%20(Social).jpg)
I don't know how many variants they're going to make of this beer, but I feel like I'm going to wind up purchasing and trying all of them. I do not recall there being a stinker in the bunch, but it's not as if they have reduced price based on volume. This is one of those scenarios where I know that this is owned by Anheuser-Busch, but I still have the impression of this being a relatively small brewery. The sheer number of variations, I feel, can only come from a brewery that has the latitude of a large company. This may be the melding of two great ideas: small batch brewing and big brewery resources.
I didn't expect anything groundbreaking when I poured it, and I didn't get anything. The dark tan head is darker than most of the other beers in this line, but it's a game of fractions. The blackness of the brown beer is equal to its siblings, as well. The aroma is where I expected this to differ, and it only slightly does. The same wood and alcohol mixed with earth, vanilla, and possibly even some cherry is there along with pronounced nuts and cocoa. I really feel that I'm going to enjoy this beer.
First sip is absolutely tremendous. I don't see a mention of cherries anywhere on this label, but I definitely taste cherries mixed in with the cocoa and nuts to kind of highlight the relatively high 14.6% ABV. Nothing's going nuts, and the mixture of flavors is intoxicating in more than one way. I take an unusual second sip, and cinnamon seems to be joining hazelnut to add a bit of spice to the already complicated beverage.
Tip-in is wood, brown liquor, and earth with highlights of vanilla. The syrupy beverage is almost difficult to gulp, and the middle brings a mixture of nuts to join the prominent cocoa. The finish turns somewhat dry while the sweetness manages to stay afloat in the nuts get joined by the vanilla and cinnamon for a nice, reassuring trail off.
.jpg)
Bottom Line: I may have to come up with a different scale just for these beers.
4.75/5
