I gave the benefit of the doubt and bought another Stir Stick Stout from a different beer store this weekend. And I am very glad I did.
Name: Half Pint Brewing Co. Stir Stick Stout
Origin: Canada, Winnipeg
Style: Stout (5.6%)
Appearance: Obviously exactly the same as from the first review I did of the Stir Stick Stout several weeks ago.
Taste: Just in the aroma I can tell a difference from the first time. A potent aroma of coffee makes up basically the only thing my nose can detect. I can taste intense flavours of coffee and sweet chocolate in this beer and nothing of the sourness I noted from the first time I tried this stout. Toasted grains and just the subtlest hint of cherries is also detected. It has a slight bitter-sweet orange flavour, probably from the hops. Finishes with a strong bitter-sweet chocolate aftertaste, with a mild note of coffee.
Mouth Feel: Soft, creamy mouth feel. Medium bodied.
Final Thoughts (4.5 out of 5): Compared to the first Stir Stick Stout I tried, this is an entirely different beer. Intense pleasant flavours of coffee and chocolate make up most of the palette, with none of the sour lemon-like flavours I found originally. The first one I tried must have soured somehow. I am glad I gave this one a second chance as it turned out to be a fantastic coffee stout.
