There was a packed house at the Canoe Club Brewpub when the 2010 version of Habit Espresso Stout was unleashed.

Ratebeer 3.76/5 (7 votes)
Beer Advocate A- (2 votes)

Taste +4

There is no photo because the lighting was too dark. No matter, everyone knows what a stout looks like. The blackest of black with a big tan head, that's what a habit looks like. The first thing to hit you was the aroma. It is all coffee, with roast, wood and campfire. The creamy, medium mouthfeel is dominated by thin espresso and smooth, faint toffee malts. The coffee taste was a little thin, like a Nescafe or that new Starbucks powdered coffee stuff. After the coffee left, a light dash of sweet chocolate glanced around briefly.

Aftertaste +1

The mild, thin bitter coffee finished quite dry. There was a slight coffee astringency that faded too quickly.

Alcohol Content 0 5.5%

Value +1

This glass was free, but I would have bought another.

Ingame Enhancement +1

It was a good, but brief, night. I ran into Jeff from Vancouver Island Brewery before dashing off to buy Spinnaker's Spring Cask Festival tickets. A perfect night immersed in Victoria's vibrant craft beer culture.

Overall 7/10

If you like coffee and mild stouts, this is the beer for you. Even though I thought it was a little bit thin, it is a great brew that will appeal to everyone. Well done.

Mikkell Beer Geek - Weasel
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