
First sip is bitter as all-get-out. The malt is not burned - it's charred with vanilla poking it's cheery little head out of the coffee and earth blackness to see what has happened to all of its friends after that giant bitter meteor hit. It sees nothing, so it heads back down the hidey hole never to be seen again. A sip is not the right way to look at a big beer, though.
Tip-in is bitter cherries and scorched earth. The middle brings coffee beans, wood, and light vanilla into the mix, but the effect is very rough and a bit malevolent. The finish is a torrent of bitter chocolate, burned grains, seared coffee, and spikes.
Bottom Line: Inelegant and unapproachable, this beer gets better with some heat in it, but not good enough.
1.75/5