Starr Hill Roostarr Coffee Cream Stout
When I have a cup of coffee, I like it as black as the darkened heart of the great beast—I don’t want cream or sweetener. The same sentiment can pretty much be applied to coffee stouts or any stout for that matter. I like them robust and strong. That said, the smoothness that Starr Hill’s Roostarr Coffee Cream Stout brings to the table is pretty darn nice.
This 5.6% ABV milk stout has that velvety texture and lactose that you want from the style, but the added coffee influence tempers it with a wonderful earthy roast. The result is a beer with solid flavor and a deceptively drinkability that results in an empty six-pack container in no time.
Appearance
Roostarr pours an opaque black with a cap of tan foam that fell to a thin surface cover.
Aroma
Smooth coffee wafts from the glass along with a moderate roast, hint of cream and a surprising amount of cocoa.
Taste
This is a rich and nicely roasty brew with plenty of coffee, cocoa, a soft char, late forming lactose and a delightfully drying, lasting finish. The brew is full-bodied with a tingle of carbonation. The brew has an excellent coffee character but goes down dangerously smoothly.
Overall
I love the coffee character on this beer. It’s got a nicely rounded, earthy roast and is dangerously smooth as it goes down. I’m not a huge fan of the lactose, but then again that’s a personal preference—I’m sure there are plenty of folks that will love the combination of the two. That said, the six-pack I purchased didn’t last long.
Rating: 3.75/5
