beeritual:

Dogfish Head “Chicory Stout”

78 C+

This stout is brewed with roasted chicory, organic Mexican coffee, St. John’s Wort and licorice root. I bet you’ve never heard that combination before! This is only available in the winter as a seasonal, but I’ll occasionally post an old review I recorded back from before Beeritual was running.

Subtle aromas of cocoa, roasted coffee, dark bread, and charcoal. Palate flavors fall somewhere in between coffee and tea, as the roast level isn’t too black. On the palate, roasted coffee and dark chocolate comes in first, followed by a sweet rush of caramel and molasses for balance. Smoked wood, earth flavors come forward, as bitter hops collide with roasted malts. A sour, red grape flavored astringency It drinks easy. Mouth feel is smooth and buttery. Accelerating carbonation creates a full feel over a medium body.

This doesn’t come together like I’d hoped it would. There’s a sour astringency that becomes a distraction. If you’re feeling like broadening your ideas of what a stout could taste like, be prepared for a slightly sour twist. I’d love to review this again, but my previously held score will have to remain. This isn’t a bad beer, but I don’t recommend it.

Hops: Cascade, Fuggle

5.2%

21 IBU

Milton, Delaware