Stochasticity Project Master of Disguise
Photo courtesy Stone Brewing Co.

Stochasticity Project Master of Disguise

Stone Brewing Co.

Escondido, CA

Type of Beer: Imperial golden stout

ABV: 8.8

Yup. You read that right. A golden stout. An imperial one as well. Because, why the hell not? In a beer world where we can have black IPA, black Saison, even a black Kölsch, why shouldn’t we have a traditionally dark beer made and presented in a lighter color. And it’s fitting that Stone, those boundary-pushing scallywags be the one to release it. As part of the brewery’s side project of beers, there’s the typical long story screened onto the 22-oz bottle that uses big words and flowery sentences. Something about dumb luck … anyway, what’s the freak of brewing science taste like?

Well, it tastes a lot like a stout. One brewed with coffee beans and cocoa, as this one one is. It’s more copper than golden in color and it has a thin head that stickily laces the glass. It’s boozy and more thin on the mouthfeel than one might expect. The more you drink the more the coffee takes over with a slap of acidity associated with a cup o’ joe that’s been on the burner too long and then left to get cold over hours.

There’s a citrus hop note that bounces around the palate, never quite settling long enough in one place to make an impression. It finishes with a slight alcohol astringency burn.

One of the great things about American brewers is their willingness to experiment. This is a perfect example of that ingenuity and determination.

Is it really a stout? That’s for you to judge. But, if you just close your eyes and take a drink, you won’t be able to tell the difference.