Jan 30, 2015

Coronado Brewing Stupid Stout

I’ve had a few Coronado brews throughout the years. Aside from their Cigar City collaboration, Jaruta, they have all been in the lighter colored, hoppier realms. So, when I saw a couple of bottles of their Stupid Stout on the shelves last December, I just had to pick them up — mostly to see if they could do with stouts what they were able to do with IPAs, well, and the name is just too good to pass up.

This 9% ABV imperial stout answers that concern with a resounding, “Oh hell yeah!” Stupid Stout carries its weight well with a robust flavor, full body and smooth warmth that you want from a bit stout. It’s not overly roasty or sweet and is one of the more well-rounded examples of the style that I’ve come across in the past year or so. It would be, then, no surprise that my purchases didn’t last as long in the cellar as I would have hoped.

Appearance

The beer certainly looks the part, pouring thick and black with a dense cap of dark brown foam.

Coronado Stupid Stout photo

Aroma

Cocoa, roast coffee, a touch of licorice, soft char and a hint of fruit (raisin, maybe) waft effortlessly from the surface.

Taste

I know I’ve written these words a few times across this site, but Stupid Stout is my kind of stout. It’s big, robust and full bodied, yet never really over-domineering. Rich, roasty malt drives the brew with hints of chocolate, a soft char and quality earthy character. The moderate sweetness is tempered by a light, late forming bitterness before everything arrives at the long lasting, dry finish.

Overall

Stupid Stout is the type of beer one requires to stay warm over the Winter months. It’s full bodied to give you that feeling of weightiness and is appropriately warming for the style. It’s well balanced, but still has enough of a robust edge to keep everything interesting. I like it!

Rating: 4.25/5

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