First sip is not bad. It's heavy with the alcohol and there is definitely some smoke and chocolate malt mixed with vanilla and oak. It reminds me a bit of the Goose Island version of this beer, but it comes off as a bit more stolid than the Goose beer.
Tip-in is syrup sweet with oak and chocolate being backed with earth - think dark and foreboding. The middle continues the syrup theme with a smooth, thick slosh of alcohol-heavy wood, chocolate, and smoke while a strange, bright vanilla and carbonation mix scrape at the back of the throat. The finish turns bitter with the chocolate being joined by some coffee and very light black licorice.
Bottom Line: Not without merit.
2.25/5