I forget why I finally picked this up or why I had been putting off picking it up. I had a bottle last week and remember it being good but I already had a few drinks in me so that's not really the best indicator. I've been sick recently so this is the first beer I've had since.
The pour looked nice though the head faded a bit quickly. However, I could see some bubbles continually rising. Smell is fairly mild but is predominantly hot oatmeal and chocolate chips. The taste matches; solidly chocolate on the tongue, finishing like a piece of high-content dark chocolate right down to a bitter finish. I think a bit of residual sweetness would have been nice. I can definitely see this pairing well with a dark, savory beef stew or French dip, but not chili or stroganoff. I'm thinking things with strong brown gravies or simple, unadulterated beef and not acidic. Maybe a shaved corned beef and swiss on dark rye or pumpernickel. A fruit (figs?) and cheese plate or chocolate would be tasty as well, but I don't know enough about cheese to make any recommendations. MAYBE SOME DAY. Getting pretty hungry now.
- Appearance: Fairly opaque black pour, head dissipates into a ring.
- Smell: Oats and chocolate primarily.
- Taste: Fairly mild on the coffee tones, but I get a strong dark chocolate finish, think 80% cocoa, complete with the bitter finish that doesn't linger longer than necessary.
- Mouthfeel: Carbing feels a bit high, leaves some tingling on the tongue. Just enough viscosity to be pleasant but doesn't stick or smear.
- Drinkability and Overall: Feels fairly light but has a strong presence, making it more drinkable than other robust stouts. I think it would handle well with a hearty meal and not take up too much space or take well with a chocolate and/or cheese plate while leaving plenty of room for other goodies. Overall, I like this as a beer and as a stout, even though it's a little overcarbed. It's good to see a stout that is just a well-done stout.
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