The color is black with almost no head to speak of. I was really surprised how little carbonation there was overall, and I started to fear that this was another skunked beer, but I got this from City Sliquors and I have been assured that they rotate their stock regularly (unlike the last place). Also, it doesn't have the skunky smell about it - instead, it's aroma puts me in mind of a coffee house with its dark roasted malts and sweet vanilla highlights. Honestly, I think I could use this as an air freshener, it smells so good.First sip is a very interesting one. It is much more sweet than I had expected; this is very clearly a type of milk stout. It is awash with a whole mess of different flavors. There is sweet milk, vanilla, bitter malt, coffee, smoky malt, and a bit of carbonation burn that doesn't seem to fit with the observed amount of it. This is a big beer, so I'll give it a big swig.
Tip-in is almost nutty with vanilla evident across the top. The nose takes in the smoke, but it's not in the beer yet. The middle is all milky and sweet with a bit of smoke rising to the top and washing across the tongue. The finish comes along with a sharp bitterness of unsweetened caramel and a bit of coffee. As it eases off, the vanilla reasserts itself for a nice and lasting sweetness on the lips.
Bottom Line: It's a hefty beer that can probably stand up to anything you may eat with it. If you choose to drink it by itself, you likely will not be disappointed.
4.0/5
