First sip is a sharply bitter malt with a bit of unexpected smoke, coffee, earth, and spice. The effect is of an ambitious craft beer from an up-and-coming brewer, and that is effectively what we have here, so it makes sense. I don't get the feeling that this is from a struggling brewer, though. It's a good, settled recipe that is out there on the frontier of taste, but I've only had a sip, so let's not go too far.
Tip-in is bitter coffee, thick earth malt, and light spices. The middle rolls in with a very nice, smooth and sweet earth, grains, plums, and spices. The coffee recedes so long as the middle is flowing, and it is very enjoyable. The finish is a wave of muted bitterness with a resurgence of the coffee, but it's not a thick hit of coffee grounds - it's more of a hint that coffee malt was here.
Bottom Line: If this is the best Yee Haw, it is a good enough high water mark.
3.75/5