2015 Advent Beer Calendar : Survival Stout By Hopworks
Editor’s note: This is the eigthteenth beer in the Beer Advent Calendar 2015 series. Likewise, I’m going to be posting a beer review each day. Some will be Christmas or Winter ales and other selections will be beers I’ve been wanting to review for some time.
I was recently at Hopworks Organic Brewery, also known as HUB, in Portland on SE Powell. The amazing brewpub has a fantastic atmosphere and for those of us with kids, it’s fantastic because it has two kid’s play areas, so the littles are happy and occupied while the adults can have a conversation.
While I was at HUB, I tried Survival Stout. Here’s the description, from HUB’s website:
Beer of the Ancients! Barley, Wheat, Oats, Amaranth, Quinoa, Spelt and Kamut sustain the soul with nutrients cultivated through the millennia. Finished with 20 pounds of cold-pressed Stumptown Organic Holler Mountain coffee. Unlock the mystery entombed in darkness.
How does it taste?
In a word: thick. I’ve had beer with coffee and I’ve liked those brews quite a bit.
Unfortunately, I didn’t care for this one. I normally like Hairbender coffee from Stumptown, but it doesn’t compliment this beer.
This beer pours super dark and the head is like that of a Guinness. You smell roasted, burnt coffee and perhaps tobacco. The smell is strong and not inviting.
This beer tastes burnt and overdone. It’s super dry and leaves too much thick malt on your palette.
Should I buy it?
No, skip this beer altogether.