Library Shafthouse Dry Stout

On tap at the brewpub. Dark dark brownish black with a fine light tan creamy head. Lightly milky creamy, chocolate. Lightly sweet roast. Subdued. Creamy mouthfeel, smaller bubbles. Sweeter roast. Nondescript, slight chocolate. Some floral hops and acidity lingering. Reminds me of a buddy’s homebrew clone of Sierra Nevada Stout.

A very dark brown color with only lacing for a head. A nice roasted aroma and taste. A grassy hop aroma and taste also that leaves a bitter aftertaste. Did nothing for me. There are better examples at this brewpub.

5 oz draught sample at the brewpub, late July 2006. A dark touch of head lasts for the whole 10-sample tasting (and its not nitro!) atop the thick jet body....big bitter chocolate-espresso nose, hugely roasty and dripping with character.....doesn’t hold up as well on the tongue, the bittersweet chocolate is just a bit weak and lacking in the complexity the nose hoped for....milky-smooth mouthfeel is pleasant, but somehow this didn’t quite deliver. Still a pretty nice rendition.

On tap at the brewpub. Pours a deep brown color of rich melted dark chocolate. The aroma is rich and succulent, dripping with dark belgian chocolate and medium roast coffee maltiness. Some vanilla and light oak tones are notes as well. The flavor is incredibly full bodied, making this especially remarkable if the above denoted ABV of 5% is accurate. There is a lot of flavor and texture packed into 5%. Great balance between the rich toasty flavors and the dry finish. A subtle deep fruity flavor of roasted prune livens up the smokey, woody malt profile. Delicious, incredibly rich example of the style.

on draft at the brewery. wow, this is better than i expected it. most small-time stouts are middle-of-the-road at best, usually falsely nitrogenated, and bland despite some roast. this is quite an enjoyable stout, however, and easily the better of the few brews i had at the Library.