Our next seasonal stout has landed with the launch of Cinnamon Dolce Nitro Stout—an all-new beer infused with Saigon cinnamon sticks and premium Madagascar vanilla beans, made to warm your soul as the weather turns cold.
In the video below, Brewmaster Matt Brynildson talks about Cinnamon Dolce and explains how to get the perfect surge pour on this Nitro stout. After watching, keep reading to learn more about the beer.
“Every year, we get to play around with creating a seasonal stout, and this time we went in an entirely new direction inspired by locally sourced vanilla beans,” says Brewmaster Matt Brynildson. “Vanilla is a flavor that just plays so well with stouts, and adding a bit of cinnamon makes it all the more fitting for fall and winter.”
The base stout is brewed with dark-roasted specialty malts that impart hints of caramel and chocolate. The beer is then infused with fine cinnamon spice and vanilla beans. Finally, the beer is nitrogenated for a creamy, velvety texture.
The result is a uniquely delicious stout with all of the festive spice and smoothness that one could want from a fall-winter seasonal.
When Matt first went on the hunt for premium vanilla beans, he was surprised to find the ultimate source right in our brewery’s hometown of Paso Robles.
“I discovered that there’s a local family that has been in the vanilla business since 1918 under the banner of Cook Flavorings,” Matt says. “They operate out of an unassuming building and they keep a low profile, but they are renowned far and wide for their vanilla beans and other flavorings.”
Third-generation vanilla purveyor Josephine Lochhead educated the brewing team on all things vanilla and steered them to cured Madagascar-grown whole beans that were perfect for incorporating into a seasonal stout.
“Vanilla is a flavor amplifier, and the key is to use it in balance to enhance everything else that is going on in the beer,” Brynildson said. “Adding a bit of cinnamon makes for a really nice wintertime combination that provides a balancing point with the chocolaty character of the stout.”
Lastly, dark-roasted specialty malts bring caramel and cocoa flavors to the beer, while nitrogenation brings everything together with a silky mouthfeel.
“I think we landed on a really unique stout,” Matt says. “You get a true nitro experience straight out of the can, and the flavors are seamless and complementary. It fits the season perfectly.”
Cinnamon Dolce Nitro Stout is available for purchase online, at our three brewery locations, and it is now rolling out to all Firestone Walker markets in six pack (12-ounce can) and draft formats.
