Sampled from Growler provided by dickinsonbeer. Poured a dark black color (with some red at the edges) and a larger sized tan head. Aromas of strong coffee (espresso), that gives way to chocolate and roasted malts. Tastes of coffee (strong but not as strong as the aroma), vanilla, chocolate, and roasted malts. I love espresso coffee, so I’m a sucker for these types of beers. Lacing left on the glass.

On tap at the pub... Pours very dark with some orange highlights. Small, creamy, khaki head with decent lacing. The nose has notes of vanilla, espresso, chocolate and heavy cream. Well-balanced flavor. Cocoa and coffee with lots of other burnt, roasted flavors. Medium-bodied with a dry mouthfeel and lively carbonation. Lengthy, bitter, dry finish. Really good stuff!

Tap at SPH. Pitch black with a thick tan head. Served way too cold (why can’t they adjust their temps up to 12 or so?). Big coffee aroma, a bit of toffee and roast in back. Flavour is sweet up front followed by loads of coffee flavour. None of the vegetal character that some coffee beers have, just dark, fresh, coffee up front followed by a roasted barley finish. No astringency or huskiness. As it warms some sweeter maltiness come forward bringing a bit of balance. It has a bit more coffee than I prefer, but it’s very well-made.

Tap fill from Shoreline Beverage. Poured almost opaque with a brown head. The aroma is very pleasant. It has a nice roast, some very smooth coffee, milk chocolate and some sweetness. What I like so much is that it isn’t heavily roasted or ashey as I get often with the coffee stouts. The flavor is mildly to moderately sweet with a good roast and a chocolately coffee finish like a mocha java drink. The body is light. Very nice.

Tap at Hop Devil Grill. Rich black with a dark brown head. Aroma is rich, burnt espresso, chocolate and vanilla. Taste isn’t burnt but more smooth and dry. A bit thinner in body then the aroma leads you to think it will be. The taste is silky smooth with a very mellow hop bitterness.