It’s no surprise that I am a big fan of anything peanut butter. Beer is no exception. In fact one peanut butter porter makes my Top 3 list of all time beers ever made. So I was very excited to try RipRap from Excelsior Brewing.
Before we get into the review, I want to give a quick shout out to Groovy Guy Gifts for supplying me with this great new custom mug. The laser etching allows you to customize your gifts for any occasion. The Mug I am using holds a 12oz beer, with room for the head. A perfect idea for a grooms gift, bachelor party, or other location. So head over to Groovy Guy Gifts and check it out!
Beer Breakdown:
- Style: Stout
- ABV 5.6%, IBU 18
- Hops: Domestic Nugget and Willamette
Tasting:
RipRap pours into the mug and hits you with an immediate roasty aroma. Upon further inspection the distinct smell of peanut butter lingers on the nose. It pours with a quickly disappearing head which is dark tan with thick bubbles. The color is a deep blackish-brown, and light from the other side doesn’t penetrate it, even where the glass is the widest. On first taste the beer is incredibly warm and chocolaty. The after taste lingers with an oily sweet peanut butter flavor. The mouthfeel is a light medium, and carbonation is minimal. There is a dark chocolate like bitterness in the back of my tongue. Overall, it’s well balanced, and has quickly become one of my favorite beers from Excelsior.
Pairing:
This beer will pair best as a dessert beer. Good chocolaty/coffee infused ice cream would be a great start. For cheese pick something a little on the nutty side, like a baby-lace Swiss. Also, you can’t go wrong with a lot of deep flavored pork/bacon recipes. I once smoke a pork butt with a coffee rub that would be begging for a pairing with this beer.
Final Thoughts:
Excelsior is one of the older breweries in Minnesota. For a long time they commanded a serious presence in the Western Suburbs of the Twin Cities. It’s often easy to forget these early pioneers of craft brewing, but they are still going at it, and making great improvements in the process. RipRap is one of those beers that help re-invigorate my thoughts on this brewery. This is a very solid brew, and should be sought out by anyone who enjoys the style. There are some peanut butter porters/stouts that, one could argue, are better, but there are a lot more worse too. I really like this as a nice session stout. Great for sitting around with your friends while playing board games on these long winter days. I am going to give this one the Beerploma Seal of Approval!
So what are your favorite Peanut Butter beers? Leave us a comment below! That’s all for this pint. Keep those glasses full, and we will see you next time! Prost!
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