Denali Chuli Stout

This subtly complex beer teases in the aroma with faint whiffs of strong chocolate milk, grainy malt, astringent walnut and even some mint and cinnamon. The creamy palate brings the bitterness of well-done toast and notes of singed wood. Overall, pretty easy-drinking: neither harshly roasty nor overly bitter. It brings flavor with finesse—a moreish combination! Wishing I had a nice beef stew or mustard-glazed pork chop to enjoy with the rest of the can.

Ray Daniels is the founder and director of the Cicerone Certification Program and the author, editor or publisher of more than two dozen books on beer and brewing. Follow him on Twitter @Cicerone_org.

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At first pass, it’s easy to think of this beer as a solid, if not predictable representation of the style. More and more these days, stouts that are released are less simple and more tricked out with bells and whistles like barrel, booze, extra hops and fruits. This ale falls in the middle. There is expressive subtlety in the simplicity. Chocolate and coffee mix with a hint of raw cinnamon and dried mint. A papery almond character emerges. It’s full-bodied with soft carbonation for a too-quick drinking experience. I’d like this with a black cod brûlée.

John Holl is the editor of All About Beer Magazine. 

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