Judge's Review: 79 Rating - Partake Brewing Stout (Non-Alcoholic) by Partake Brewing

Partake Brewing Stout (Non-Alcoholic) by Partake Brewing is a non-alcoholic (0.3% abv) Stout by Partake Brewing. Evaluated as an American Stout (Category 20B) from the 2015 BJCP Guidelines. An American Stout is known for moderate to strong aromas and flavors supported by hop bitterness and creaminess. While Partake Brewing’s Stout has pleasant chocolate and roast notes throughout it misses marks on style and drinkability.

Stout’s aromas present low fresh milk chocolate with moderate roast as well as milled uncooked whole wheat and low dark rye. There is a persistent mustiness, akin to wet wheat field after a late fall harvest. The appearance is appropriately a light brown head that unfortunately does not persist atop an opaque dark brown beer. Stout’s flavor is a low intensity cocoa powder with slightly stronger roasted chocolate wheat finishing with 100% pure dark chocolate minerality. It has a watery highly carbonated light body that is dry and crisp. 

Overall, the beer is missing characteristic creaminess, rich body, a backbone of hop bitterness as well as at least moderate aroma and flavor intensity. When drinking a chocolate and roast-forward beer, drinkability improves when mouthfeel has more in common with milk – a rich flavorful creaminess - than sparkling water.