Beer Review: Omnipollo Noa Pecan Mudcake Stout
Widely regarded as one of the definitive archetypes of the modern “Omnipollo’s Noa Pecan Mudcake remains a landmark achievement for sweet, adjunct-forward stouts.
Omnipollo’s Noa Pecan Mudcake Stout was born from head brewer Henok Fentie’s childhood dream of becoming a pastry chef. This iconic Swedish imperial stout is designed to evoke a decadent, liquid chocolate dessert, using deep-roasted malts and rich adjunct aromas to mimic a freshly baked mudcake.
Appearance
Noa pours a visually dense, viscous pitch-black that borders on motor oil thickness. It forms a thin, dark mocha-colored head that dissipates rapidly due to the residual sugars and heavy adjunct oils, leaving a beautiful, sticky sheet of lacing and a heavy sheen on the glass when swirled.
Aroma
The nose is massive, aggressive, and highly aromatic. It bursts with intense notes of toasted pecans, dark chocolate fudge, and warm vanilla extract. As the liquid warms up in the glass, deeper backnotes of burnt brown sugar, espresso beans, marshmallow, and a hint of dark cherry emerge.
Palate
The flavor profile mirrors the intense sweetness of the nose but anchors it with a solid roasted foundation. Up front, it hits with a wave of milk chocolate fondue, sweet caramel, and rich, buttery pecan pie. The mid-palate introduces a slight savory complexity, balancing the heavy sugars with dark cocoa bitterness, hints of black coffee, and a faint dark-fruit character reminiscent of figs or raisins.
Mouthfeel
The body is massive, syrupy, and exceptionally full-bodied. Carbonation is kept purposefully low to emphasize a velvety, coating, and tongue-numbing creaminess. Despite the hefty 11% ABV, the alcohol warmth is masterfully integrated, presenting a soft, comforting throat-burn rather than an aggressive, sharp booziness.
Finish
The finish is long, clinging, and indulgent. It leaves a lingering dessert impression of dark chocolate syrup and roasted nuts, balanced in the final seconds by a slight chalky dryness and roasty bitterness from the dark malts that prevents the beer from becoming utterly cloying.
Summary
- Style: Imperial Pastry Stout
- Brewery: Omnipollo (Stockholm, Sweden)
- ABV: 11.0%
Omnipollo’s Noa Pecan Mudcake remains a landmark achievement for sweet, adjunct-forward stouts. It leans unapologetically into its dessert inspiration, offering a thick, rich, and deeply satisfying experience.
To get the absolute most out of it, avoid serving it ice-cold; let it sit at room temperature for 15 minutes to fully unlock the intricate pecan and vanilla aromatics.
Please Note: To ensure absolute freshness and optimal storage temperatures, all craft beer arrivals are sold exclusively in-store and are not available for online ordering.
Available at SF Tequila Shop
Exploring the dynamic craft beer scene of San Francisco, one pint at a time. From hoppy IPAs to rich stouts, we’re dedicated to uncovering the best local brews. We believe in the power of community and the unique stories behind every bottle. Our mission is to share our passion for craft beer with the Bay Area and beyond.