adds richness. Barrel character is muted with just a hint of oak.”

**Aroma:** “High fruity note similar to a Belgium with cherry, figs, raisins, orange. A candy-like aroma, perhaps like a cherry sucker. Toasty malt. Slightly oxidized. There is also a sweet milk chocolate aroma. Lots of malt sweetness. Slight coffee. A creaminess is present on the nose.” **Flavor:** “This comes across like a Belgian dubbel. High cherry note up front with a medium sweetness that slowly fades into a low bitterness with slight acidity. A light roast in the middle of the sip. The bitterness toward the end of the sip transitions into the aftertaste. Thin-to-medium body that is cut by the carbonation. Same esters as on the nose with some dark roast chocolate and toasted bread notes. Finishes with an interesting combination of the sweetness from the esters and a low-medium carbonic acid dryness. This beer has a flavor of vanilla cola.” **Overall:** “It’s enjoyable and sweet, but is this a stout? I get more fruity Belgian-like notes. As it warms, there is a bit of chocolate toward the very end. This could be a stout, but not a sweet stout. The aftertaste is too dry and astringent. A confusing beer for a sweet stout, given all of the strong Belgian-like esters and the carbonic ester finish.”

__Aroma:__ “Starts with a grape-like sweetness, with aromas of stone fruit, sweet plum, cherry, passion fruit, molasses, and licorice. The burnt roast malt is evident, but comes at the back of the vinous and fruity esters.” __Flavor:__ “Burned roast notes come through up front, with some roasty malt to support. The body is a little thin yet a little creamy. Notes of molasses and black licorice add just-right sweetness. Fruity notes of apple, grape, golden raisin, plum, prune, tropical fruit, and pineapple are balanced by an earthy hops presence.” __Overall:__ “Overall, it’s an enjoyable beer that delivers some really good vinous flavors. The licorice dominates, but the fruity notes and roast provide great balance and pivot points. The coffee flavor was nice, and the sweetness helped to balance the roast. It’s classic to the style and has some great complexity.”