Keg at the North Park tasting room, 15/11/14. Black with a decent tan covering. Nose is chocolate, roasty tones, dark toffee, charr. Taste comprises spice, chocolate, good roasty notes, dark fruits. Full bodied, fine carbonation, sweet licks in the close. Ok impy but a touch sweet, could do with more bitter/roast to give a better balance.

Two at the brewery - San Diego. Pours black-brown with a dense, creamy mocha brown head. The aroma holds charred and lightly tangy wood, a bit of dark chocolate, some rich coffee. Medium sweet flavor with lightly ashy roast, scorched earth bitterness, wood, coffee, bittersweet baking cocoa. Full bodied with fine carbonation and a chewy texture. Warming finish with lots of burnt malts and wood, tar, coffee grounds, bittersweet baking cocoa. Pretty big and bold though does have some grace.

Tap at Hess. It pours very dark brown, with a thin tan head. The nose is roasted malt, toast, coffee, chocolate, liquorice, smoked cheese and ham. The taste is roasted malt, chocolate, coffee, brown sugar, umami aspect, leather, smoked ham and cheese and caramel, with a long dry-roasted finish. Over-all it’s pretty savoury. Full body and moderate carbonation. An interesting brew.

On tap at the brewery. Pours with a black body with a thin, tan-nish to yellow head. Aromas are floral, estery, alcohol, spicy with some fudge notes. Interesting, different and complex. Spicy, tea notes and a bit dank hops. Flavors are really pretty balanced with a slightly dry leaning, some floral notes. I don’t say this often (at all) but there is an interesting house flavor to this one (take that as you will, smells like the bathroom air freshner a bit). Bitter, lightly fruity, very bitter chocolate notes. Medium bubbles, big bodied. Serious beer. Unique RIS but quite good.

Draft.m Black beer with a brown head. Chocolate and light roast aroma with malt. Chocolate and light roast flavor with light spice and light earth. Medium-plus bodied. Chocolate and light roast lingers with some earthiness. Rye in backgroumnd - which is good on this beer. The chocolate is screaming to be balanced with some vanilla from a bourbon barrel. Will be great to sip on when it’s colder.