Brewery Rex 'Cosmic Latte' Golden Stout. 7.8% abv. Yellow-gold color. Slightly hazy. Thin white head, small-bead carb. Good retention, excellent lacing. Nose of stone fruit, white coffee, pale malt, bright cocoa notes. Coffee aroma steps forward as the temp rises.

Front taste is light berry, brewed coffee, bittersweet chocolate, sweet cream, vanilla, with a sweet finish. Roasted malt emerges in time. Aftertaste is milk chocolate, floral hops, ground coffee. Medium body. Mouthfeel is warm, creamy, silky, sticky, foamy.

This is a lovely, unique beer, one that challenged me to pinpoint with its myriad of flavors. The predominate taste was milk chocolate throughout, with light coffee notes underneath all across. The lead flavors, coupled with the creamy texture and lactose expression, bring to mind a gourmet milkshake made with chocolate, ground coffee, and a few red berries added to the blender. Calling it a stout feel like a reach, but it's definitely an experimental beer, one that scores points with me. A wonderful taste that was a pleasure to enjoy. Well recommended.

From the brewery:

"Our 7.8% Golden Stout is brewed with 20% lactose and three different types of flaked grain to create a silky smooth, full-mouth feel. After fermentation, we added TCHO Ecuador cocoa nibs, vanilla bean and Kenya Nyeri coffee beans from our friends at Bangarang Coffee Roasters."
[source: breweryrex.com]

The Bruery 'Autumn Maple' Belgian-Style Brown Ale. 10% abv. 15 IBU. Hazy copper-brown color. Finger of foamy tan head. Fair retention and almost no lace. Head was completely gone in three minutes. Nose of bright spice, nutmeg, cinnamon, maple. The spice bouquet blooms with the rise in temp. Front taste is malty, nutty, caramel, orange zest, cloves, allspice on the back end. Aftertaste is pumpkin, strong nutmeg, wood notes, herbal hop sustain. Medium-full body. Mouthfeel is hot, creamy, astringent.

This is an excellent brown ale that feels like it could have been extraordinary. It tasted "young" as if racked from its fermenter a couple of weeks too soon. It tastes like a delicious wort rather than a finished brew. The lack of carbonation would support this notion.

Nevertheless, this beer was yummy indeed. The spice and pumpkin (yam) come across well, starting with a complex inviting aroma, ending with a tall hot aftertaste. I was looking forward to this beer for a long time and while I am not giving this a perfect review I was certainly not disappointed. Grab a bottle. Well recommended.

From the brewery:

"Brewed with 17 lbs. of yams per barrel (in other words, a lot of yams!), this autumn seasonal is a different take on the 'pumpkin' beer style. Cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, vanilla, molasses, maple syrup, and fermentation with our traditional Belgian yeast strain, make this bold and spicy beer perfect for a cold autumn evening. We have also created bourbon barrel aged, 100% brettanomyces and soured versions of Autumn Maple."

[source: thebruery.com]

"We don't need pumpkin in our beer! Big, bold, spicy, and oh so yummy, our delicious Brown Ale is perfect for those cold autumn nights... Our spiced Brown Ale is a unique take on a Fall seasonal, brewed with delicious yams and seasonal spices. Best enjoyed fresh, but may pleasantly evolve over time if cellared properly."

[source: bottle]

All traces of head and lace were gone within minutes.