Pike XXXXX Stout

Brewed by Pike Pub & Brewery
Style: Stout
Seattle, Washington USA

Serve in English pint

My beer man tells me that this stuff has returned to the original recipe after a short hiatus. Thanks to whomever made that call. Rich, black, citrus hops, toastiness, cream, and general jubilation...in that order. I’d bathe in this shit if I weren’t so broke. Outstanding stout.

Picked up a single 22-oz bomber at Bottleworks in Seattle, Washington. Pours an opaque dark brown brew with a decent tan head that has good retention and lacing. Aroma of dark black malt, some coffee, smoked wood, dark chocolate and a touch of tobacco. Taste is full bodied, very lightly carbonated with flavors of dark chocolate, roasted malt and coffee. Finish is smooth, creamy with a decent coffee and chocolate aftertaste. One of the best over the top stouts.

22oz Bomber $4.35 Liquid Solutions Probably not the night to be drinking a stout with as hot as it’s been but what the hell? Pike 5x Stout pours the blackest of holes into my snifter. Not one bit of light can sneak through. The body swallows every bit of light that comes into contact with this beer. A 1+ finger brown head forms and slowly fades to a thick cap. Leaves drink lines down the glass after each gulp. Aroma is like nothing I’ve smelled in previous stouts. Theres a solid smokiness in there that reminds me of smoked bacon. May sound strange but it smells damn fine. Mild roasted malts with a solid hop presence on the backend. Mild hazelnut in there as well. Wow! What a delicious unique stout. That smokey bacon (or is it just campfire and I’m hungry) scent is in the flavor as well. The smokiness blankets a mildly roasted malt and hazelnut nuttiness. A hint of milk on the finish with a combination of burnt malt and hop bitterness. Delicious! Mouthfeel is just how I’d like it to be. Medium bodied. Not too heavy.Sluggish carbonation that lets the brew roll along the tongue. Nice bitterness on the swallow. An incredibly drinkable stout, especially with the robust smokiness. The alcohol level helps the drinkability as well. I’m actually blown away by this brew. Before I ordered the bottle I saw it had good reviews but I didn’t expect this. A really wonderful unique stout. 6/11/07

22 ounce bottle split in pint glass. Black with lasting tan head and lace. Dark chocolate and roasted coffee aroma with complex smoky roasted slightly burnt bitterness and delightfully understated fruitiness. Full body, especially for abv, and medium carbo. Very complex and delicious without overdoing the alcohol. Excellent.

On tap at pub. Deep black with nice head. Wow, heady brew. Robust chocolate and roasted notes are there, and are delicately presented in this extremely smooth and drinkable brew. Great mouthfeel and resounding finish leaves one quite happy with this wonderful example fo the style.

Black pour with a tan head. Aroma consists of coffee, dark chocolate, light anise. Body is medium full with moderate-low carbonation, high and dry bitterness balanced nicely with dark roasted malt and moderate sweetness. 7% is hidden well. A very delicious beverage here!

UPDATED: AUG 5, 2010 Initial rating 6/24/2009. Bottle. Pours a very very dark near-black, with a dark tan head, moderate, ropey lacing. Nose is quite hoppy, plenty of pine resin and a bit of skunk. Roast malt, coffee, a bit of sweetness. Hops hide a bit of the delicacy of the stout. Palate is initially very pleasant; hops, roast malt, coffee, some malty sweetness. With time, a slight burnt character as well as a bit of metal show themselves, marring an otherwise quite nice beer. Odd, lighter than expected, and not fantastic, but I would buy it again. Re-rate August 5th, 2010. Pours reasonably opaque black, thin tan head, spotty to great lacing. Not a lovely-looking lacing, but theres lots of it dot-by-dot. Nose is milk chocolate, caramel, coffee, roast, cappuccino. Flavours run to the MASSIVE chocolate, great smoke, wonderfully integrated, rich and profound. This is the same batch as my first rating, so this is just the effect of age. This fucking rules.

On tap at the Alibi Room - pours jet black with a coffee and chocolate aroma. Thick, roasted malty, chocolate and oatmeal flavour. Full-bodied and smooth. A wonderful stout.