Sawdust took us on a Long Dark Voyage to Uranus but this time the voyage “end” is unknown. What is known is how we’re going to get there, on a big bright red rocket. That’s right, this beer is a Long Dark Voyage Red Rocket.
Yippee cayenne eh?
So where does it say “read the fine print”? Our Editor keeps reminding me to, but I haven’t read that anywhere.* I did read “Spiced Espresso” but I just figured there would be some Christmas spices in there. A touch of cinnamon perchance, a pinch of clove perhaps, a nip of nutmeg quite possibly. If I had read the fine print I would have twigged on the word “cayenne”!
When it comes to spicy foods I’m no superman, just a mild manner reporter of beer reviews. I mean, I even find Kraft Dinner to be spicy. Cayenne is not my thing. However, Sawdust is a great brewer, and beer is my thing. So time to spice things up a bit.** Yippee cayenne eh?
A black rockin’, not red rocket, pour with a slim tan froth topside. Aroma of roasted malt, vanilla, coffee and spices, a festive treat. It starts out as an almost Christmas sweet malt, the vanilla is stronger than the espresso, but just when you are settling into this one, a back end burn erupts. Seriously, a flame about 3 feet high, that really burns my ass. The cayenne burn actually eradicates most of the booziness that might be in this 9.5% kick ass stout.
A boozy burn, not just a sipper, but a paint stripper. These spices aren’t seasonal, or saisonal for that matter. That’s one spicy meat ball. A very unique and interesting study in contrasts. The smooth malt vanilla espresso stout body with the boozy cayenne burn follow through. I’ve never had a beer quite like this and believe me, I’ve had a few. Sawdust City sure isn’t afraid to do some extreme brewing. Maybe, just maybe, the salt and pepper pistachios may not have been the best pairing with this heat wave of cayenne.
The smooth body tempts you into a big swig and the cayenne finish makes you pay for it.
More than a touch too much for me, but if you like things spicy and you like a stout you might have to try this one out. As for me, it’s not just one and done, it’s one and done in.
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