Tuesday is such a random day of the week. If Monday is infamous, Wednesday is “hump” day, Thursday is the new Friday, and everyone loves Friday, what is Tuesday? Let’s face it, there is nothing special about Tuesday. If for some reason Tuesday was skipped, no one would even notice. Hapa’s Brewing wants to change Tuesday’s vanilla reputation. Tuesday should be embraced like its distant cousin Friday, and Tuesday Tastings is a step in the right direction.
This week’s beer comes all the way from the Netherlands. A country best known for its Purple Haze, famous red light districts, and speed skating prowess, the Netherlands also produces some very good beer, a fact best explained by its shared boarders with Belgium and Germany.
This week’s beer is Emelisse Espresso Stout brewed by Bierbrouwerij Emelisse in Kamperland, Netherlands. Click here for a refresher on tasting protocol and here for last week’s review.
Appearance
A very dark brown beer pours from the 12 ounce bottle. A vigorous pour resulted in a light brown, two finger head that left minimal lacing and didn’t stick around long.
Smell
Right off the bat the familiar coffee smells waft up from the glass. Upon closer examination, roast malt smells emerge with hints of caramel, vanilla, and chocolate. The aromas from this beer offer an opened armed invitation to take a taste.
Taste
Taste follows suit of the aromas. Roasted malts dominate upfront with hints of caramel sweetness. The beer finishes with the bitterness notes of strong espresso and raw cacao.
Mouthfeel
Unlike the name of the brewery, this beer is not a mouthful. This is a light to medium bodied beer with mild carbonation.
Drinkability
Overall this is certainly an enjoyable beer. If offers unique flavors that will delight the palate and encourage conversation. Overall grade for Emelisse Espresso Stout: B
Emelisse Espresso Stout
Up next on Tuesday Tasting: Lucky Bastard Ale.