Stillwater Artisan Extra Extra Double Brut India Pale Ale

Stillwater Extra Extra Double Brut India Pale Ale. 8 % All. by Vol. Brewed and canned for Stillwater Artisanal by Dorchester Brewing, Boston, MA.

Hazy. Bold golden. Slim white head.

In the nose: Lightly fruity, dry, some odd Belgian-esque yeasty funk. Citrus zest. Interesting. Intriguing.

In the mouth: Boom! Big juicy hops, rich malt, full-on flavors. Booze hangs high right from the start. A little too sharp for my taste. Not enough hop bitterness, kind of a mess. This isn't especially pleasant. I wish I liked it, I do. But, I don't.

Alas, can't win them all.

Stillwater On Fleek Imperial Stout

Stillwater Artisan Ales On Fleek (FTW) Imperial Stout. 13% ABV. Collaboration with Casita Cerveceria.

I'm not going to mention what a stupid name this is, or how I despise the design of this label. Bright day-glo colors do not belong on an Imperial Stout label. Forget all that. Let's focus on the beer.

Dark, blackish, deep coloring, rich and toasted tan head, looks about perfect.

In the nose: toasted coconut, marshmallow, vanilla, caramel, toffee, toast, roast, cocoa, cream. Mmmm. Char. Molasses. Mmm, mmm.

In the taste: mmm turns to ahhh.  Thick, rich, full bodied, massive malt, deep chocolate, some anise, molasses and more. Boom! It's everything I want in an imperial stout. Big, beefy, plump, large, immense, etcetera. Delicious. Drinks down as well as any good RIS would. Mmmm, so rich, so chocolatey, so, so, so. So very so.

If you know me at all, you know I love an Imperial Stout. Love them when they're done well. And this one is, it really is.

Here's all the information the website gives: Big, overhyped imperial stouts, amirite? This one on fleek tho. The most amazing collaboration ever with Casita Cerveceria.

Stillwater Cellar Door Farmhouse Ale

"Cellar Door", …at least that's what I think it says…Stillwater Artisanal, American Farmhouse Ale. Wheat Ale brewed with white sage. 1 pint, 9.4 fluid ounces. 6.6% ABV. Brewed and bottled by Dog Brewing Company, Westminster, Maryland.

I've been looking at this one sitting in my DBF (dedicated beer fridge) for months now, and it's time to take it down.

Clear and golden, beautiful white head, looks inviting. Active carbonation, rising up from the bottom.

Gorgeous aromatics, lovely light spice, delicate and flowery, ooo, la la.

Tasting it: light bodied, smooth, zesty. Wheaty mouthfeel, flush with citric feel, and jazzed up with spice. Sweet and malty, with just a bit of bitter. In the saison style, with a spicy twist.

Let's just look at their words on this one. I'll have to cock my head sideways for this: "Starting with a base of GErman wheat and pale malts, this crisp slightly hazy foundation was then accented with a blend of Sterling & Citra hops that provide notes of herbal grass & tangerine citrus. To pull this all together and to complete the "cleansing" aspect of my vision, I gently finished the ale off with a touch of white sage, lending a mild earthy spice character to the blend."

What is the "cleansing aspect" of his vision? That's so many words. I guess I don't mind keeping my notes short and simple, once in a while. It's good and lovely and drinks like a dream.

Go, beer!

Stillwater Autumnal

Stillwater Autumnal. Purchased in late spring, drinking now in early summer. "This deep amber hued ale takes it's inspiration from Germany, while stiull nodding to the Belgian farmhouse tradition. The base is comprised of German two-row, wheat, Cara-Munich, and roasted barley. Generously hopped with a blend of Perle, Spalt, and Hallertau Mittlefruh, and fermented with a rustic Belgian farmhouse ale yeast. These elements together provide a melange of earth and fruit aromas backed with hints of caramel with a dry clean finish."

Dusky brown appearance, half-opaque, gorgeous head, big and billowy, lace leaving, luscious.

Aroma: there's the Belgian funk, here's the hops, and underneath the caramel malt. A twisted mix. Some chocolate here, some raisins, a little creamy, bits of nuts.

Taste: Mmm. Chocolate malt remains a minor player, mixes with dark fruit and nuts. Primarily a malt driven flavor, with mild and mellow hop character. Richness and sweetness aplenty. But never too much, great balance, great consumability.

Good spice in it, great malt, minor hops, terrific flavor.

Stillwater Existent

.existent. Stillwater Artisanal (yes, I was fooled into thinking this was some under-the-radar, Stillwater, MN brewery) American Farmhouse Ale, 1 Pt 9.4 fl. oz. (750 ml)
Alc. 7.4 % by Vol.
"Existent represents the philosophy behind Stillwater Artisanal. We strive to define ourselves through our passion and sincerity while accepting that not all aspects of life are readily explainable. To manifest this ideology we present an ale of intrigue. Deep & dark though deceptively dry, braced by a firm yet smooth bitterness and accented with an earthy hop and mild roast aroma. This is an ale for you to define…"and if you gaze for long into the abyss, the abyss gazes also into you."---Nietzsche.

And look, there's Freddy right there on the label. Never thought I'd see the day, Nietzsche on a beer label. Let's open it up and drink it down.

Dark brown, lush, creamy tan head, pock-marked and rocky. A sight to see.

Aroma, soft and spicy, yeasty and lovely. Cocoa and cream, mmm, mmm, mmm.

Taste: chocolate malt, and mild fruit control the flavor. Never sweet, though, a round and dry ale. A beautiful flavor emerges on the palate, delights the senses, and lingers a bit. Even-handed, sufficiently dry, with further flavors lurking below the original blast, slowly emerging. Some dark fruit crawls up, raisin and plum. Despite it, dry and spicy. Dark caramel malt, chocolate malt, fruity esters…drinkable and dry.

The dark saison is a new category. I may have only had one other commercially produced version (see De Ranke Noir de Dottingies), and had never fathomed the style until I tried a friend's homebrew version. I like it. So fascinatingly flavored. So complex and delicious.

Bottle's end: still scrumptious. Mmm, these guys are good.