C4 Double Coffee Brown Ale is an American-style Brown Ale brewed by 8 Wired Brewing Co., a brewery from New Zealand. For the purposes of this review, the ale was served in a tulip pint glass from a bottle.
Appearance
Pours an opaque reddish brown with a finger-thick cap of tan colored foam that shows nice retention.
Aroma
Following the pour, the aroma is surprisingly absent of coffee and instead is syrupy sweet with molasses and booze. As the beer warms, a soft scent of roast makes its presence known.
Flavor
The brew lives up to its name of “double coffee” as the palate brings heaps of coffee flavor. Taste begins with dark fruit and shifts swiftly to a robust flavor of coffee roast that’s earthy, herbal, and grainy. A mild complement of citrus hops follows and the finish is somewhat dry and sticky. A taste of brown sugar and resin lingers on the back of the tongue. A relatively high ABV has a negligible impact on the palate.
Mouthfeel
A smooth mouthfeel has a slightly heavier than medium body and medium-light carbonation.
Overall
The C4 Double Coffee Brown Ale is certainly a beer for coffee lovers. Roast has a minimal presence in the aroma but it dominates the palate and pushes aside characteristics typical of a brown ale. However, once the beer warms, some of those qualities begin to appear. Regardless, this is still an enjoyable brew, even if it strays a bit from the style.