3.3 AROMA 6/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 6/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 14/20
Mug Club served at the Yorktown brewpub showing an opaque, black/brown hue, a tan, moussy head, and cakey cling to the persistent bans of lacing. The nose was initially a touch of creaminess from the lasting froth, then dry roastiness, baker’s cocoa, a little smoke & char, and day old coffee. The flavor was similar, adding moderate hop bitterness, soft carbonation, a little less than medium body, and a texture that at times exhibited a watery and thin nature. Still a nicely sessionable, food complementary Dark Lager.
3.5 AROMA 6/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 14/20
Draft on tap at the brewpub (Lombard, IL). Some wedding errands and some beer. Pours a richer dark blackish hue, good darkness, gentle haze as some deeper ruby midnight glow comes in on the edges, brownish bottom, some light. A frothy light brown chocolate milk head dies to a firm layer, laces ok. Aromas are cocoa and caramel, firm biscuits and gentle roasty toast elements. Some barley, bready, and biscuity. Kisses of cocoa, toast. Mellow kiss of fruit, but a darker gentle roast sticks in, a touch sticky but smoothed out. Firm, familiar. Initial is lighter end of medium bodied offering firm cocoa and biscuits up front, a bit of toffee, richer coffee, and roast come on. Dryness and roast firmly into the middle, big coffee and cocoa. Bakers chocolate is firm and strong, long and proud with touches of gentle anise pokes in the middle. Some ashy roast and husky grains, earth, coffee and dry cacao. Darker, silky as we get further in, the finish shows a touch more malty darkness, biscuits, kiss of toffee, but firmly dry and roasty, cocoa dominated. It’s not harsh, but it certainly surprised me. Contrasts from the Donersobe which was more of a Dunkel with some sweetness and balance, this thing is dry, cocoa and coffee driven. Solid. Nose is a little soft. Flavors are on.
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