Yellow Rose Brewing
Company
17201 San Pedro Ave.
San Antonio, Texas 78232
210-496-6669
Initial Impressions:
All this discussion of San Antonio's vibrant (or not so) beer
scene encouraged me to reach for this bottle that had been lurking
in my fridge for the past several weeks. Over the years, my tastes
have gravitated away from Stouts, and those that I get my hands
on occasionally go unappreciated. I still like stout, but the
past five years have seen an affinity for Belgians grow to an
obsession. I don't even make my own stout but once a year now;
I'd rather open a Rochefort.
This beer comes in a nice pint-sized bottle. I find the 12-ouncers a bit small, while the 22's limit the amount of variety one can have in a sitting. I'd like to see more pints, but I doubt that dream will ever be realized.
The beer that comes out of this perfectly sized container sports a thick, dark tan head that still clings to life ten minutes after birth.
Nose:
The bouquet is a moderate blend of typical stout
fare: chocolate, roastiness, coffee, and a bit of hop aroma. A
hint of sourness hides among the expected attendees.
Flavor:
This beer opens a bit thin, an unanticipated state
of affairs considering the expressive aroma. This doesn't last
long, as roasty and chocolatey flavors assume proper positions
in the middle. That sourness mentioned in the aroma can't seem
to escape notice, and it slides into, but not entirely buried
under, a solidly bitter roasty finish.
Final Analysis:
I
wasn't in the mood for stout tonight, but this beer has convinced
me otherwise. While not a standout beer, a delightful smoothness
coexists with a rough roastiness to create a solid, enjoyable
pint. The folks in San Antonio are fortunate.
Rating:
***1/2
(Very Good on my 5-star scale)