Beer No. 60 – Rhinelander Boatswain Chocolate Stout
Always suspicious of BWBs. No, not BBWs, even if there is reason to be. BWBs – “brewed with” beers. The fruity, barely beer category is littered with these obvious offerings. And somewhere lurking behind there always seems to be some brew conglomerate doing it and doing it poorly. I’ve never heard of Rhinelander (or Minhas or whatever it used to be and can’t be bothered to explain on its website) but my local Trader Joe’s is full of em. But this isn’t so obvious, or poorly done.
STYLE: American Stout
ABV: 5.4%
LOOK: We’re not breaking any ground here. Dark but not oily with a brown-butter head.
NOSE: That delicate balance of sweet and bitter and tang. Chocolate cake, vanilla, subtle orange, medium roast coffee.
MOUTH: If it’s possible, almost too easy drinking. I want and indeed need a little bitter bite, preferably at the middle of the end. Just-warm coffee, wisp of smoke, chocolate. Not a game-changer, just solid.
Beeradvocate Rating: 76
ratebeer Rating: 58
Hayward Abbey Rating: 82
hayward abbey 