So you see, I really wanted to try Tennessee Brew Works Country Roots Sweet Potato Stout, but though the website for Wild Hare Brewing Company announced it was on tap just before I visited in early February, they didn’t have it when I got there. Sweet Potato beers are increasing in number these days as an alternative to the ubiquitous pumpkin beer, but they’re still few and far between. In any event, it wasn’t looking like I was going to get to try it, so I consoled myself with a growler of the excellent Cutaway IPA from the same brewery.
What luck, then, when the following weekend found me in Spring Hill, Tennessee again, and back at Wild Hare. This time they had the Country Roots back on tap, and I could only think it must be a popular (and no doubt very good) beer indeed to sell out and be back on tap so quickly.
Here’s what Tennessee Brew Works says about the beer on their website:
We love working with our local farmers! Using generous amounts of roasted sweet potatoes from Delvin Farms, mashed with the grains, we have created a silky smooth stout. Melodies of coffee and dark chocolate transition to a chorus of toasty, roasty notes.
More ingredients from the website:
GRAINS 6-Row, Wheat, Chocolate, Rye, Barley
HOPS Apollo & Columbus
Tennessee Brew Works Country Roots Sweet Potato Stout has an alcohol content of 5.5% by volume with 30 IBUs. I paid a reasonable $7.50 for a 32-ounce growler at Wild Hare. Extra credit for the use of local ingredients in making this beer.
Tennessee Brew Works Country Roots Sweet Potato Stout pours to a jet black color with a thin creamy tan head and a big licorice and soft toffee nose. Taking a sip, the beer has a medium mouthfeel with more of the licorice, light toffee, burnt brown sugar, and roasted malts. One thing I’m not getting is the sweet potato, which is a big omission, but overall a very solid stout even if it’s not delivering on the promised goods.
In fact, the more I sip the more I’m impressed with this delightful brew, bursting as it is with licorice, and coffee with cream and sugar notes. I’d normally knock it down for not delivering the sweet potato but it’s so good otherwise and I’ll be darned if it doesn’t remind me of my old favorite Watney’s Cream Stout. Would I buy it again? You know I would baby…..
And remember, try a new beer today, and drink outside the box.
*Pricing data accurate at time of review or latest update. For reference only, based on actual price paid by reviewer.
(B)=Bottled
(D)=Draft
(G)=Growler