The first sip is smoke and mirrors. Well, maybe not mirrors, but it has a noticeable metallic taste along with a bit of nuts and raisins, and this makes it a very interesting beer. The label calling it a "traditional ale" didn't prepare my mouth for the complexity that this is giving it. It reminds me a lot of a better version of Dragons Milk.
Between the sip and the gulp, I've been distracted by dogs and life, so the beer has been allowed to sit and gain a bit of warmth. I'm going to try a good swig. Tip-in is bitter and smoky. Carbonation is relatively light, considering how much cascaded out of the bottle in the first place. The middle is the raisin and nuts with a bit of tanginess. The finish is a few short waves of bitterness and an earthy grain that settles everything down very nicely.
Bottom Line: An excellent beer with a good mixture of deliciousness and mild background malt.
4.25/5