First sip is pretty good. It's a bit weaker than I had expected, but there's certainly nothing bad about it. When I had a chocolate stout by a brewer from the UK, I was really taken aback by just how little taste the damn thing had. This one is not nearly that weak, but it puts me in mind of it. A second sip confirms that it is still pretty good. There's a much heavier coffee note than the nose would have indicated with just as much smoke as the smell indicated. Let's dissect it with a few gulps.
Tip-in is carbonation burn and a bit of burned wood. The middle is smooth with a bit of a chocolate hint in there with the smoke. The smoke isn't overpowering - it's just about right. The finish brings a wave of coffee bitterness and then a bunch more smokey malt. But the coffee is even more intensified on the lips after the beer is gone.
Bottom Line: I've had two Einstök beers so far, and the trend is definitely headed in the right direction.
4.0/5