Elevensies Espresso Stout

Like me, Elevensies Espresso Stout comes from Fredericton, New Brunswick. It's a 5.5% alcohol number that comes from Maybee Brew Co. This stout is, I assume, brewed with espresso, though unfortunately there is no information about the source of the beans on the 473mL can.

The beer is dark brown with amber highlights, under a creamy head. There is a rich and malty nose that was really quite powerful. The stout proved to be flavourful and hearty, with huge coffee bitterness. Beneath that, there were some molasses notes lurking and a decent malt profile.

This was a pretty decent stout, though the coffee elements really dwarfed the beery ones. It was pretty feisty and tasty, though. I'd definitely like to revisit it.

Rating: 7.5 out of 10.

Hitachino Nest Espresso Stout

Kickin' off the New Year with something interesting, here's Hitachino Nest Espresso Stout, a "Japanese dark ale brewed with coffee beans". It's sold in great looking 330mL bottles--they have a great shape and an adorably alert little owl. It's brewed by Kiuchi Brewery, out of Ibaraki, Japan. It's an opaque black stout that pours with a lovely layer of tan head.

It has a malt-forward aroma that it bolstered by molasses notes and a dark roast coffee expression. Likewise, it's flavour features malt in the early stages, with a sticky molasses quality, while the back end has strong espresso bitterness. Through it all is a hefty booze presence.

Hitachino Nest Espresso Stout is a really nice strong stout out of Japan. It's my first brush with a dark beer from the Land of the Rising Sun. Plus, it has a really great aesthetic.

Rating: 8.5 out of 10.

Midnight Sun Espresso Stout

Midnight Sun is an espresso stout brewed in Whitehorse, Yukon, by Yukon Brewing. It's brewed using coffee from Midnight Sun Coffee Roasters. It contains a respectable 6.2% alcohol and comes in 341mL bottles that feature a very cool coffee-munching raven. I enjoyed a bottle of this apparently caffeinated stuff in lieu of my morning coffee on my last day in Whitehorse.

It's a very dark brown ale topped with a tawny head. It actually looks quite a bit like black coffee. The aroma has notes of coffee grinds as well as a healthy layer of roasted malt. The underlying stout flavour is quite mild. It has substantial malt and a bit of sweetness early on and some soft hop kick at the finish. However, the addition of the coffee really amplifies the bitterness to give this beer a fuller and more dynamic flavour.

I've certainly had a few better coffee beers, but this stuff was no slouch. It was undeniably enjoyable and nicely made. Recommended.

Rating: 8.0 out of 10.