Cadillac Mountain Stout – Bar Harbor Brewing

You may recall that my beer-nerd friend Melissa brought back some beer from Bar Harbor Brewing Company for me to try.  Melissa is great like that, and usually she’ll bring beers that are a joy to drink.  Well, last time Melissa brought back a bottle of Bar Harbor Brewing’s Thunder Hole Ale and it left me severely unimpressed – in spite of the beer press accolades it had received.

Now The Brew Club is getting to try the Cadillac Mountain Stout, the second bottle to make the return-trip from Maine with Melissa.  Will it redeem Bar Harbor Brewing, and more importantly, will it redeem Melissa as a beer picker? 

Let’s start off by saying I love stouts.  I think it may be my favorite beer style!  In fact, if I were stranded on a desert island with one beer it would be a stout of some kind.  Probably Founder’s Breakfast Stout which I gave a 5-star rating.

Cadillac Mountain Stout starts off well enough pouring an almost black color into my glass and creating a beautiful brownish head.  (For some reason, I’m always surprised when the head on a beer isn’t white or off white, but I’m stupid like that!)

While this stout isn’t labeled a ‘chocolate stout’, I’m really picking up on a lot of chocolaty aromas and some coffee as well.  Its common I think for the style to have these traits, but when its done well its a really fabulous thing to smell.  Let me note that the chocolate and coffee are not over-the-top here.  Its enough to notice (and enjoy) but not overpowering at all.  I’m really looking forward to tasting this stout!

Taking a sip, I find that Cadillac Mountain Stout does not disappoint!  After getting an idea of what was in store from the aromas, the taste just brought it all home.  Nice coffee and chocolaty flavors, again not too much – but enough to make it a very interesting and rewarding roasty malt flavor.  Its also  a touch sweet, and there’s just enough hops in there that balance nicely with some finishing bitterness.

The mouthfeel is definitely on the creamy and full-bodied side – there’s something to this beer, that’s for sure!  Its not too carbonated, so its just velvety-smooth chocolaty coffee goodness the whole trip.  The stout also finishes a bit dry, and has a pleasant aftertaste.

I’ve got to say that I’m very impressed with this beer from Bar Harbor Brewing Company, and I’d happily give it a 4.5 star rating.  Its real good and left a smile on my face!  I know it’s not an extreme beer in any sense of the word, but, I think it clicks almost perfectly with what I think a great stout should be.  It doesn’t need to be high ABV or have strange ingredients to be a great beer.  Sometimes, basic can be very, very good.

Rating:

If you’re a fan of stouts, do yourself a favor and grab more than one bottle of these for yourself (thanks Melissa for only one bottle)!  You won’t be disappointed!