Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7

Reviewed from notes.
Growler brought back to my parents’ house (PA).
Poured into a pilsener glass, the appearance was a ruddy dark brown close to black color with a finger’s worth of off white foamy head that fell off at a decent pace. Messy sliding lace.
The aroma had a huge amount of sweet Cacao beans - sweet and roasty edging some light dark breads and earthy hop portions. Some grassiness, subtle wood. Vanilla beans? They’re not a main priority in the nose.
The flavor leaned towards the roasty portion of the Cacao bean and roastiness. Some dark bread. Once again, the vanilla took a back seat. Not much of an aftertaste but a semi-sweet to bitter roasty finish.
The palate was roughly medium bodied, perhaps just a touch under with a fair sessionable sort of quality about it. Carbonation felt fine. ABV felt fine.
Overall, I like the idea of adding some chocolate malt and vanilla beans, but didn’t see the point of having this served in a snifter or having it rimmed with peppermint and extra Cacao. Everything turned out fine as is.