From tap at Pizza Port Carlsbad. Pours dark brown to black with a light redish glare and a lacing off-white head. Roasted and fruity aroma. Flavour is hard roasted malt but also mild acidic to citric fruity flavour. Ends with a mild roasted and acidic fruity finish. Lovely.

Bottle, 8% at LCRBM08. Weak fruity aroma. Black colour, small brown head. Roasted and slightly sweet, well-balanced. Needs a bit of the carbonation swirled out of it.

<b>Date:</b> 11/30/2006<br /> <b>Mode:</b> Draft, Nitro<br /> <b>Source:</b> Brewery<br /> <br /> black, big creamy tan head, rich roasted malt aroma with a touch of lactose sweetness, very creamy body, rich roasted malt flavor, touch of chocolate, light bitterness<br /> <br /> <b>Aroma:</b> 6/10; <b>Appearance:</b> 8/10; <b>Flavor:</b> 6/10; <b>Palate:</b> 8/10; <b>Overall:</b> 11/20<br /> <b>Rating:</b> 3.1/5.0<br /><b>Drinkability:</b> 7/10<br /> <b>Score:</b> *4<br />

<b>Objectively speaking:</b> A smooth stout hesitating between regular and imperial territory, displaying a balanced although unspectacular range of dark malt flavours and eventually surprising hops. <br /> <b>I like:</b> Fun sprucey aromatic hops leave the bitterness domain to the dark malts. Smooth carbonation. Comfortable, smooth mouthfeel making for great drinkability. Clean, well extracted dark malt flavours &#40;the usual beany coffee and bittersweet chocolate&#41;. <br /> <b>I dislike:</b> Not very focused - a bit of this, a bit of that, not very drinkable, but not much punch either. Fairly sweet. Plenty of similar beers. A bit of fruitiness would improve a lot for me.

Bottle &#64; LCRBM 2008. Coffee, salt and licorice in the aroma. Malty, laurel, licorice, roast and salt in the flavor. Salty roasty aftertaste. Very good&#033;