Name: Carême
Brewer: Omnipollo (Sweden), Bottle Logic Brewing, Moksa Brewing Co. (United States)
Style: Mixed-Style Beer (Base Style: Imperial Stout)
ABV: 14%
Review Year: 2021
Carême is an Imperial Stout (14%) brewed with toasted coconut and vanilla bean, aged in Willet Family Estate Bourbon barrels. This massive beer is a three-way collaboration involving Omnipollo, Bottle Logic Brewing, and Moksa Brewing Co.
STYLE GUIDELINES
This beer is being evaluated as a Mixed-Style Beer (34B), combining Specialty Wood-Aged Beer (33B) and Spice, Herb, or Vegetable Beer (30A), with Imperial Stout (20C) as the base style in the context of the 2015 Beer Style Guidelines of the Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP). The most current version of the guidelines can be found on the BJCP website.
TASTING NOTES
Pours like motor oil– black, syrupy, with a very thin head. Rich aromas of coconut (think of pan de coco, macapuno, and other similar delicacies) with hints of alcohol, oak, bourbon, vanilla, and dark chocolate in the background. Full-bodied, moderately-low carbonation; mouthfeel was almost syrupy, creamy, slightly astringent/tannic, and had a subtle booziness. Like the aroma, the flavor evoked coconut delicacy with some creaminess and was accentuated by hints of coffee/mocha, vanilla, and alcohol. Both perceived bitterness and sweetness were balanced at moderate levels. The creamy coconut character brought this beer to a close.
THE VERDICT
Carême combines mainly the richness and booziness of a barrel-aged Imperial Stout with the creaminess of coconut. Dark chocolate and coffee malt flavors were sufficient to keep this beer grounded with perceived bitterness and sweetness fairly balanced.
The subtle astringency/tannic quality is something that could be expected from barrel-aged beers, but the coconut creaminess seemed to have tempered that. Meanwhile, wood and vanilla only played supporting roles, allowing more of the malts and coconut to shine.
Overall, this is another outstanding barrel-aged adjunct-driven Imperial Stout that should be sought out. Interestingly, Carême also reminded us of III by Spartacus Brewing, another beer of the same caliber brewed with coconut.
Related Reviews:
Omnipollo
Bottle Logic Brewing
Moksa Brewing Co.
Beers From Sweden
Beers From the United States
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