Kinz (2179), Glen Allen, Virginia, USA Nov 18, 2003 Dark brown but not totally opaque, little head. Aroma centered around roasted malts, with a curious touch of smoke and soy sauce. Fuller in the mouth than I expected based on appearance. Some chocolate, roasted malts, and a nice tangy finish. I would consider this more along the lines of a dry stout actually. guzzler67 (1272), Hanover, Maryland, USA Nov 15, 2003 Not much of a head over this dark brown brew. Aroma had a bit of a vegatative edge to it. Medium-bodied flavor, nicely hopped, with a taste that took on characteristics of coffee, tobacco and bittersweet chocolate. Minimal sweetness in the dry finish. Not a one dimensional beer, but not very complex, either. jeffc666 (1885), Fairfax, Virginia, USA Nov 15, 2003 Nitrogen Draft - Opaque balc in color with a typical creamy nitrogen head. Aroma is roasted malt and subtle hops. The flavor is roasted chocolate with some hops. Thick and creamy body, quite smooth. Decent but not outstanding. BBB63 (4198), La Porte, Indiana, USA Nov 2, 2003 Updated: Nov 7, 2003#6 of my Stouts of November: Brown hue with some reddish highlights. Small off-white head with little lace. The aroma had an interesting hoppy character which is too much for a sweet stout. Hints of molasses, mild coffee, twnmagy fruitsm floral hops, hint of smoke and vanilla. The taste was acidic with the sweetness and bitterness a background presence, wierd. Mild finish with some bitterness and a chalky feel. A bit too thin body for a stout. Just a average brew, okay to try once. ToadMan (554), Washington, Washington DC, USA Oct 29, 2003 One of my least favorite stouts. Dark but very thin, small head. Roasted coffee aroma that has hints of what seems like vinegar. Somewhat weak flavor starts roasted but gives way to a slightly bitter sourness, improves as it warms as sour diminishes and coffee comes through, but still below mediocore. Vac (2389), San Diego, California, USA Sep 2, 2003 Pours with a black body with reddish tinting topped by a medium thick quickly disappearing tan head with good lacing. Slighlty sweet yet bitter and smokey malt aroma with a touch of chocolate and anoff aroma that I can't quite pinpoint, maybe rubber. Slightly sweet malty flavor with strong roasty notes and an unusually strong hop bitterness that doesn't mesh well with the roasty notes. The finish is bitter and slightly hoppy with a touch of roastiness. Full bodied and relatively smooth. roomtempbeer (185), Franklin, Pennsylvania, USA Aug 25, 2003 I notice beer is a twist-off, but I pop anyway. Beer pours (in Chimay glass) a dark brown, near black liquid that, when held up to light, can be seen through with small head that dissipates quickly to nothing. Aroma is of black licorice jellybeans, very sweet and an ever so slight hop. Flavor is an oh-too-sweet licorice jellybean with a small dry ending and an ever-so-slight hop. Hop is barely noticible when sipped, but almost missed completely when taken in mouthfuls. Licorice is not appealing, but anything is better than hops. Sampled at 71 degrees Fahrenheit. hopscotch (5437), Vero Beach, Florida, USA Aug 19, 2003 Very, very dark ale. Beautiful, crystal clear, crimson hue when held up to bright light. Small, lightly tanned, creamy head with decent lacing.
Milk chocolate, vanilla and almonds in the nose. Also, lesser notes of coffee and pistaschios.
Well-balanced flavor with lots of cocoa, espresso and vanilla. Very nice, moderately bitter hops.
Medium-bodied with a silky mouthfeel and lively carbonation. Lengthy, burnt, bitter finish. Great stout!
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