First sip is deceptively smooth. The ale is hoppy and a lot more smoky than I would have expected, and I think it reminds me of a porter more than most other ales. Yes, I'm aware that porters are technically just extreme ales, and this is a pretty extreme ale. I'm not sure that I'm comfortable enough with the nuance of beer styles to really draw the line between the two. A sip, however, is an insult to a good beer. Time to drink like a man.
Tip-in has floral hops and pine. The middle coddles the tongue with a soft prodding of carbonation combined with a somewhat caramel, smokey taste lingering across the top of the mouth. The finish brings an unexpected chocolate, pine, and a remnant of hops with it. It is a delightful beer, and it almost tastes like a dessert. Yes, bartender, I will have another.
4.25/5