Coronado Brewing 'Blue Ridge Coffee Stout'

Coronado Brewing 'Blue Ridge Coffee Stout'. 5.4% abv. 27 IBU. Black in color. Finger of thick creamy head. Good retention, superb lace. Nose of ground coffee. Front taste of roasted coffee, dark malt, dark chocolate. Aftertaste is smoke, black coffee, cocoa. Thin-medium body. Mouthfeel is carby, bitter sting on the back end.

This is a nice coffee beer. The aroma and taste have plenty of coffee flavor, along with notes of chocolate and some smoke. Compared to non-coffee dry stouts, this beer offers more flavor and character. However, compared to other coffee beers, the flavors here do not impress. The coffee in the aroma does not smell fresh ground, and the taste does not bring to mind a newly poured cup of joe.

Perhaps I'm spoiled by other notable coffee beers, such those from Kona Brewing, Tioga-Sequoia Brewing, and House of Pendragon. Next to those beers, this one is merely adequate, but still yummy. Recommended.

From the brewery:

"Just as the iconic Coronado Bay Bridge connects our island home to the mainland, this java-tinged dry stout, brewed using dark roasted coffee beans from a local San Diego artisanal roaster, provides a bridge uniting craft beer drinkers with CBC’s rich, flavorful SoCal brewing traditions."

[source: coronadobrewingcompany.com]