UPDATED: NOV 26, 2022 It pours black with a dark brown head. Head retention is very low. There are aromas of roast and chocolate up front. There are some cocoa elements with a touch of vanilla and a slight vinous quality. There are roast and chocolate flavors up front. There are background notes of wine and wood. There are also very low vanilla elements and very low dark fruits. It has a full body with a bitter aftertaste that includes a touch from the wine. Overall, the wine elements are light, but do enhance the roasted and chocolate flavors from the beer.

UPDATED: MAR 6, 2019 Versa quasi nero con una testa marrone. Aroma viene speso fondi di caffè...

On tap at Smuttynose - Hayseed, pours black with a small light brown head. Aroma brings out intensely roasted malt, with some sludgy notes and light cocoa. Flavour is anything but subtle, with a humongous wallop of chocolate fudge, roasted malt, and a little vanilla. So much going on here, with a fudgey finish. Excellent.

5/27/18 - Hampton, NH - bottle purchased at the Smuttynose Brewing Taproom gift shop. Inky black pour, bubbly, mocha colored head, thin lace. Aroma of molasses, dates, a hint of red wine. Full-bodied flavor with chocolate, red wine, anise seed and molasses. Thick, chewy mouthfeel. Nice way to wrap up my trip to Maine.

Very tasty stout. Great flavor of the barrel-aging in wine barrels. That doesn't consider the impact of a great imperial stout that is the basis. Strong, tasty beer that really has a kick.

Taster pour at the brewery. Appearance is opaque black with tons of sparkle at the edge of the glass, creamy light brown head with great retention and light leggy lacing. Aroma is red wine, roasted malts. Taste is chocolate, red wine, dark fruits--sweet. Palate is full bodied with smooth, creamy texture, soft carbonation and finish as taste. Overall, this is really a nice decadent treat. Solid across the board.

UPDATED: OCT 19, 2019 Pours thick black with thin head. Aroma is roast, wine and dried fruit. Taste is dark chocolate and some plum, warming to raisin and slight roast, finishing with a deep, red wine note. An interesting, worthwhile stout.

UPDATED: NOV 26, 2017 Pours black with thick brown head. A chocolate and red wine aroma. A strong red wine, dark fruit, grape and light chocolate taste. A dry wine and sweet fruit afteraste.

Draught @ The Ruck, Troy. Almost black with large creamy tan head, caramel, grapes, oak aroma, low carbonation, woodsy micha taste with grapes, thick and smooth body, long woodsy finish. Incredibly soft and smooth

Bottle from Craft Beer Store, Hamburg. Black with a brown head. Aroma is sweet, roasted malt, chocolate, coffee and wood. Flavor is quite sweet and rather bitter. Sweet and rather bitter finish with warming alcohol. Oily and soft. 080817