Class V Stout brewed by Kern River Brewing Company - Kernville, California      

River rapids are rated by a numeral system. Class V is the most difficult level rapid that can be negotiated. This non-traditional beer is an Oatmeal Stout, Milk Stout and an Imperial Stout all in one. With a complex flavor profile ranging from coffee to chocolate, the sweetness is complemented with Chinook and Cascade hops to produce an extraordinary finish. But at 8.5% ABV, don't let the smooth taste fool you; this beer is like the Kern at high water - "Not for the Timid". 
        

Beer Review by Beer Advocate
Appearance - Pours very dark brown almost black with a nice cream/beige milk chocolate colored. The head eventually recedes and fades to a nice ring of foam leaving behind some good, thick lacing on the sides of the glass.

Aroma – Chocolate, vanilla and slight coffee aromas dominate the smell of this beer. Fairly mild smelling with no alcoholic /phenol burn to speak of. This is a great smelling stout.

Taste – Man this is a tasty stout. Bittersweet chocolate and mildly bitter coffee great you with the first sip eventually lending way to sweet vanilla and milk chocolate. Very balanced. ZERO alcohol burn present.

Mouthfeel – Medium bodied for a stout yet silky and slightly creamy. Oxymoronic I know.

Overall – This is by far one of the more drinkable, well balanced and tastiest stouts I have enjoyed. I’m not sure I would call it an imperial stout but given that it’s considered one, I would argue that is entirely way too easy to drink. All the elements come together beautifully.
 

    
History of Kernville River Brewing Company
The KRBC brings people back to the magnificent simplicities that life has to offer. From its beginnings, Kernville has been a wild-west town. Established as a mining settlement in the mid 1800's and continuing as a ranching community through the 1900's, Kernville remains a town of adventure, offering a wide variety of outdoor activities. On any given day, the outdoor enthusiast enjoys activities ranging from the excitement of whitewater rafting, kayaking, downhill skiing, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, horseback riding, attending rodeos, windsurfing, water-skiing, mountain biking and climbing. If a more relaxing day is preferred, people can enjoy fishing, hiking, camping, sailing, antiquing, and bird watching or simply kicking back and taking in the spectacular views of the Sierra Nevada mountain range. Located at 13415 Sierra Highway, Kern River Brewing Company is in the heart of all these activities.
 
   
   
KRBC is Kernville's first brewpub. This makes KRBC much more then just a restaurant; it's an attraction in itself. According to the Kernville Chamber, on any given weekend the town of Kernville can easily swell to between 20-40 thousand people, all of whom are looking for entertainment and can find it at our establishment. KRBC has received an overwhelming and enthusiastic response from both locals and visitors alike. Approximately 15,000 people live in the Kern River Valley, 2,000 of those people make up the town of Kernville. Keeping the names of the beer local, providing a simple yet diverse menu and having a comfortable place where "everybody knows your name", Kern River Valley residents and visitors alike have found themselves at home.