Muskoka Brewery Shinnicked Stout American Stout at 5.2% ABV | 19 IBU (C$3.57 at NLC Howley Estates, 473 ml, best before 28-Feb-2017, acquired 19-Nov-2016, reviewed 22-Nov-2016)
Appearance: clear ruby brown with two fingers of fluffy beige head diminishing gradually a to a persistent cap, minimal lacing. (3/5) Aroma: coffee, dark chocolate, roasty malt, dark fruit, light nutty. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter. (7/10) Medium-full slightly creamy body, moderate carbonation, off-dry mildly bitter and slightly sweet finish. (4/5)
A pleasant, almost Dry Irish-style stout, except for the hint of coffee and slightly higher caramel-like sweetness in the finish. Quite smooth and pleasant, and at only 5.2% ABV, quite approachable. My biggest beef with it is how understated the coffee is: as it stands, one could easily misinterpret the coffee notes as being attributable to the roasted malt, though they do linger in the finish a bit like an iced latte. In my opinion it could easily have been much more emphatic – I’m not sure it’s got the presence to warm you up after a polar bear plunge – but it’s not bad. (14/20)
7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
