Saranac Black Diamond Bock

Bottle from trade with Butters. Poured brown with a creamy off-white head that left light lacing. Aromas of milk chocolate, nut, and a light hop backing. The flavor has nuts, roasty malts, and a light hop undertone. Medium body that is sweet in the beginning and ends bitter.

Pours a three finger white head that fades slowly to a thin layer, leaving a good lace. Clear amber color. Light-medium carbonation and medium bodied. Malty nose. Flavor is semi sweet caramel with some late hop bitterness. $1.33 for a 12oz bottle from Manchester Wine and Liquors Manchester, CT.

A copper color with a very ruddy complexion. Smaller, but stable creamy, beige head. Simple, sweet, toasted almonds and caramel scents. Mildly toasted malt, touch of vanilla, bits of apricot and earthy cherrywood in the flavors. Dry, somewhat woody finish and linger. Not much malt depth. This one help the myth of bocks being from the bottom/cleaning of the barrels.

12oz bottle. Not much in the way of aroma other than some subdued sausage, stale cereal grain, and a hint of steeping barley. I also got an occasional whiff of cinnamon donut. Poured a clear amber color. The head was off white and reduced to a thin film after a minute or so. There was some lace on the glass at the end. Medium bodied and sweet with some dry fruit up front followed by corn sugar, toffee, and graham cracker flavors. Eh. So so.

Clear amber brew, lots of bubbles. Sour mash aroma with nutty notes. Nice alcohol burn to it immediately, deep. Flavor is sour walnuts. Dry nutty finish.