First sip is megadestroying solid stout. Jeebus. It's like an unexpected piledriver of taste right into the tastebuds with little more than a grunt of effort and the roar of the crowd. Carbonation burn mixes it up with licorice and grass and dirt and wood. It's a lot to deal with in this little, relatively wimpy sip, but I get the impression that the beer is like a sumo wrestler walking into a sushi bar - whatever is in between him and the buffet, look out. Full swig is next...
Tip-in is licorice and carbonation burn. The middle is strong. There is nothing smooth or calm about this beer. It is an unsubtle as a kick in the knee, and the middle is just a heap of coffee, toffee, chocolate, and almost a syrup of licorice. The finish replaces it with sweet malt, slightly more coffee, and I may detect a hop peeking out at the end. It's not the best Howe Sound beer that I've had, but it was certainly worth trying.
Bottom Line: Brutal and unapologetic, this is a beer that stands on it's own. It needs to be a bit more approachable.
2.75/5