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Judge's Review: 94 Rating - Mocha Moon Imperial Coffee Stout by Gnarly Barley Brewing Co.

May, 2022

Mocha Moon Imperial Coffee Stout

Mocha Moon Imperial Coffee Stout

Louisiana
United States
Description 

A dynamic grain bill supports this Imperial Stout, which clocks in at 8.8% ABV. Laden with notes of chocolate and roast, it's the perfect foundation for the addition of cacao nibs and Honduran Monte Vista Juan Hipp beans from the rascals over at Luma Coffee. The caramel sweetness, toasted almond, and stone fruit notes of the coffee and dark chocolate flavors of cacao blend with the stout to create an explosive and feisty journey into the center of your consciousness.

Beverage Profile
ABV: 
8.8%
Malts: 
Two-row, Roasted Barley, Caraaroma, Carafa II, Chocolate Wheat, Chocolate, Wheat, Oats
Hops: 
Cascade

 

 


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Judges Rating: 
94
Aroma: 
22 / 24
Appearance: 
6 / 6
Flavor: 
38 / 40
Mouthfeel: 
9 / 10
Overall Impression: 
19 / 20

Mocha Moon Imperial Coffee Stout by Gnarly Barley Brewing Co. was reviewed under the auspices of the Beer Judge Certification Program Guidelines (Revised 2021) under category 34B Mixed-Style Beer. This particular category covers a plethora of styles. The below captioned is presented as an Imperial Coffee Stout.

Lots going on here. An abundance of aromatics greet the nostrils with a roasted chocolate-like aroma leading the way and combining with a rich malty presence and stone fruits to create a powerful fragrant experience.

Deep brown (almost black) color, crowned with a dark coffee-colored head. Too dark to judge clarity.

The flavor delivers a robust coffee character that is more perceptible here than in the nose. A firm malt base supports the higher roasted nature of this beer and blends well with a chocolate bar taste accompanied by vanilla notes and fruity esters.  

A full-bodied beer that's almost chewy with some astringency, although not from over hopping or over-sparging, but as might be expected from higher levels of roasted coffee. A firm alcoholic warmth is present without being hot or unpleasant as defined per style parameters of the base beer.

A complexity of well-conceived roasted ingredients that deliver a powerful punch of rich flavors.