Willettized Coffee Stout is an American Imperial Stout brewed by Lagunitas Brewing Company, and for the purposes of this craft beer review, the ale was served in a snifter from a bottle.
Appearance
The stout pours an opaque black and is topped by a thick cap of dense tan-colored foam that shows fine retention. Patches of residue and a foamy ring round the glass.
Aroma
The aroma is initially sweet with a scent of raisin, swirled with chocolate, and as the beer warms, they’re met with bourbon.
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Flavor
The palate leads off with a gentle coffee roast and malt, smoky tobacco, and then mellows with dark fruits of prune and raisin. Earthy woods, char, nut, and of course, bourbon follow. Sweet notes of dark chocolate, vanilla, and coconut round out the finish.
Mouthfeel
Its feel is quite smooth and creamy with a full body and low carbonation. Its finish is dry and warming.
Overall
The stout presents well and has a lovely aroma. Its feel is downright decadent. Coffee lovers might gripe that the roast character is underplayed. And sure, it’s role is complementary but all the flavors have their part and come together so nicely. And for an ABV north of twelve percent, the alcohol is masked remarkably well. Dangerously so. This brew is so flavorful and complex, the Willettized Coffee Stout is damn near flawless. My only regret is that I didn’t buy more when I had the chance.
Aged in Wood
This Imperial Stout uses lots of roasted malts and the added coffee was the Spice Island blend from Chicago’s Metropolis Coffee. The Kentucky distiller J.D. Willett provided the rye and bourbon casks used to barrel-age the Willettized Coffee Stout. Check out the video below for more on this fantastic beer from Lagunitas.
