Aspen Brewing Company’s 10th Mountain is an imperial oatmeal stout, an absolutely delectable beer that pours with an extremely dark brown to black coloration and a good amount of tannish head that is slow to dissipate. There is little that is given up with the initial nose of this imperial oatmeal stout, but the silken mouthfeel and bold tobacco, chocolate, and barley elements make for a dangerous combination. The beer weighs in at 9.3% ABV, but this agglomeration of tastes hides the alcohol bite admirably. The heavy hop inclusion here does well to hide the more sweet elements of the beer, without seeming overly bitter or astringent.
What results here in 10th Mountain Stout is something that a fan of pale ales and porters can appreciate, while still having the chops necessary to hang with the deepest, darkest, and dankest stouts on the market. As the beer continues to reach room temperature, spicier and more biscuit-like elements come to the fore; with each subsequent sip of the 10th Mountain providing an imbiber with a different array of flavors, it is not inconceivably that one can both begin and end a bottle. The considerable backbone that is presented one by this beer means that there is a crispness from beginning to end; one will be as eager to finish the beer as they were on their initial sip.
10th Mountain is the perfect beer to drink when warming up from a brisk autumn day and can be paired wonderfully with stews, bar-be-cue, or fare with a distinctive set of flavors. For more information about the full year-round and seasonal offerings of Aspen Brewing, make a sojourn to their Facebook or domain.
Rating: 9.6/10
10th Mountain Stout / 9.30% ABV / 87 IBU / Imperial Oatmeal Stout / Aspen Brewing Company / http://aspenbrewingcompany.com/ / http://www.facebook.com/AspenBrewingCompany /
John Sargeant, writing on NeuFutur as Sargeant, is the founder and editor-in-chief of NeuFutur Magazine, where he has covered independent music, PC hardware, consumer tech, and gaming culture since 1998. With over 25 years of continuous digital publishing experience, he has written thousands of hands-on game and record reviews, conducted in-depth hardware field testing, and analyzed digital media monetization trends. His work prioritizes first-hand evaluation and long-term product testing.
Beats: Independent Music, PC Gaming & Peripherals, Consumer Tech, Webmaster Tools
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