Williamsburg Alewerks Coffeehouse Stout
A recent beer trade with Billy Broas brought Williamsburg Alewerks Coffeehouse Stout to my doorstep. Having never heard of this beer or brewery, I’m particularly fond of Coffee Stouts, I’m excited to try this beer. Disclaimer: I’ve been working on my taxes for the last 15 hours and I’m pretty fried, so my poor grammar and spelling will probably be worse tonight. Then it again it may make it better… Anyway, for me what makes a great coffee stout is a beer that is not overly acidic but has a strong coffee flavor and aroma.
Here is how Alewerks describes their Coffeehouse Stout:
This ain’t no Folgers! Our Winter seasonal has a nice coffee aroma and the flavor of cold Guatamala Antigua coffee with “a little “cream and sugar added. Delicious!
ABV: 5.4%
Style: Milk Stout
Bottle Size: 12oz Capped Bottle
Availability: Winter Seasonal
Appearance:
Dark through and through, black even when held up to the light. Although there is very little head on this beer even with a hard pour down the middle of my goblet, all I’m left with is a thin collar.
Aroma:
Aroma is what it should be, rich roasted coffee, roasted grains, and chocolate. Not much more then that, but really should a coffee stout be more?
Taste:
Lets hope the flavor is as nice as the aroma. Lets just say I like my coffee black and strong. For me the lactose addition in this beer makes it a bit sweet for my palette. But, if you like your coffee with cream and sugar, this would probably be appealing. Other then the lactose, there is a good strong coffee flavor that isn’t acidic and a nice roasted character to the beer. Good mouthfeel and not much bitterness.
Glassware: Goblet, Nonic
Calories: With a sweet stout error on the high side, 5.4% abv beer would have about 180-200 calories per 12 oz (Calorie Chart)
Overall Impression:
I’m convinced I just can’t appreciate lactose in beer, I have yet to find a beer with lactose in it that I really like. The coffee was great in this beer, but if you like your coffee “regular” or “Light & Sweet” this could be the Coffee Stout for you.
Am I nuts? What do you think?
I doubt you’re nuts Peter – its just a horrible affliction you must have! 🙂 I really like milk stouts, and one with some coffee action sounds like a winner to me! (I’m still recovering from doing my taxes yesterday too)
Hi!
Sounds like a decent beer, but don’t forget that lactose is actually sweet. It gives more of a thicker mouthfeel since the sugars are unfermentable. If the brew was sweet, then the attenuation was poor or they mashed high.
Cheers!
J
@scott – HA! go have a milk stout and finish your taxes, leave me with my affliction 🙂
@Jason -Yes lactose is very sweet and tends to lend a bit of “creaminess”, but I don’t think the attenuation was poor, I just think there was too much lactose for my palette.
Peter, I’m like you on this one. I am not a fan of lactose in beer. My wife nearly ralphs if she drinks a milk stout. I like sweet beers, but there is a generic gritty sweetness that comes from lactose that is hard for me to bear, often reminding me of aspartame.
It’s one of those ingredients that people either love or hate. I haven’t noticed much middle ground on lactose. Probably why I’ve never used it brew with!
All the hatin’ on the lactose. I’m going to name my first born (and maybe even my second born if necessary) Lactose just to get back at you!
Go on with your bad self! Scott, you will be forever know as lactose-man, crusader against lactose injustice!
Looking forward to meeting Lactose Jones and Lactose Jones II. But what if you have a girl? Lactosa? 🙂
@scott Hillarious…I like Peter’s suggestion for Lactosa. that would be a great beer name, actually. Admittedly, I haven’t had a ton of Milk Stouts. Suggestions?
Lactosa. Possibly. However, I think I will disregard the gender and name them Lactose just to make my point. They can always change their name to something ‘normal’ when they turn 18.
@nate heard the milk stout from 3floyds is pretty good. I have a bottle that I think I’ll have to try now.
@scott like George forman named all his kids george. Your kids will love you for years of school abuse from that name 🙂
@Peter, it will just make them tougher!
@Nate – so far my favorite milk stout was Left Hand’s Milk Stout, and the one from Lancaster Brewing out of PA was nice too.
Lactosa is a cool name for a beer. Get on it Peter before Nate does!
I’ll leave that up to you Scott, since your now officially a homebrewer!
Barely, Peter – but thanks!