Bearded Iris "Little Treat" Session Stout

From the people that brought you something like 1,000 IPAs now serve up a session stout. At 6.0% ABV, it doesn't fit the category of a session ale, right? I was pretty sure it was supposed to be capped at about 5.0%, but I'm just a beer drinker, not an expert. I'll let others decide if this beer is named right. My question is - does it taste good?

The very dark brown beer is not black. I sometimes comment on how dark a beer is that it may as well be black, but this isn't that kind of beer. Instead, it is a very dark brown, but it's undeniably brown. The head was gone so fast that I didn't get a picture of it, and my camera was already set up when I started to pour. The aroma is sweet, chocolate, smoky oats, and heavier grains. 

First sip is dry with bitter chocolate, scorched oats, and sweetened nuts. The mix is nice and pleasing on this very cool evening, and it reminds me of the effect that a winter warmer might have on the chest and the soothing effect of the 6% ABV on the way down. It's a very nice sip, and I'd be okay with just sipping, but that is not The Way. 

Tip-in is light carbonation tingle with sweetness thrusting to the back of the throat while charred oats and smoky wood lay down a base. The middle is charred malt with sweetness floating around, but it's not attaching itself to the chocolate's bitter swell. The finish is a dryness that grips the bitterness close to itself before trailing off with bitter chocolate and light coffee. 

Bottom Line: Solid enough.

3.0/5