Showing posts with label Imperial Stouts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Imperial Stouts. Show all posts

Thursday, April 22, 2021

"New" Brew Thursday: 'Dusk Trill Dawn' from Trillium and Evil Twin

The year is 2016, after months of studying and three days in hell I finally finished taking the bar exam. I have about one more month living in Boston and now with ample free time, I do not know what to do with it. While going for Pokemon Go walks, hitting the gym, sleeping, and just generally relaxing were my day-to-day musts, it was hitting up some of my favorite spots that really made me happy. One of those spots was Trillium. In their old space there was no room for on-site pours, so it was a strict to-go operation. It was there, in the dead of the August heat, I visited to pick up two imperial stouts. A bottle of ‘Outside The Lines’ and a howler of ‘Dusk Trill Dawn’ because that was the only way it was being offered. I remember it being one of the best stouts I had ever had and always wanted to try it again. Nearly five years later… I got my wish.

‘Dusk Trill Dawn’ pours into the glass a dark, almost obsidian black with a brown head. It has extraordinarily strong notes of coffee, chocolate, and malt that all blend and play off one another as well. The taste is just how I remembered, amazing. A thick and luxurious mouthfeel that coats the entire palate with an initial hit of chocolate that then gives way to an overpowering coffee flavor that lingers on the tongue well after it is gone. Despite being 12.6% ABV it is not overly boozy and hits just right.

In all, ‘Dusk Trill Dawn’ was just the thing I needed to satisfy my Boston nostalgia. Reminding me of one of my favorite stouts from one of my favorite breweries.

Thursday, August 20, 2020

New Brew Thursday: 'Brandy Land' from Boulevard Brewing Company

 

Did you know that there are breweries outside of New England? Shocking I know. While my blog is littered with breweries from the neighboring area, I do have a love for all breweries across the country and the world. One of these breweries is Boulevard Brewing Company located in Kansas City, Missouri. After I took the bar exam in 2016, I took a trip across the country to visit breweries and ballparks and Boulevard was one of the breweries I was able to visit. I have always been a fan of them and try to get their beer whenever I see it. Awhile back I came across ‘Brandy Land’ a spiced imperial stout aged in apple brandy barrels. My curiosity was instantly peaked upon reading this description and knew I had to try it.  

Clocking in at 12.4% ABV the main notes and flavor come from the booziness. The notes are strong with sweetness, apple brandy, chocolate and are incredibly boozy. The flavor is exceptional. The initial taste is big and boozy with chocolate and a slight spice that gives way to a slight apple brandy flavor and then a lingering roast flavor with a great, albeit lighter than expected mouthfeel. The booziness of this stout ties all the flavors together in a beautiful way as well. This stout is perfectly balanced. Boozy but not too boozy, rich but not too rich, decadent but not overly sweet. While summer is still going strong, this stout is perfect year-round.