Spiteful G.F.Y. Stout

Beer:  G.F.Y. Stout (GFY)

Brewery:  Spiteful Brewing

Date:  January 25th, 2014

Style: Imperial Stout

ABV:  8.0%

Similar To:  Central Waters Brewhouse Coffee Stout, North Coast Old Rasputin

Description:
As long as I've been enjoying beer, I've had a soft spot for stouts.  From Guinness Extra Stout, one of the first beers I tried, to the almost innumerable varieties of barrel-aged stouts I've tried more recently, the style evokes a great sentimentality in me and reminds me of why I enjoy beer so much.  It's with this long, fond history that I tend to be rather critical of any stout that I try, which is why I feel quite excited to share my enthusiasm about one that I enjoyed.  In Part II of my recap from January's Spiteful Tasting extravaganza (read Part I here), I review Spiteful's take on the Imperial Stout, G.F.Y.

First Impression:
As with all of Spiteful's beers, the label art catches your eye.  I've never embraced product mascots, but I admit harboring a soft spot for GFY's none-too-cuddlesome figurehead, Abrasive Bear, pictured above.  The beer itself pours black with a lingering finger-thick mocha head.

Smell:
Dark, bittersweet chocolate, lots of roasted, almost smoky, malt, and also some coffee in the background.

Taste:
Compelling blend of chocolate and roasted grain, with a good hop finish, despite not being a prominent part of the aroma.  Also some hints of coffee and caramel.  Very nicely balanced, a good combination of flavors without any single overwhelming characteristic.

On the Palate:
Medium thickness, somewhat thinner than I expected for a stout, with little carbonation.  Surprisingly smooth and little alcohol finish for 8% ABV.

Why You'll like It:
A solid, non gimmicky example of what a stout should taste like.  The balance gives it a broad appeal to anyone who enjoys this style. 

...and why You won't:
Doesn't try to complete with all of the specialist stouts currently on the market.  If you're looking for a beer that's strongly weighted towards one end of the taste spectrum or the other, for example a strong coffee or sweet chocolate stout, there are choices that will probably make you happier.

In Closing...:
GFY was the second Spiteful stout that I tried that evening, and though both had their merits, I felt that this was the more well-executed of the two.  Would definitley enjoy it again. 

Rating: 3 1/2 Stars (out of 5)

Most of the evening's lineup, prior to their demise.  GFY is 3rd from the left.

Spiteful Corporate Guy Wheatwine

Beer:  Corporate Guy (CPG)

Brewery:  Spiteful Brewing

Date:  January 25th, 2014

Style: Wheatwine

ABV:  11.0%

Similar To:   Bells Wheat Love Ale

Description:
It was a cold night in January when a group of beer devotees* assembled at a private residence in Chicago's West Town to sample a wide range of beers from an undisclosed local brewer, later revealed to be Spiteful Brewing. 

Their opinions, much like the beers they tasted, were many and varied, but in the end they reached an (approximate) consensus on those which distinguished themselves from the rest of the field.  By the end of the evening, long after the official reviewing had been completed, the tasters had ventured pretty far off the beaten track in terms of the beers being "sampled" and skyped in an absent comrade to join the fun, much of which was had by all.   

As the organizer and informal guide for the evening, two beers in particular stood among those from Spiteful which we sampled, the Corporate Guy Wheatwine profiled in this post, and G.F.Y. Stout whose review will be posted shortly.

First Impression:
Reddish-brown with a lot of thin white head which dissipated quickly.

Smell:
Wheat (what a suprise), malt, and some pleasant sweetness in the background, whose source was elusive (maybe fruity?).  Admittedly, my nose may have suffered from overexposure by that point in the evening.

Taste:
Oh yes, very strong wheat and rye taste with the underlying sweetness I smelled initially.  Despite previous sampling that evening, I can tell that this one has the strongest alcoholic kick of the bunch, and warms going down.

On the Palate:
Very thick and surprisingly carbonated.  Feels almost like warm root beer, of which I'm a big fan.

Why You'll like It:
A good choice for those who like strong, flavorful beers, but are tired of stouts, porters, and strong ales, and are looking for a new style to try. 

...and why You won't:
Wheatwine is an acquired taste and those who prefer IPAs and other more hoppy beers aren't likely to find that what they're looking for in CPG, or really in any beer of this style.

In Closing...:
A hearty beer for people who aren't into stouts and their similarly dark ilk.  Enjoyably sweet and, in my limited exposure, the best beer that I've tried from this brewery.  Like a Winter Warmer without the seasonal spices which put so many drinkers off.

Rating: 3 1/2 Stars (out of 5)

*This is the politest term I can think of to describe us.