Name: Reaper Ale: Mortality Stout
Brewed In: Vista, CA
Type / ABV: Stout / 7.5%
Bought at/Price: Gift from Heather, Jen's sister
Dennis: This beer was a gift, and as such I'll have no complaints about price or anything like that. From the get go this bottle had me sold, I wanted to love it simply because of the ballsy wording and label art, but all that happened was that I ended up feeling let down sorta. This is a good solid stout, good coloring, hints of coffee and chocolate, with just a little bit of a funky bitterness at the end (kind of reminded me of a milk stout, but was probably the 7.5% alcohol), but beyond that there's nothing much to it. I had hoped for a lot more malt backbone, and some bold hops to really crank the intensity up to 11, but in the end I was left slightly unfulfilled, and wishing I had just had a Czar or Storm King.
Jen: I was expecting a lot more out of this stout, but I don't hate it either. It starts off with a light aroma of chocolate and coffee. The taste is of mocha, roasted malts and a slight burntness to it. The chalkiness, IMO, is almost overwhelming anything great this beer could have been, so instead it is just good. For 7.5% it is fairly easy to drink, but leaves a sourness in your mouth afterwards. I wish with a name like this, it would have been better!
Rating: 3.25 out of 5