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White Chocolate Stout?

Posted on February 18, 2015 by Cam Ireland

There isn’t much “stout” about this ale. White Chocolate Stout brewed by Pacific Coast Brewing Co in Oakland, California. I love stout and I don’t really like it messed with, but I’ll try anything once. It’s Interesting for sure.

Appearance:
Right out of the tap the nitrogen poured vale of foam fills the glass. No color beyond the blizzard of white revealed at first, and then as the foamy curtain rises I see a dark copper to amber promise of beer uncovered. A few minutes later the translucent stout completes the transformation and stops with a nice cream-colored head on an amber beer. A stout by definition or style profile should be very dark brown to opaque and black like obsidian. The head should be long-lasting and a creamy tan color. This beer doesn’t look like a stout.
Aroma:
With my nose over the pint I inhale slowly and deeply…expecting coffee, cocoa, roasted malt or roasted barley I’m disappointed. No roasted or toasted notes at all. I do detect caramel and vanilla aromas. I enjoy the sweet dessert-like notes. I get the early impression that this will taste really good, but not like a stout.

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Flavor:
My expectation for a traditional stout is roasted malt, coffee and/or cocoa flavors. I get very subtle caramel and chocolate malt notes. There is also a hint of a honey-like flavor that I think might be caused by the white chocolate addition. Sadly, I’m not a huge white chocolate fan. There is no hop flavor detected. Hops are not required in the flavor profile of a stout, but are acceptable.

Finish:
This is generally where the good dry stouts are separated from the less than good. I am hoping for a lingering roast barley, tongue drying finish that drives me to crave another sip to help quench my thirst. Instead I get a lingering sweetness with a faint, and surprising, chocolate malt dryness. The sweet over powers the dry. More chocolate malt will help balance the beer, but will also darken the white stout. Since that would defeat the unique purpose of the project maybe a small addition of cocoa nibs or coffee beans to the boil would increase dryness without adding color.

Overall Impression:
Not a stout! I’d describe this White Chocolate Stout as a honey amber ale with a slight residual sweetness on the finish. It is enjoyable, drinkable and clean tasting.

An interesting, enjoyable and unique attempt to draw patron interest, but I believe stout lovers will order one and only one.

If in Oakland, stop by and try one for yourself. I’d highly recommend their Bourbon Barrel Aged Sour Cherry Tripel.

Cheers!

Category: Beer Style |

Cam Ireland

I am a BJCP (Beer Judge Certification Program) National judge. I am also a homebrewer. I love to taste classic styled and outside-the-box beer from around the world, explore craft beer breweries, cook and pair meals with beer and share all of these with anybody that has the same interests.

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