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I understand the brewery prides itself on the lengthy time they spend producing the beer. It says proudly on the label that the beer gets better as it approaches 36 months. That's a long time for a beer to sit there finishing. I wonder when this beer was originally produced. It's odd that they tell me how long it should sit, but then they don't give me a reference date. I have a lot number, but it may as well be hieroglyphics.
It has a noticeable red sheen to it under the black porter. There is not much head to it, but this is The Way with aged beers. The aroma is raspberries and dark chocolate. I asked my wife to give it a whiff, and she did not smell the same thing I did, and she commented that it didn't "smell terrible" and walked away. She's not a beer person, and I am just happy she lets me maintain this hobby.
First sip is not the chocolate raspberry enjoyment I wanted to find. It has the raspberry, certainly, and the dark chocolate is there with accompanying bitterness. The problem really waits until the end of the beer, and that's when the dreaded coffee rears its ugly head. I don't like coffee, and I don't know where it's coming from. Maybe it's from the roasted malt, but it's not good, and I am not looking forward to the swig.
Tip-in is sweet raspberries in a syrup that has a bit of chocolate added to it. The middle is smooth as heck, with the fruits dancing with vanilla and a boozy quality that is quite nice and relaxing. The finish has the coffee, but it's not as overbearing and loud as it was in the sip. Spices join the dark chocolate and raspberries to hit the trail off.
Bottom Line: Good enough that I can ignore the coffee.
3.0/5
