Hockley Valley Stout

Aroma: 5 | Appearance: 4 | Mouthfeel: 4 | Flavor: 4 | Overall: 4

A classic interpretation or an Irish Dry Stout, even at the same ABV as a Guinness. But that is where the comparison ends because Guinness rocks and Hockley rots! The beer pours a very dark brown colour, almost black, with a thin bubbly head, certainly not as creamy as a traditional dry stout. The aroma was roasted malt, nuts, and coffee. The flavour was more nutty than it was roasted malt/coffee flavoured, that sort of put me off too!

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 6 | Overall: 7

I couldn't wait to get home and try this one, on the can it says "pours like liquid midnight". Pours a dark black/brown colour. Tan head pours big and creamy,becomes rocky and begins to rapidly fade. I'm somewhat dissapointed by the poor retention. Smells of coffee, chocolate and roasted nuts. Flavour begins with some coffee, and finishes with a light bitterness. I was expecting a richer, fuller flavour. Mouthfeel is smooth but way to thin for this style. I would take a Hockley Valley Dark over this anyday.

Aroma: 10 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 5 | Flavor: 5 | Overall: 6

I've had this beer recommended to me by several friends as a very good stout, so I broke down and decided it was time to try it. The beer is a very dark brown colour with a thin brown head. The aroma is coffee, roasted malts, and some plum. The taste is more coffee, but not as bitter as some other stouts.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 6 | Overall: 6

Nice dark brown colour with some brown cap and red highlights. Typical stout aroma - coffee, chocolate and some malts. Thick mouthfeel but thins out smoothly. Flavour is average, lacking and sorta uninspired. It takes top spot for being an average stout, but nothing more.

Aroma: 9 | Appearance: 4 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 7

473ml can
4.2% ABV
Queen's Quay LCBO Outlet (Toronto, Ontario, Canada)
May 28, 2008
The beer poured a molasses black colour with a light brown head that quickly disappeared. The aroma was rather weak with some roasted malt hints, and some sour smells. The mouthfeel was thin to medium bodied, with medium carbonation. The flavour was roasted malt with coffee and chocolate tones.

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 7

Can: Poured a deep black color ale with a small dirty brown foamy head with minimal retention and no lacing. Aroma of black chocolate with light dry bitter coffee notes. Taste is also dominated by some light bitter coffee notes with some nice black chocolate notes. Body is a bit thin for the style with some medium carbonation. This beer was enjoyable and refreshing and well done for the style.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 6 | Overall: 8

This Irish stout pours a real dark brown colour with slight red highlights. Its head is beige-brown and has a decent size, with very good retention. First aromas are of coffee and chocolat, and after breathing, the hops sticks out. The mouthfeel is a bit thicker than normal beers, but does not stick, which make this brew a refreshing one. The taste seems a bit watered down, with notes of chocolat and coffee, but not really sweet, and not too bitter. The roasted malt is present. Not bad at all, just lacking character.

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 6 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 6 | Overall: 6

Tasted from the bright tank at the brewery a week before racking. Tapped a dark black with the big fluffy cap we are used to from a nitro charged Guinness. Lasting cap good lacing. Subtle nose; some char, some wet hay and light maltiness. medium bodied and lighter in character for a stout much like the Irish dry style. They did reproduce the creamy mouthfeel of Guiness without Nitro charging. Nice chew on some toasty malts in the front then this quickly becomes mildly bitter with cocoa and coffee tones....finished lightly dry. Very smooth and drinkable with more pronounced malts than Guinness. This is a very decent version of the Irish dry stout...,not too dry or bitter but very smooth.