05 Jan Brash Black Masses by Nick B

Black Masses

Brash Brewing Co

Houston, TX

Double Coffee’d Milk Stout

ABV: 9%

IBUs: 12

Packaging: Draft, 32 oz. Crowlers To Go from Brewery (While they last!)

I’m not proud of this fact I just realized… I have not reviewed ANY of the stouts produced by those dudes over at Brash. What am I doing? They’re making the best and biggest stouts in the city and all the hype out there is absolutely real. Anyway, I’m reviewing their latest offering… Black Masses double coffee’d milk stout. They said it was going to be “blacker than the blackest black times infinity,” so how could I not get some of this?!

You can only find this concoction on draft around town or at the brewery. I was out of town during its release, but a friend had my back and went down to grab a crowler from the brewery for me. There is no artwork for this release. I just pulled a picture from one of the brewery’s posts about the release.

On to the good stuff though: Black Masses poured thicker and blacker than any other stout I’ve had from Brash. They weren’t lying about the darkness! I took it to a New Year’s Eve party and people used the old “looks like motor oil” comparison and that couldn’t have been more correct. There was plenty of dark tan head and the smell was exactly what is advertised… Coffee! Dark, roasted coffee just pummeling my senses like I just walked into the pit at a Meshuggah show. There was a slight hint of sweet milk cream lingering in the smell as well.

After my pupils were done dilating from all that coffee aroma, Black Masses delivered more of the same in its flavor. Coffee dominant with dark chocolate, a little tobacco undertone, and some milk sweetness to make it as palatable as possible. It coats your mouth with that sweet bitterness and sticks around like a good cup of joe would. I could drink this long into the dark night with Opus Eponymous on soundtrack.

I am giving Black Masses 4.5 stars because it’s a kick to the teeth while still being a “generous” 9% ABV.  The best metal description I can draw for Black Masses is that this is the brewery’s Glamtera… Not their best, but still really bad ass. Side note: If you haven’t listened to Glamtera, you are missing out on some really great Dimebag licks!

It’s hard not to draw comparisons to Brash’s Cortado for Black Masses, but they’re both really great. That’s the closest beer from Houston that even resembles it. And that’s part of why Brash is so awesome… They’re making beers like nobody else in the city. Hats off to Clegg from Eastbound & Down and his band of disciples for bringing this amazing brewery home to Houston! So what do you think… Is your beer soul black enough to attend the mass and drink of this elixir? Beers to you, Houston.