 wunderbier (1261), Finland
Mar 2, 2008
Viscous, with a pitch black hue in the glass, this beer is just barely opaque when being poured. Plush and creamy, the tall brown head is well lasting. Aromatically, La Granja is opulent without crossing the line to ostentatious territory. A trifecta of coffee, chocolate and caramel is nearly balanced, favouring first the coffee and then the chocolate. Tar and unsulphured molasses hit next, followed by tangy black cherries. There’s also an old, sooty aroma I don’t find particularly pleasant, along with a soda-like citric fizziness which is sort of distracting. I assume the citric contributions are from the relatively bright Mexican coffee beans. Eventually some toffee, perhaps even peanut brittle, comes to life. The flavour plays out as expected from the aroma; unfortunately that includes a dry, sooty quality. Otherwise it’s caramel and milk chocolate evolving into dark chocolate, intensifying into dark roast coffee. The acrid coffee roast flavours would be overpowering at times if not for a sweet, dairy-cream taste as an accompaniment. Lengthy and dry, the aftertaste is good for contemplation. Medium to full bodied with a creamy texture and somewhat prickly carbonation. Slight lemon-lime tingle as the beer warms. Lacks some depth and has a few odd, sharp quirks, but better than average and seems that it could be paired well with the right dessert.
60cl bottle, bottled on 09.02.2008.
SuzyGreenberg (1044), Seattle, Washington, USA
Oct 11, 2008 500 ml bottle - thanks to beerlando for the trade; sweet, milky chocolate colored with faint tan head; dry, nutty, coffee aromas; body is thin but with a subtle, rich coffee flavors; lands on the sweet side with no bitterness; sugary sweet; very nice
Beerded_one (1617), Croydon, Pennsylvania, USA
Oct 8, 2008 Bottle. Pours black with a small tan head. Aroma of roasted malts, coffee, dark chocolate and a hint of vanilla. Flavor is coffee, roasted malts, sweet chocolate and a touch of caramel. Medium to full bodied with a bitter sweet finish
mcsquint (18), , Missouri, USA
Oct 4, 2008 Poured from 20.3 oz bottle. Dark brown, nearly opaque with a thin ,fizzy, light tan head, similar to a Coke. Smell of chocolate malt and coffee. Somewhat watery and thin at first, then tastes of bittersweet chocolate with a coffee finish. No lacing on the inside of the mug. This is definitely not a session stout. There are much better coffee stouts for the money.
danielcurtis81 (102), San Diego, California, USA
Sep 26, 2008 Getting my notebook online. Bottle. Malts and tobacco come through on the nose. Above average coffee flavors. Various spices, maybe nutmeg, some cinnamon. Good beer.
Beer_2000 (1269), Kristiansand, Norway
Sep 25, 2008 500ml bottle. Almost black body with a small brown head. Aroma is roasted malt, coffee and some alcohol. Flavor is like aroma, nice roasted malt, and sweet chocolate and good bitterness. A really nice, balanced stout with a distinct coffee flavor.
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