Midnight Oil Coffee Stout

Friend of the Bitter World MW showed up unexpectedly with a couple of bottles from Abe Erb Brewing Company out of Kitchener, Ontario. Note: if you have non-readily available beer from a cool brewery, just drop by. I usually hate a pop in, but far flung ales? Bring ‘em by Stout Man Manor. Do it!

One of MW’s deliveries was a 341mL stubby, medicinal bottle of Midnight Oil Coffee Stout. It’s a 5.2% alcohol ale brewed using a Sumatra-based coffee from Settlement Co. The beer is a late night number with a tan head that lasted only a short time and faded to a thin disc.

More than most coffee-flavoured ales, Midnight Oil has a wild java nose. Seriously potent Joe. It has some sweetness and a healthy malt, too, but coffee is the nose candy in this ale. The flavour is a bit less overtly caffeinated, but there is still some bitter coffee heft. Along for the ride are malty notes, sweetness, and some chocolate notes.

Abe Erb’s take on the coffee stout is a lovely little number. It’s not quite as bitter as I’d have liked, but it is rich and sweet, with decent strength and, not to repeat myself, a brilliant aroma. This is a coffee ale that I’d gladly revisit. It’s a bit too saccharine, though it isn’t a deal-breaker.

Rating: 8.0 out of 10.