It’s getting close to the Silly Season that is the holidays. So what better way to start off the run of holiday beers with the one gift that I’m sure to get — a solid Lump of Coal. Have I been bad this year? Perhaps, but I’ll jump at the chance of receiving said lump, especially when it comes in stout form.
I can’t recall having a brew from Ridgeway Brewers, so my familiarity with the company is next to nil. I have heard that this particular brew was well liked by a few colleagues last year and, well, that’s good enough for me.
Appearance
This stout pours nearly as dark as its namesake in liquid form with dark ruby edges. The head was fairly beefy, yet faded quickly.
Aroma
This one smells tasty — rich, malty and boozy. There’s some very subtle dark fruits in there, as well, as a light semi-sweet chocolate presence.
Taste
Firstly, it’s a bit thin for my liking, but I’ll be damned if it’s not tasty. The rich, malty characters from the nose dominate the taste with a warming alcohol presence. Its earthy tones, subtle sweetness and fruity esters are well balanced and taste nothing like a chunk fossilized plant remnants.
Overall
I’m definitely going to be getting more of this one in the next week or two. It’s a wonderful, dry stout that’s got great warming characters. I think I drooled a bit just now thinking about it.
Rating: 3.5/5
