Saint Brewis

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Perrin Brewing Company – Hotbox Brown

Brewery: Perrin Brewing Company
Location Comstock Park, MI
Style Brown Ale
 ABV 5.5%
 IBUs 10

 

Best Quote During Tasting

Hotbox. Heeheehee. I get it.

Justin:

Aroma - I get a lot of great aromas of coffee, toasted almonds and milk chocolate.  Unfortunately, I get a little bit of "green pepper." While it's not made with green pepper itself, it's a typical aroma/flavor of beers brewed with coffee.
Score: 9/12
Appearance - The beer pours a clear, copper-brown with a thin, tan head.
Score: 3/3
Flavor - The same "green pepper" I got on the nose is very, very subtle but the true coffee flavor is powerful and tastes great. There is some chocolate, bitter malt and some bitterness (more from the malt than the hops).
Score: 16/20
Mouthfeel - Medium body, medium carbonation and a clean, smooth finish.
Score: 5/5
Overall Impression - I could see this as a daily drinker (AKA something that I would always have stocked int he fridge) if it were sold locally. Everyone I shared this beer with had the same wowed reaction when trying it.  I bought this beer for quantity, to round out my Michigan haul, but I'm glad that I got such great quality.  I'd definitely bring this back each trip I took up north.
Score: 8/10

 

Blake:

Aroma - Smelling this is like getting a whiff of your morning coffee. Just a ton of coffee aroma. Unlike Justin, I'm not really getting a lot of green pepper from this one luckily. It's there, but it's so faint compared to what you can find in a lot of coffee beers. There is a bit of sweet milk chocolate and some burn sugars thrown in for good measure.
Score: 10/12
Appearance - Deep brown with copper edges when held to the light. A dense tan head sits on top and provides some great lacing.
Score: 3/3
Flavor - This is a true coffee bomb. Just a ton of roasted coffee flavors that are followed up by bit of malty sweetness.  The bitterness in the beer really makes it seem like you are drinking a slightly sweeter black coffee.
Score: 16/20
Mouthfeel - Medium carbonation and body with a slightly creamy finish. 
Score: 4/5
Overall Impression - I visited Perrin last March, and I don't remember trying this one, because if I had, I would have brought home a few six packs for immediate consumption. It's just a really well made coffee brown, and one you'd probably want to share with a few friends to let them in on the secret. Perrin was recently purchased by Oskar Blues, so hopefully we'll see them in local distribution sometime in the next few years.
Score: 8/10

 

Hotbox Brown Final Score
  • Aroma
  • Appearance
  • Flavor
  • Mouthfeel
  • Overall
4.2
User Rating: 1.5 (6 votes)
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Justin Phelps

Justin Phelps

Co-Founder at Saint Brewis
Justin Phelps is a Certified Cicerone® who was born and raised in St. Louis. His passion for beer goes beyond just drinking it as he is also an award-winning home brewer. While he may be a marketing professional by day, he's a blogger, brewery hopper, and beer enthusiast by night.

Comments

  1. I feel on tap is the best way to get Hotbox. Out of the can the Coffee flavor and aroma is a lot less. Flavor out of the can varies.

    Reply

    • Hopefully we’ll get a chance to try it on tap sometime! It was still pretty awesome out of a can, so if it’s even better on tap, I’ll be in beer heaven.

      Reply

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