To celebrate National Beer Day yesterday, I had a collaboration brew from Portland, OR called Salted Caramel Stout by Breakside Brewery (6.7% alc, collaboration brew with Salt & Straw, poured at home from a 22oz bottle). If you have ever been to Portland and walked by the Salt and Straw Ice Cream locations, they always have line ups out the door. I have never gone inside, but I would like to actually try it at least once.
Aroma and Appearance: This beer pours a very dark brown, with more foam than expected given that it is a Stout with an aroma of caramel, chocolate, sugar sweet and a touch of booze.
Flavour: It starts out smooth and smokey like a good stout should and ends with a slightly dry dark chocolate bitter finish and a caramel like aftertaste which increases as it warms up. Probably the most interesting however was the salty texture and really hard to explain but awesome mouth-fee which is where this shines the most.
Overall Impression: I will have to buy another and try this as a base for an ice cream float because this is a savoury dessert beer for sure. I am a big fan as it was well executed, unique and quite frankly tasty. It could have been named Chocolate Caramel Stout and been ok because there are a lot of chocolate notes in there that work well with it.
Rating: I would rate about 8/10 for a craft beer as in excellent. This isn’t just a novelty beer, its very drinkable and interesting, but still fits as more of a dessert beer than an everyday guzzler.
Food Pairing: As you can see in the photo I paired it with Caramel Corn, Salted Caramel Corn from a place in Seattle called Kukuruza Gourmet Popcorn on Pike St. I was extraordinary to have these together, but ice cream would make a good substitute as well.
West Coast Beer Geek 