3.6 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 6/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 15/20
Draught at Barley’s in Asheville. Pours black with amber edges and one finger of tan head. The aroma is slightly nutty with some sweet chocolate, blackberry, and espresso. The flavor is raisin, rum, and espresso. The alcohol is quite evident, especially at lower temperatures. It was tolerable at room temperature, but still gave a strong straight-rum quality to it. Berries and spicy wood tones come in the middle with lots of raw yeast notes. Some chocolate comes out in the finish; the alcohol burn fades in the aftertaste, and leaves a cocoa feel throughout the mouth. Zesty hops hit up front when it gets warmer. Good, but didn’t live up to my expectations.
3.8 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 15/20
UPDATED: DEC 24, 2008 Draught @ Barley’s Asheville. Pours thick and black with a small off white head. Aroma of chocolate and roasted malthad me very interested in the first drink. Imagine my disappointment when the first taste hit my lips. The 11.7 % was the first thing that I noticed. The chocolate and roasted malts were there, but the alcohol dominated. If this were aged for a while, I have no doubt that it would be excellent. I would like to give this one another try considering I had Foothills Sexual Chocolate earlier that evening. What a tough act to follow.
Re-rate from bottle: Much better flavors come through now that the alcohol has become less prominent.
4 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 16/20
Draught-Was given sample at Barley’s in Asheville, NC; unbelievable aroma when swirled in goblet glass; moderate head; roasted chocolate flavors with a soft mouthfeel; could taste the alcohol but didn’t taste anything like 11.7%; bartender thought I could use a taste with my cigar; I just wish I had ordered a full one;
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