Firestone Walker Cinnamon Dolce Nitro Stout

Firestone Walker Cinnamon Dolce Nitro Stout. Cinnamon and Vanilla Spiced Nitro Stout.

6 % ABV, 33 IBU.

Firestone Walker Brewing, Paso Robles, CA. 

Thoroughly black, completely opaque, cocoa-tinged ring of foam resting above, 

In the nose: Big cinnamon, more sweet than heat. Vanilla comes up right behind it. Soft cocoa notes off in the distance. 

In the mouth: Comes on sweet and spicy. Cinnamon is more delicate on the palate this time, vanilla swims in and keeps it sweet. Chocolate malt flavors hold down the fort just before. Medium bodied, well-balanced, and tasty. I can see this going well with rich desserts. Cakes. Over ice cream. Mmm, I'm getting hungry now...

We reimagined our nitro milk stout into something entirely new and seasonal. Conditioned on whole Madagascar vanilla beans and cinnamon sticks, for a rich profile reminiscent of a cinnamon dolce latte.

Wild Mind Black Is Beautiful Imperial Stout

Wild Mind Black Is Beautiful Imperial Stout. with Coffee, Maple, Cinnamon & Sea Salt.

9.5 % ABV. 60  IBU. Wild Mind Ales, Minneapolis, MN. 

Utter and absolute blackness, throughly opaque, rich brown head, lasting long. Love this look. 

In the nose: Holy Ravioli! Powerful aromatics pouring out of this one. The maple, thick as sap, the coffee, cinnamon and cocoa...whoa. 

In the mouth: All those flavors convene on the palate, none jostling or jousting for position, all in a lovely line. Not quite thick or viscous, but round, smooth, cool, calm and collected. Nothing sticks out over others. Maple isn't too much, nor cinnamon. A beautifully balanced beer, with only the large alcohol content threatening to crash this quiet convocation. This one is also never too sweet, despite the opportunity for it, though it gets close. Cinnamon rises up to take a bow, but sticks it out to close the scene. 

I was going to begin an embargo on maple beers in my regular diet, much as I've been steadfast in eschewing the use of marshmallow, and then I realized that this one was up next. But, it's not overboard. This broad display of flavors actually works. And I like it. Altogether enjoyable. 

Black is Beautiful is an Imperial stout brewed with maple, cinnamon, coffee from Up Coffee Roasters, and finished with a touch of sea salt for a more intense flavor profile.

Surly Mole Darkness Russian Imperial Stout

 Surly Mole Darkness Russian Imperial Stout.

12 % ABV. Surly Brewing Company, Brooklyn Center/Minneapolis, MN. 

And now we have the first appearance of Darkness variants here in the Bitter Nib. They were first released in bottles at the Darkness Day event in 2018, when it was moved to Wisconsin. I didn't go. That year, or the next. I was only able to try them at festivals. Ah, remember them? 

This year, this horrible, no-good year, there  is no Darkness Day, and the variants are going to liquor stores for the first time and not in bottles, but in this new can in a box format, which I am becoming fonder and fonder of...although I miss wax-dipped bombers. And this year, I work at a liquor store, so I didn't have to chase any trucks, or get up too early, no, I just had to show up at work in the (Ugh!) morning, and put some aside. And now, I will drink one. 

Mole Darkness. Bourbon Barrel-aged Russian Imperial Stout with vanilla beans, cinnamon, chiles, and chocolate. 12 % ABV. Brewed and canned by Surly Brewing Company, Minneapolis and Brooklyn Center, MN. 

Complete and utter you-know-what, with a slim, short-lived brown head. 

In the nose: Cocoa first, soft and sweet, and then comes the heat, growing in intensity. Cinnamon, chocolate and peppers, chocolate taking the lead. 

In the mouth: Sweet at first, rich and luxurious, with the pepper heat, and the cinnamon spice coming on quickly. Vanilla, cherries, molasses, and more lurk just below. It's the imperial stout wrapped in bourbon and smothered in chocolate, spices, and pepper heat, but it starts mellow and cool and I like it like that. Sweet keeps time with heat. 

It's thick, yet supple, rich, yet smooth, and abounding in flavors. So, I like it. Yum. A dum. Dum.

(Although, the vanilla beans made no impression whatsoever. Wait, one more sip. Nope. Or, maybe, a little? No, nope...Okay, a smudge, caught up in the recipe...)

Mole Darkness is inspired by the impossibly complex and satisfying sauces native to south-central Mexico. Mole comes in almost infinite varieties, and our take features bittersweet chocolate, cinnamon, and a mild heat from the use of guajillo chilies. Time well spent in bourbon barrels tempers the spice, adding a rounded, vanilla-esque sweetness.

Can artwork by Barbara Guttman.

Prairie Artisan Ales Seasick Crocodile Sour Ale

 

Prairie Artisan Ales Seasick Crocodile Sour Ale. With cranberry, ginger, cinnamon, and nutmeg.

6.3% alc. by vol. Brewed and canned by Kreb’s Brewing, McAlester, OK.

Thoroughly clouded, bright pinkish color, small white head.

In the nose: cinnamon hits first, ginger coming up behind. Fruit is silent.

In the mouth: Kicking it off hot and spicy. Quite tart and with that, the cranberry takes center stage, spice is at the side. With each new sip, that’s what we get: tart cranberry, puckering, spices. Light bodied, refreshing, unique. Tasty little sour ale, I like it.

BlackStack Black Is Beautiful Imperial Stout

 BlackStack Black Is Beautiful Imperial Stout, or, --sigh--Double Pastry Stout---sigh...

10.9 % ABV. BlackStack Brewing, St. Paul, MN. 

Another local edition of the nationwide collaboration, this one pulls out all the stops. 

Solid blackness, rich brown ring of foam above. 

In the nose: A whirlwind of complexities abound in this nose, peanut butter and chocolate in charge, rum barrel effects coming up from behind. Earthy, malty, and yeah, I can pick up the banana, too. Interesting. 

In the mouth: Yum-a-dum-dum. Flat Out, from the start, YADD. And the alcohol springs apace in this one, too. Boom! Rich and thick malt, with all the accompanying adjuncts in full display. Big chocolate, some of that peanut butter, a little bit of cinnamon, and a taste of banana, too. Rich, thick, full and long lasting on the palate. Big and bountiful. 

In a nutshell, or as they say these days, TLDR, : YADD.

Partially aged in Rum Barrels & treated with Peanut Butter, Bananas, Tahitian Vanilla, Vietnamese Cinnamon & Cacao Nibs from Pinella Brother Chocolate. Collaboration with Weathered Souls Brewing to support justice and equality for people of color. 

Sisyphus Scott's Oatmeal Raison Cookie Porter

Sisyphus Scott's Oatmeal Raison Cookie Porter.
7.5 % ABV. 20 IBU.
Sisyphus Brewing, Minneapolis, MN.

Complete darkness, absolute opacity, slimmest of heads.

In the nose: Malt first, then cinnamon creeps in. Next, the raisins.  Nice.

In the mouth: Spice and fruit blast the palate together, cinnamon and raisins charge the senses. Warm, rich malt backs it up. Quite tasty. Sweet, spicy, fruity, strong. All things that I like. Chewy, full bodied, rich and delicious. I'm liking this more and more as I drink it.

I don't like that it's being called a "pastry porter", though. Even if that fits. Cookies aren't really "pastry", technically, are they? First time I've seen these guys use "pastry" anything. I thought they were off the hook. Milkshakes, peanut butter, pastries...where does it end, the infantilization of beer...? Where does it stop?

They're (not Sisyphus...yet...jk) doing popsicle beers, and creamsicle beers, ...where's the Kool-Aid beer? Don't tell me, I don't want to know.

Scott's a regular and he had a beer idea - an oatmeal raisin cookie porter. So we made it for him! Brewed with 30 pounds of Raisins, 100 pounds of Oats, and a dose of cinnamon. Just like grandma used to make - the homebrewing grandma's anyways. 

Indeed Sarah Jane's Maple Sticks

Indeed Sarah Jane's Maple Sticks.
Dessert-style stout brewed with vanilla,
maple & almond flavors,
cinnamon & lactose.
10 % ABV. 50 IBU.
Indeed Brewing, Minneapolis, MN.

Fully ebony appearance, complete opacity, large, rich, cocoa brown head, lasting long and leaving lace.

In the nose: Pow! Sweetness is pouring out of this one, big, fat maple oozing out. Molasses. Slick and syrupy. Decadence.

In the mouth: Powerful rich and luxurious sweetness rolls out onto the palate.
Hop bitterness is swallowed up by sweet, luscious malty goodness, deep and delicious. Vanilla's popping up now, but no trace of cinnamon yet, ...no, wait, here it comes.
Full-bodied, long malty finish. Never-ending flavors.

Big, chocolate malt body, finished off with sweet flavoring, maple on top, cinnamon, vanilla & more rushing in from the sides.  A masterful creation. Perfect little nightcap.

A Northeast Minneapolis staple for the sweet tooth set, now with 100% more beer! We collaborated with a Northeast Minneapolis neighbor—Sarah Jane’s Bakery— to capture the essence of their classic Maple Stick in pastry stout form. A staff favorite!

I've stated in several previous posts my distaste for the "pasty stout" designation. One Indeed representative told me about this one, and I insisted we forego any talk of pastry stouts. I notice on the label it's called Dessert-style, but once I downed a can, I can only think that if anything is a pastry stout, it's this. I've never been to Sarah Jane's or had their Maple Sticks, but I'm certainly down to try one now. See if they're as good as this.

Lift Bridge Barrel Dessert Series Mole Brownie

Lift Bridge Barrel Dessert Series Mole Brownie.
8% ABV, 30 IBU. Lift Bridge Brewing, Stillwater, MN.

Dark Brown color, fully opaque, hardly any head at all.

In the nose: Sweet malts and barrel effects beckon first. Molasses, brown sugar, bourbon, with spices creeping up thereafter. Cinnamon's coming on strong.

In the mouth: Starts off strong with spice, cinnamon biggest of all, with the fire from the peppers roaring behind. Strong malt flavors. Big bourbon barrel. Maybe too big. I feel that the body should be fuller to match the power of the bourbon barrel effects. Cinnamon, chocolate & peppers keep coming back, refreshing the flavors.

I like this. Don't love it, though. Missing some essential charm.

Mole Brownie is a Barrel Aged Stout that features a blend of whole dried peppers, cinnamon, coffee, cocoa nibs, and other spices.

Wild Mind Sauce

Wild Mind is known by some as "the sour brewery", but that's a simplistic description, to say the least. To help destroy that myth, let's drink some of their Imperial Stout, shall we? Or, one of their Imperial Stout, I should say.

Sauce Imperial Stout. 9.2 % ABV. 40 IBU. Wild Mind Artisan Ales, Minneapolis, MN.

Solid blackness...Stygian, even....slim brown ring above. Looking very nice.

In the nose: Rich and chocolatey, some spice and smoke. Slightly ashen. Some peppers? Turns out, yes, peppers, and quite a lot of spices. I'm tasting this blind, as usual, without knowing all the details. Just peeked at them, which I will share at the bottom.

In the mouth: Full, Rich. Intense. Massive malt presence. Lush and luxurious. Minimal hops. And on comes the cinnamon. More spices flood the palate. Chocolate catches up. Sweetness and spice. Yum.

As you'll read below, the idea is to re-create a mole sauce in an imperial stout. I don't find that ingredient much in my diet, but I feel like they achieved their aim. My notes were succinct, but I feel that I made my point. Once I tapped those notes into the keyboard, I relaxed and luxuriated, and drank down just a little more than half of the 64 ounce growler. Probably a little more than I should have. It's good that I don't have a day job. (By the way, some of the prices on the 750ml bottles at Wild Mind go from $8-$25. $15 for 64 oz. of Imperial Stout seems like a steal.)

This Imperial Stout was brewed with the intention of reproducing the depth of flavors in a mole sauce. There are many varieties of mole sauce, some containing up to 30 ingredients, and this one is based on a mole dulce. It checks in at 20 ingredients with seven grains, two hops, one yeast and 10 other spices. This has robust malt flavors of cocoa, coffee and dark fruit in a full, sultry body. The addition of cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, cardamom, almond, ginger, raisins, vanilla, cocoa nibs and ancho chiles meld into that body and come across on the palate with a rounded spice character. With how much is going on, this stout leaves you with a singular and distinct impression that we hope reminds you of mole. 

Sisyphus Winter Warmer with Cinnamon

Sisyphus Winter Warmer with Cinnamon. 6.7 % ABV. 15 IBU.

Sisyphus Brewing, Minneapolis, MN.

Dark brown color, ruby edges, clear-ash, slim beige head.

In the nose: Spice reigns supreme in this one. Cinnamon, ahoy. Dark malts and dark fruit & cocoa notes just below.

In the mouth: A flood of tasty dark malt flavors, studded with spices. Deep, warm, and welcoming. Fig, raisin, a bit of berries. Bittersweet and satisfying. Very cinnamon-y. Oh, so tasty.

BTW, and FYI, the original, non-cinnamon Winter Warmer was originally reviewed here. Go check it out.

SOMETIMES YOU JUST HAVE TO WARM UP IN THE DEAD OF WINTER, AND WHAT BETTER WAY THAN WITH A WINTER WARMER. SEEMS PRETTY OBVIOUS. ALSO SHOULD BE PRETTY OBVIOUSLY WHEN YOU TASTE THIS BEER THAT WE'VE ADDED CINNAMON, YUM!

Pipeworks Smore Money Smore Problems

Pipeworks Smore Money Smore Problems. Imperial Stout. 10% ABV. Pipeworks Brewing, Chicago, IL. In collaboration with Keith Lonergan.

Full on ebony, slim brown head.

In thye nose: slowly unfolding cocoa, caramel, toffee. Increasingly rich and complex. Deeply flavors showing in time. Marshmallow starts to show. (When did I think I would ever write that?)

In the mouth: Here's where all the flavors come together, and cinnamon kicks in. Getting hotter as we go. Wonderful mix. Thick, rich, and quite delicious. I'm seriously digging this.


Imperial Stout brewed in collaboration with Friends With Benefits member Keith Lonergan with graham crackers, cacao nibs, vanilla bean, marshmallow and cinnamon

Wild Mind Artisan Ales Cup of Ambition (Cinnamon & Vanilla) Coffee Stout

Wild Mind Artisan Ales Cup of Ambition (Cinnamon & Vanilla). 6.5% ABV. 28 IBU. Wild Mind Artisan Ales, Minneapolis, MN.

I've been having a hard time figuring this one out. Why does the label say "CVCS" when the beer is Cinnamon & Vanilla Cup of Ambition. Where does the S come from? Where did the A go? There has to be an answer. (Is it for "Coffee Stout"? Probably. I think I've got it.)

Black as night, slim, soon-gone head.

In the nose: Sweet and spicy. Cinnamon sticks out first. Rich malt below. Here comes sweet vanilla.

Time to drink. In the mouth: Cinnamon strikes first again, and stays dominant. Smothers this barrel-aged coffee stout. You've got to wait it out 'til we get to the coffee. Full bodied and delightful.

Rich, roast-y, and very satisfying. Cinnamon blends with coffee, and vanilla's trying to come out and join the party.

One more in the win column for Wild Mind.

This is for the un-C/V version of Cup of Ambition: Heaven Hill barrel-aged coffee beans provide this sweet stout with notes of lightly bitter coffee, oak, and vanilla. Reminiscent of a refreshing iced coffee, Cup of Ambition is perfect for a hot summer day or a weekend (or weekday, no judgement) brunch. 

Sisyphus Cinnamon Roll Imperial Stout

Sisyphus Cinnamon Roll Imperial Stout. 11.5 % ABV. 80 IBU. Sisyphus Brewing, Minneapolis, MN.

Solid blackness. Creamy brown colored head atop. Looking nice.

In the nose: dark malt, chocolate, espresso. And slowly rolling out, the cinnamon. Little bit of hot, little bit of spice, a whole lot of nice.

In the mouth: All those flavors board the palate with aplomb. Hot, fierce, fiery, but sweet and malty all the way. Lush and tasty. Full-bodied, full-flavors, thick and luxurious. Chocolatey,  spicy, whole lot of cinnamon going on. But, not as much as in this one.

Clown Shoes Chocolate Sombrero

Clown Shoes Chocolate Sombrero. Mexican style chocolate stout. Ale brewed with natural flavors and natural flavors added. 9% ABV, 6 IBU. American Double/Imperial Stout. Ipswich, MA.

Solid blackness, deep and impenetrable, cocoa-tinged head up on top. Looking great.

In the nose: Vanilla, cream, peppers, chocolate. A little cinnamon. Very nice.

In the mouth: Big roasted malt flavors up front, with some hop bitterness, but very little. And the rest come roaring in: the peppers, the cinnamon, all kept in check with vanilla and whatever's bringing that cream. Big, malty, rich. Full-bodied, full flavored, hot and heavy.

I've had this before, when I chose a keg for Acadia. A sample came my way from the Sample Man, and I was astonished that I'd never had a bottle (or, it turns out, a can) that I reviewed here. The last time I had a Clown Shoes beer, I vowed to keep at their vast supply of beers, and I shan't shirk that duty. I do like this brewery quite a bit.

Question, though: Are these "Mexican-style chocolate stouts" really brewed in Mexico? Are they really a style that originated in Mexico? Or did some gringo think it up? Someone let me know if there's a Mexican brewery tossing vanilla, cinnamon and peppers in their chocolate imperial stout. Please. I have got to know.

Roasted dark malts plus extra chocolate malts plus ancho chile plus cinnamon plus vanilla extract plus a chocolate loving, beer drinking, Clown Shoes wearing, multi-limbed, gorgeous and glorious Mexican wrestler on the label. That’s the recipe for a Chocolate Sombrero!

Sisyphus Hades The River Cinnamon Styx

Sisyphus Hades The River Cinnamon Styx. 11.5% ABV, 80 IBU. Sisyphus Brewing, Minneapolis, MN. Imperial Stout with cinnamon, vanilla, cocoa nibs & ancho chilies.

Dark brown coloration, nearly black, with a large tannish hued head, looking very nice. Very, very nice.

In the nose: Sweet and spicy, earthy. All cinnamon. A bit of anise and molasses behind, backed by a bunch of malt.

In the mouth: More and more cinnamon. When I first had this on at the taproom, it was bit too spicy and hot for me. But I went back and bought a crowler, because I had to tackle it. I couldn't skip this one. Left it in the fridge for a week, and tonight's the night to drink it. It's still hot, earthy, malty, spicy, hoppy, huge.

This is also a beer you could not order at the bar, and could only take home in the crowler. Wait, you're asking me, didn't you say you had it at the taproom. Yes, a sample. And that sample was enough to say, "hmm, maybe, maybe not." Drinking it now, it's a fine stout, if you're up for the heat and the spice. I can't see myself returning to it over and over again. This one crowler should do it for me. Or, I could see sharing one with friends. But, it doesn't give me what I really want in an Imperial Stout. And how often do I want to drink this much cinnamon?

I'll give it this: it's certainly it's own thing. And there ain't nothing wrong with that.

Oliphant 1000% Guapo

Oliphant 1000% Guapo Dessert Stout with Cinnamon and Lactose.  7.5% acl. by vol. Canned on
5/31/17. Purchased 6/11, consumed 6/23. Oliphant Brewery, Somerset, WI.

Guapo is Spanish for handsome. 1000% Guapo? Knowing Oliphant, there has to be more behind this....and a little Googling leads us to a wrestler named Jose Luis Jair Soria, aka Shocker, aka 1000% Guapo. Sure, that makes sense. Not sure what Jeremy's chalkboard art has to do with that, though. They need annotations for that thing, man, or it's just mind-bending. What is? Who? Why? Huh---??? (I now recognize it as a scene from Tim & Eric Awesome Show Good Job, and Tim Heidecker's Spaghetti character.)

Deepest blackness, fine ring of tan head atop, looking very nice.

In the nose: Sweet, but balanced: vanilla, cocoa, caramel. Little bit of roast. Small amount of bitterness. Slight cinnamon popping up.

Now, to drink! In the mouth: Sweetness is bigger on the tongue, lactose plays a big part. Creamy, milky, vanilla-y, chocolate-y, ...pretty much yum. Not getting much cinnamon on the palate, yet, but it's still early.

I've never heard of a beer called a "dessert stout" by the brewery as it's designated style. But, why the heck not? It's what it is. And it is nice. It's wonderfully warm and comforting. Should be a bigger hit in winter, especially around the holidays. It's at least 100% Guapo, but, hey, why not go all the way?

Oliphant Rolo Tony Brown Town

Oliphant Brewing Rolo Tony Brown Town Brown Ale with Maple Syrup and Cinnamon. 8.1% ABV. Oliphant Brewing, Somerset, WI.

Dark brown, nearly black, slim cocoa/tan head.

In the nose: spice, cinnamon, brown sugar, rich and lush. Sweet, but never more so, and very well balanced.

In the mouth: Full body, full flavor, rich malt, and full-on spices.Medium bodied, long, malty finish, non-stop cinnamon and spice. Pretty danged tasty. Delicious.

Tony Danza keeps on Truckin'.

Tallgrass Bourbon Barrel-aged Vanilla Bean Buffalo Sweet Brewed with Cinnamon

Tallgrass Bourbon barrel-aged Vanilla Bean Buffalo Sweat Brewed with cinnamon. Brewed and canned by Tallgrass Brewing, Manhattan, Kansas. 5% ABV.

Dark , clouded, brown coloring, slim and soon-gone head.

Aroma starts with cinnamon, then hits with the bourbon. Sweet. Vanilla. Dark and deep, rich with molasses and maple syrup, cocoa and coffee. Cinnamon stands on top.

Taste: dark malt washes over the palate first. Rich with cocoa and cinnamon, with vanilla coming in quick. Sweet and full-bodied, powerful mouthfeel. Mighty tasty. The cinnamon and vanilla keep good time, stepping out for a bit to let bourbon take the spotlight for a second or two. Nice stuff. Good beer, and I can drink it.