Name: Gravity Gumbo
Brewers: Other Half Brewing Co., Parish Brewing Co. (United States)
Style: Spice, Herb, or Vegetable Beer (Base Style: Imperial Stout)
ABV: 14.5%
Review Year: 2020
Louisiana’s Parish Brewing brought some southern flavors north to New York’s Other Half to brew Gravity Gumbo. This Imperial Stout (14.5% ABV) was brewed with coffee, chicory, pecans, vanilla, and pralines.
STYLE GUIDELINES
This beer is being evaluated as a Spice, Herb, or Vegetable Beer (30A) with the 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
Gravity Gumbo pours a dark brown beer with no head. Visible chunks that resemble crushed nuts float around. The aroma paints a breakfast scene eating caramel brownies topped with pecan nuts and a cup of joe on the side.
As expected, it is a thick, low-carbonated, and syrupy beer. Classic Imperial Stouts should not be syrupy, but these experimental pastry variants seem to be the exception these days. This beer gave the impression that the base beer was already full-bodied and the adjuncts made it even more viscous. Flavors of caramel/ toffee, pecan nuts, and coffee blend, while chocolate-like characters surface towards the end. The aftertaste mirrors the mentioned flavors. Gravity Gumbo hides the alcohol well despite clocking in at 14.5% ABV.
THE VERDICT
We are not that familiar with praline and chicory, but we think Gravity Gumbo is still a pastry-inspired concept worth trying and sharing. Yes, it is for sharing. This beer is sweet but the nutty and coffee characters add to the charm. However, the next versions, if ever there would be, could showcase a darker and roastier backbone to bring more balance to this beer.
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